The mad dog represents the injustice of society, taint, and what Atticus has to fight. What did the dog do to deserve disease and getting shot down? It represents the effect society can have on people, and how some, but not many, would like to see it change. The quote “Jem shook his head. ‘Don’t make any difference now.’ he said. Calpurnia pounded on the door in vain. No one acknowledged her warning; no one seems to have heard it.” (124) shows Calpurnia warning people of what is going to happen, but nobody responds. Atticus later kills the dog, showing that he is one of the people who can change society. When Judge Taylor did not want to shoot the dog, and he wants Atticus to instead, he says “I’d feel mighty comfortable if you did now.” (127)
