29 pages • 58 minutes read
Roald DahlBeware of the Dog
Fiction | Short Story | Middle Grade | Published in 1946A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
The Hospital
In “Beware of the Dog,” the setting of the hospital operates on two levels of meaning. On the surface, it represents the physical space where Peter receives medical treatment. However, on a deeper level, the hospital symbolizes the system of power and control that Peter confronts.
The hospital acts as a microcosm of the authoritative institutions that shape individuals’ lives during times of war. The nurse and doctor, in addition to providing medical care, embody the system’s control over Peter’s well-being and his perception of reality. They use their authority as medical professionals, their seemingly pleasant demeanors, and the sense of trust that the institution of the hospital evokes to lull Peter into a sense of false security. They construct a false reality around Peter, which causes him to initially doubt his perception of reality.
Within the context of Modernism, the symbol of the hospital aligns with the movement’s skepticism toward trusted institutions. Hospitals are typically places of healing, care, and helpfulness, but the hospital staff in “Beware of the Dog” are revealed to have an ulterior motive; they aim to heal Peter only so he will be deceived into providing information.
The Injured Leg
Peter’s injured leg symbolizes the hidden costs of war and the sacrifices made by individuals in the face of adversity. It also functions as a focal point that allows the narrative to track Peter’s shifting acceptance of his own trauma.
At the beginning of the story, Peter treats his injury with dismissive cheeriness. The shock of his injury and the adrenaline of his situation likely mask the pain he would otherwise feel as he tries to navigate his plane to safety.
Eventually, he realizes that his leg injury is far more serious and painful than he originally admitted. His leg symbolizes the physical and emotional wounds inflicted by war and serves as a reminder of the brutal reality that Peter has endured. It also represents his internal battle between vulnerability and the façade of strength he initially uses to minimize his own trauma.
“Beware of the Dog”
The title of the story only appears in the text in French. “Beware of the Dog” works as both a play on words and as a symbol that evokes themes of danger and loyalty. The phrase is commonly associated with signs attached to fences or gates warning of a guard dog on the property. In the context of the story, this phrase could serve as a warning that foreshadows the hidden dangers Peter will face. It can also be seen as a play on wartime jargon: Peter’s plane is presumably downed after an air battle, otherwise known as a “dogfight.”
The dog also serves as a symbol of loyalty. Since the end of the story implies that Peter will refuse to give crucial information to the enemy, the title can be viewed as a description of Peter’s unwavering allegiance to his country.
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