Beware of the Dog

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.