33 pages • 1 hour read
Dog Man: Grime and Punishment
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Symbols & Motifs
Mayor’s Destroyed Rose Bushes
Mayor’s roses, which Dog Man digs up, symbolize the doggish tendencies of Dog Man, who tries to operate in the human world as a police officer. Dog Man arrives at the ceremony late and covered in dirt because he cannot resist his primal, animalistic nature and the temptation of digging the flowers up. Dog Man’s duality—canine and man—creates comic predicaments that drive the plot as he continues to act in disobedient ways typical of an exuberant dog.
Munchy’s Tattoos
Molly, Li’l Petey, and their friends draw their favorite pictures on Munchy. The children’s creative approach is successful; Munchy, surprised, drops Flippy. Furthermore, he responds affirmatively to their invitation to join their Comic Book Club and stops terrorizing the city. Pilkey suggests that creative outlets can redirect individuals from destructive and antisocial behavior toward friendship, connection, and happiness. This incident alludes to the book’s key theme: The Value of Creativity and Silliness.
Crud Removing the Motor Head
Crud (Grampa) removes the Motor Head, which makes him physically diminish from the multi-armed, immensely muscled figure of supervillain Crud to the small, stooped Grampa. This physical reduction embodies Pilkey’s message: Responding to hatred and anger with love and forgiveness de-escalates situations.
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By Dav Pilkey
