How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"The buzzards would find Flag by the pool in the sink-hole. He began to be sick again" (33.25)
Well, this is a little hypocritical: Jody loves eating deer meat, but he sure doesn't want to share it with the buzzards. Or, maybe the problem is that Flag has become like a person to him—since the yearling is a symbol of his childhood, and all. Don't want the buzzards to eat that.
Quote #8
"Flag was dead" (33.27)
… Along with Jody's childhood. Do you get it? No really, do you get it? Probably—but if you want to read even more about how Flag is a symbol for Jody's childhood, check out our discussion in "Symbols."
Quote #9
"Death could be borne. Fodder-wing had died and he was able to bear it. Betrayal was intolerable" (33.32)
Both Fodder-wing and Flag are symbols of slash parts of Jody's childhood, but Fodder-wing's death doesn't cause a huge emotional crisis for Jody—he just dies. It's sad, but it's also natural and, let's face it, kind of expected. Flag's death, though, causes a major case of growing pains: first Ma Baxter shoots him, and then Jody has to finish the job. Yep, that'll make anyone grow up.