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Why does Jody Baxter have to shoot Flag in The Yearling?
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In Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' novel, The Yearling, Jody Baxter is forced to shoot Flag, the fawn he adopted, because the fawn repeatedly eats the family's crops. This difficult decision is made by Jody's father, and the tragic event serves as a catalyst for Jody's growth into greater maturity and a deeper understanding of the challenges of his family's life.1