All Creatures Great and Small | Themes & Symbolism

All Creatures Great and Small Significant Topics

Dedication

The life of a vet is not easy, and Herriot's dedication to his work is tested throughout this book. Whether it involves pulling himself out of bed in the middle of the night for the second time or blindly struggling up a hill in a blizzard, Herriot never allows his work to slide. Even though Herriot may be tired, he gives his all to his patients, even when he is sick or just plain tired. For example, his first round of testing cows for tuberculosis turns out to be a fiasco, but he slogs through. The vision of sick children infected by bad milk keeps him going. Even when he is supposed to be on his honeymoon, Herriot takes the week to help Dr. Farnon with the scheduled testing for tuberculosis.

Mercy

Several times throughout these stories, mercy is important. Herriot always struggles to do what is right, especially when he...
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