Norvell is an independent educational writer who specializes in English and literature. She holds degrees in linguistics and journalism. In this essay, Norvell discusses why Manto's use of a dog as the victim in his story is effective and gives the story a universality it otherwise would not have.

Manto's choice of a dog to be the innocent victim of brutality in "The Dog of Tithwal" is appropriate and effective in many ways. Although the story's subject matter is remote from the experience of contemporary Western readers, Manto's use of the dog gives the story universal impact.

The relationship between dogs and humans is, of course, unique. With no other animal have humans formed a bond so close and complex. In most cultures, the dog is esteemed and even loved, though in a few parts of the world dogs are shunned by humans. The vast majority of...