Character Relationship Map: Rocky

Characters

• John Hammond (played by Edgar Barrier) — supporting

  John is a painter and Chris Hammond's father. He and Chris encounter Bert Hillman while Hillman is searching for a wild dog that has killed a sheep. John is wary that the surviving puppy may grow into...

• Bert Hillman (played by Irving Bacon) — supporting

  Bert is a farm foreman in the area. He and his helper search for a wild dog after it kills one of their sheep. They find the dog and kill it and one of its pups; after Bert leaves, John and Chris disc...

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• John Hammond → Bert Hillman (Social Acquaintance) — John and Bert have a brief social connection established through their meeting near the farms.

  The plot states that John Hammond meets Bert Hillman, who is the foreman on a nearby farm, while Hillman is searching for a sheep-killing wild dog.

Story Analysis

A rural moral dilemma develops when a surviving puppy becomes linked to repeated sheep killings.

Plot Progression

1. A Threat Near The Farms — Bert Hillman searches for a wild dog blamed for killing sheep. John meets Bert as the rural community reacts to the threat.
2. The Surviving Puppy — The wild dog and one pup are killed, but another puppy is found alive after Bert leaves. John takes notice of the survivor.
3. A Risky Act Of Care — The surviving puppy is brought home. John fears its inherited hunting instinct but allows it to be raised in hopes of controlling that danger.
4. Suspicion Returns — Further sheep killings occur across nearby farms. John immediately suspects the puppy, turning his earlier concern into an urgent accusation.