In this essay, I shall be analysing the autistic protagonist Christopher, from Mark Haddon book, the Curious Incident of Dog in Midnight (2003). It will look at Christopher’s inability to understand people’s emotions, reactions, and behaviour. Christopher demonstrated a list of features that may suggest the signs of Asperger’s syndrome (ASD) in this essay I shall also highlight the events, that occurs in Christopher’s life while investigating the mysterious death of his neighbour’s dog. Whilst, unfolding this event, he faced with, multiple challenges and how his needs were shaped accordingly, by these events. I shall also associate and refer work of different educational psychologists towards the protagonist. Throughout in Mark Haddon book, (The Curious Incident of dog in midnight, 2003).Christopher describes himself as a logical thinker, who likes solving puzzles. Therefore, he turns to his favourite logical character the Sherlock Holmes and decides to investigate and track down the real killer of the dog. For Christopher this puzzle needs to solve. His character may reflect a tendency of individual, who is unable to generalise appropriately and may learn one set of rules in one situation. This relates to one of the behaviour difficulties of an ASD child, such as this investigation has caused Christopher many problems, such as, he doesn’t like talking with people for long or been touched. Although, it can be suggested, that Christopher’s behaviour may have displayed, according to Freud (1923) it was his id (Initial Demand) that desired to investigate the dog’s murder. Freud further explains that id is the instinctive part of our personality. It desired whatever felt good at that time, with no consideration for the reality o... ... middle of paper ... ...nd experience by Christopher and these heart felt true meaning of words holds long lasting effect. Works Cited Haddon, M. (2003) the curious Incident of Dog in the Night time: Double day division of Random house • Ainsworth, M. Blehar, M (1978) Pattern of attachment. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum. • Adler, (1948) Studies in analytical psychology. New york: Norton • Bowlby, J. (1988) A Secure base: Parent-Child Attachment and Healthy Human Development. New York: Basic books. • Pound, L (2007) How Children learn. London: Step forward publishing limited. • Kagan, J (1994) handbook of developmental Psychopathy. New york: Plenum Press • Lorenz, S (1998) Children with Down syndrome. London: Fulton publishes. • Amalodoss, K. (2006) Supporting children with autistic spectrum disorder in mainstream schools. London: David Fulton.
Today in the world there are many types of adventures that are closely related to the Hero’s Journey. In the book The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon, it uncovers the adventure of Christopher Boone searching for the killer of Wellington, his neighbor’s dog. Christopher ran away from Swindon, his hometown, because he discovered that his father lied about his mother’s death and that he killed Wellington. While on his adventure, Christopher encounters challenges such as talking to strangers and being followed by a police officer. Since Christopher was a person who showed symptoms of Asperger’s Syndrome, a developmental disorder that affects a person’s ability to socialize with others, it causes him to have a hard time
A few aspects of Asperger Syndrome include limited understanding, outburst of blunt honesty, as well as phobias to specific ideas depending on the person. This affects the individual’s social interactions by making them awkward because they do not understand clichés. Asperger also influences an individual’s academic growth because, though they become intelligent, it takes longer for them to comprehend what he or she is learning. For example, in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, the character, Christopher, dislikes the color yellow because he fears that it will cause his day to become awful, or as he refers to it, a “Black day”. He also does not let people touch him, so to hug his parents, they will just touch palms; however,
The world is plagued with an inseparable mix of good and evil. People make mistakes, but often start out with good intentions. Often times actions live in the grey zone, a combination of good intentions but bad outcomes. In Mark Haddon’s novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time there are many decisions that could be considered morally ambiguous. The story is told from the perspective of an autistic fifteen-year-old, Christopher Boone, who is investigating the death of his neighbor’s dog. His mother, Judy Boone supposedly died two years back, when in actuality she ran off to London with another man and, in turn, has been shut out of Christopher’s life. His father, Ed Boone hides the truth involving Christopher’s mother, pretending
The novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time explores the concept of truth and lies through the eyes of Christopher, the main character, who has autism. His narrative perspective only allows the reader to understand what his own mind is capable of understanding such as his views on lying, facial
Anger is one of the hardest emotions to control. Often, people hold it in, allowing it to build until it bursts, causing damage. In Mark Haddon’s novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, the parents of a child with autism struggle to keep their cool around their son. Christopher’s mother fails to mask her emotions around her son, leaving his father to take care of him. Although his father tries to maintain calm, he often yells at Christopher as his son watches on in careful concentration. Haddon’s authorial choice of making Christopher’s parents lash out reveals irony in that Christopher is the one with the disorder yet is calm, analyzing situations objectively.
Mark Haddon, the author of the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, explores that perspicacity does not hinge upon logical interpretation of one’s surroundings for an autist. He shows this through Christopher’s, the autistic first person narrator, keen interest in science, behavior towards social interaction, and attitude towards external events.
Have you ever thought about what the world looks like in other peoples ' perspective? "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" written by Mark Haddon tell a story about Christopher, a 15-year-old boy who is autistic, uncovers a secret about his parents while solving the mystery of who killed Wellington, his neighbor 's dog. Mark Haddon uses Christopher as the storyteller in order for readers to understand Christopher 's perspective about the world. He uses simple, straightforward diction and syntax, the motif of disability studies and ecocriticism, also application of science and technology in the story to allow the readers to see the world with fresh and logical angle without taking anything for granted.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time is told through the eyes of a fifteen year old boy named Christopher Boone. Christopher has a highly-functioning form of autism which allows him to understand complex mathematical problems, but also leaves him unable to comprehend many simple human emotions. His inability to understand metaphors, distinguish emotions, and his lack of imagination makes it possible to consider Christopher as functioning like a computer rather than functioning as a human being. Throughout the story, Christopher is faced with many challenges which he conquers using the stable and never changing system of mathematics. All of these factors suggest that Christopher does, in fact, function like a computer, but it is apparent early in the story that Christopher, regardless of anything else, is capable of independent thought which separates him from the programmed, dependent world of computers.
Every individual's mind functions in a different and unique way. We all have idiosyncratic behaviours and functions. These distinctive characteristics are what make us who we are. But not all neurological differences help us in our day -to-day lives. Every individual also possess some psychological defects. These issues are clearly portrayed in the novel, The curious incident of the dog in the night-time by Mark Haddon. In this story the protagonist is an autistic boy who faces many challenges in his life. Both his parents also face some complications in coping up with their son. Therefore the central theme in the novel, the curious incident of the dog in the night-time, delineated by Christopher (the autistic boy), the father, and the mother, is that everyone has psychological problems that they need to overcome.
1) People with Autism and Aspergers often behave in an “eccentric” way. When Christopher first sees Wellington’s dead body, he stroked it and wondered who had killed him. Someone who isn’t on the spectrum would have reacted differently, most likely panicking and attempting to get help. Like most Autistics and Aspergians (people with Aspergers), Christopher has a narrow field of interests which he excels at. His knowledge of prime numbers surpasses those of most people who don’t have the condition. Patients with Autism and Aspergers are sometimes unable to distinguish the emotions someone might be feeling, even if the look is clearly conveyed on their face. Christopher writes, “I got Siobhan to draw lots of these faces and then write down next to them exactly what they meant…and took it [piece of paper with faces] out when I didn’t understand what someone was saying” (Haddon, 3). If he wasn’t considered to be on the autism spectrum, he wouldn’t need the paper with the faces to discern what someone was feeling.
Any parent that has a child with a learning disability has a lot to face. Parents deal with ongoing struggles on a daily basis. Having a child with a learning disability can be traumatizing. It’s like learning that a family member suddenly passed away. the curious incident of the dog in the night-time, by Mark Haddon introduces a child named Christopher Boone who suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome. This disability affects Christopher with his daily life. Although Christopher is faced with many problems, he learns to overcome these obstacles with the help of others. Ed Boone, Christopher’s father is a horrible father who makes unforgivable decisions that adds to Christopher’s suffering; fortunately
Christopher is a fifteen-year old boy with Aspergers Autism whose life is full of uncanny surprises. His main focus is on school, and his ability to take the maths A level exams. Unfortunately, that was his focus until he finds Wellington dead on Mrs. Shears’ lawn. Christopher wants to know who killed Wellington and why. He investigates and finds out not only who killed Wellington, but he discovers secrets about his mother and father. In the book “The Curious Incident of the dog in the night-time”, the author, Mark Haddon, shows us how courageous Christopher is throughout his journey. According to Aristotle, a man is courageous when he sets himself free from his fears, pain, and poverty instead of running away from it. According to Aristotle’s theory, Christopher profusely shows courage when he investigates Wellington’s murder and travels to London to find his mom.
The book “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” talks about a curious boy with autism whose name is Christopher John Francis Boone. Christopher tries to solve a case of Mrs. Shears,his neighbor, dogs skeptical death. Christopher lives only with his father. His father tells him that his mother died in the hospital, but she really didn't die. She is still alive and is living with Mrs. Shears ex-husband. The reason why Christopher’s mother isn’t living with him anymore is because she cheated on her husband with Mr. Shears. Christopher starts to slowly understand what was happening then he goes out trying to find his mom in London.
After reading Mark Haddon’s “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” and re-examining what was discussed in class it is clear that Christopher John Francis Boone lies to the right of the autism spectrum with conditions similar to those which used to be classified as Asperger’s. Christopher’s actions and logic show that he struggles greatly with empathizing and that he lives his life in a very systematic way with a clear theory, of which he understands, underlying all of his actions. It can be argued that Christopher lies closer to the middle of the spectrum due to his social skills although, most of the evidence shows that his behavior was consistent with people who have high functioning autism.
The safe haven theory of attachment by John Bowlby develops over the course of the novel, resulting in the secure base trait. In the beginning of the novel, the boy he will not let his father leave his sight. Safe haven attachment towards his father continues as the boy becomes more fearful of the world he lives in. However, he has no choice by the end of the novel but to let go of the safe haven attachment and move into the more secure base characteristic. Thus, the novel reflects many aspects of Bowlby’s attachment theory in child development.