Relationships In The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time

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Relationships can only survive through adapting to constant change. Without that aspect, they would not last. In Mark Haddon’s novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, a boy with Aspergers goes through life surrounded by mystery, dishonesty, and dysfunctionality. Because of this, secrets are revealed, relationships are changed, and the connection between family is brought into a new light. Through these events, the boy and his family discover and rediscover their ties with each other. In The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, the author demonstrates that the ability to adapt and change is the most essential characteristic in life because it strengthens relationships, as illustrated through Christopher, his mother …show more content…

The biggest reconnection Christopher encounters is with his mother. It begins when he finds a series of letters addressed to him in his father’s closet. Upon reading the letters, he makes the shocking discovery that his mother is alive, not dead, as his father previously tells him. Later, in trying to explain why he hides the truth, his father confesses he kills Wellington. As Christopher comes to these revelations, he immediately decides, “‘I had to go to London to live with Mother.’” (Haddon 131). This is a very powerful example of adapting. Christopher decides on the spot to go live with his mom despite not seeing her for years. The attitude of ‘sudden decisions’ without thinking long and hard about the full outcome is uncommon for him, and yet he comes to this solution in almost no time at all. Also, the wording of the sentence is very specific. He uses the word 'had' instead of 'can', which proves the idea is already set in his mind. As a result, this proves he already trusts his mother and is willing to adjust to go to her. Besides Christopher, his mother also expresses a likewise characteristic of adaptation to renew …show more content…

Judy’s most notable adjustment is displayed after Christopher and she meet outside of her apartment. When Christopher goes to London to live with Judy, he does not alert her to his coming. When he arrives, it is a surprise to her. She goes to hug him, forgetting he does not like to be touched in that way. When he flinches away, she instead "held up her right hand and spread her fingers out in a fan" (Haddon 191). Judy displays an important example of adapting in this moment because in the heat of the moment, she wanted nothing more than to embrace him, but because of his reaction she immediately adjusts and does the hand touch. The hand touch is their family’s way of displaying love with minimal physical contact as Christopher does not like to be hugged. She has not seen or talked to Christopher in years but still remembers their old way of showing their love to each other. Along with Judy, Christopher’s father also demonstrates the importance of adapting for relationships when called

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