Analysis of the Boone Family

Ed Boone is a single father of Christopher, an autistic child. Ed lives with his son in Swindon, England. He works as a heating engineer and possibly suffers from diabetes as “he has to carry a little packet of artificial sweetening tablets around with him to put in his coffee to stop him from getting fat” (p.56) Ed is portrayed as a person who follows the rules, he also likes things that are in a certain order “He always puts his trousers on before he puts his socks on.” Yet sometimes Ed doesn’t follow the rules, “Father often drives at over 30 mph in a 30 mph zone sometimes he drives when he has been drinking and often he doesn’t wear his seatbelt.” (p.38)

Ed Boone lovingly cares for his son Christopher, yet he also struggles with frustration. Frustration of not being able to understand is son. Not being able to understand what Christopher means. Overall Christopher loves his son, which is why he wants to protect from his mother who left him.

Judy Boone left her son, because she could not take the problems with Christopher, and the frustration that came with him. Ed told Christopher that his mother, died from a heart attack, while in truth, she eloped to London with Mr. Shears. Ironically while Judy is having relations with Mr. Shears, Ed is involved with an affair with, Mrs. Shears. Ed never informs Christopher of the affair. Ed, however does hint at It when he said “She needed company and didn’t want to be on her own” This does show Ed’s compassion while it may seem like he was acting of revenge he took a lonely person in. He was later rewarded in sexual favors for taking Mrs. Shears in, yet he still made her feel welcomed. The affair got so serious that he thought that Mrs. Shears and he might move into a house togethe...

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...hen Christopher want to take the A-levels. He differs from his wife Judy in the fact that he fights for Christopher in the scenario. He fights for the possibility for Christopher to take his exams. “He would pay someone £50 to look after Christopher while taking his exams” (p.57) He loved his son, he wanted to succeed. He wanted what was for Christopher. Overall Ed was a good father to Christopher, yet sometimes he let his frustration and emotions get away from him. He had two women who left him and that was more than enough to push him over the edge. He had no one to talk to other than Christopher, and Christopher could not understand him entirely. He took to what he thought was best, disguising his problems by drinking them away and hiding them. He tries to be strong father for Christopher, but it eventually hurts him instead of helps him when Christopher leaves.