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...
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...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.
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.
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 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
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time exhibits real life situations experienced by an autistic, 15-year-old boy, from his own panorama. Christopher’s use of first person perspective ensures that his view on events are explained with accurate, detailed description, enhancing the responders understanding of how the mind of one with Asperger’s syndrome functions. This concept is elaborated on in Christopher’s struggle to become independent as the responder is able to grasp Christopher’s defensive mechanisms to dealing with stressful situations. Christopher narration “so I groaned to make the time pass quicker and not think” during a fit where his tendency to shut down and curl himself into a ball is essentially revealed substantiates his struggle to become independent as his
While trust is a somewhat common theme in modern novels, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime manages to portray how it affects people in their day to day lifestyle. The book tells the story of Christopher Boone a young boy with autism and his murder mystery novel about the murder of his neighbor's dog. Why this novel is significant is because Mark Haddon tells the story that many young people with autism, like Christopher, live everyday and who’s view on life and the idea of trust and understanding of the world is drastically different than any teenager.
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.
Christopher's autism has led him to a life scared of things such as strangers and being touched.
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