The Character of Christopher in the Curious Incident of Dog in Midnight

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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.

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