The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time By Mark Haddon

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,

Balance and stability are integral factors of a human life and in maintaining relationships between humans, and can be influenced by whether or not a harmony is found between an individual’s freedom and confinement. These ideas are clearly presented in Mark Haddon’s novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. In this text, Haddon conveys his ideas, through tone and emotive language, that the emotional and mental stability of an individual impact greatly on his or her relationships. Through symbolism, he also describes the way in which a moderate level of isolation is a crucial part in maintaining human relationships. Together, these allow for Haddon’s audience to gain a deeper understanding of humanity and human relationships.

Judy left with Mr. Shears and this caused trouble to Ed, with not knowing what to do, he lied to Christopher. Christopher was lead to believe that his mother had a fatal heart attack and had died later in hospital. Ed was faced with a major decision to make and at the time lying was the only option furthermore seeing the idea that lying was necessary in that case. Christopher would have struggled to understand the concept of his mother leaving with Mr. Shears due to his condition. Later in the novel, Christopher discovers letters that his mother has sent him since she has been gone. Here we see the effect that a lie has on him; he began to feel sick and dizzy. Christopher curled up into a ball and started to have a bad stomach ache, the next thing he says he remembers was waking up and discovering that he had been sick all over him self. Christopher learns a lot from this lie. He goes on an adventure to find his mother as he is scared of his dad; this is because of the lie by omission Ed told. Ed killed Wellington and never admitted it. ‘I couldn’t trust him, even though he had said “Trust me,” because he had told a lie about a big thing’.

(Haddon 122). This shows that all Father was trying to do was to protect Christopher and he didn’t want it to all backfire but as the lie got bigger and stronger it all went downhill. Father was just trying to protect Christopher from the hurtful truth but as it went along it went the wrong way. Christopher was so hurt by this truth that all he wanted to do was run away, in which case he did. Father hid Christopher's book to make sure that he would stop investigating about the murder of Wellington and made sure that he wouldn’t write in that book again, but as Christopher was looking for his book he found a box with envelopes in them, he opened them and started reading. As he started reading he did not know that is whole life was about to change so suddenly. “ Mother had not had a heart attack. Mother had not died. Mother had been alive all the time. And father had lied about this” (Haddon 112). This quote was the actual realization that Christopher’s mother wasn’t dead and that father had lied, this was a shocking moment for Christopher in which he couldn’t even talk or think for that matter. Father was trying to protect Christopher from the information of his mother so suddenly leaving, in

This essay will be an analytical essay where the novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon will be analyzed and interpreted. The focus will be on the language of the novel and the themes and messages.

Shortly after finding the dead dog, Christopher is interviewed by a police officer at the scene of the crime. Things unravel quickly when the officer grabs Christopher; “The policeman took hold of my arm and listed me onto my feet. I didn’t like touching me like this. And this is when I hit him” (Haddon 8). Christopher’s inability to cope appropriately is apparent here and in many other situations in the book.

The novel begins with Christopher stumbling upon the dead dog, Wellington, and gets accused as the killer. If this occurrence did not happen, then Christopher would not have wanted to find the real killer since death is never a drawback for him. In fact, Christopher views death as an inevitable event, so whoever killed Wellington does not pertain to him

In society, people behave very different to situations. This is seen in the book The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, by Mark Haddon. Haddon uses many examples in the novel when Christopher a 15 year old, does not realize how strange and awkward he is acting in instances with other people. The trainstation is a new place for Christopher and Hadden uses awkward behaviors and defense to create surprise.

In Mark Haddon's contemporary novel, "The curious incident of the dog in the Night-Time", the protagonist, Christopher Boone, does seem completely unsuited to narrating a novel, as he takes on his authorial voice, thus demonstrating symptoms of his disability, 'Asperger's Syndrome.' This is a syndrome that enables him to see the world only through his limited perspective, which is closed, frightened and disorientated - which results in his fear of, and inability to understand the perplexing world of people's emotions. His description of events can be somewhat unreliable as he is unable to see the real truths that lie before him. As he narrates, readers are confronted with his peculiarities - whether it is not liking to be touched, his fear

His father has always told Christopher that “If you don't tell the truth now, then later on...it hurts even more,” (120) this is what Christopher has lived by his whole life. The first setback in their relationship has to with the death of Wellington. After wellington dies Christopher is very motivated to figure out who has committed this murder “I am going to find out who killed wellington” (20) Christopher’s father states after his father picks him up from jail. Once they are in the car Christopher tells his father about his plan to find out who has killed wellington and his father tells him to “just try to keep your nose out of other people’s business.” (20) Christopher then later figures out that his father is the one accountable for Wellington's death after his father tells Christopher that he “killed wellington” (120). This is shocking to Christopher because he has always thought that his father was a very honest and trustworthy person. Later he realizes that this was not the only thing that his father has lied to him about. For many years Christopher’s father told him that his mother dies in the hospital due to heart problems and Christopher believes his father because his father has not given him any reason to doubt him until Christopher discovers the letters that his mother has been writing to his for the past few years. Once Christopher realizes that his father has lied to him about his mother and Wellington, Christopher feels like he is not safe living with his father or even being near him, he thinks he has no choice but to run away to his mother, who is now living in London which only puts more of a strain on their

When Christopher’s father comes back home after leaving, he sees Christopher reading his mother’s letters. Christopher’s father was trying to hide the letters from Christopher, but was unsuccessful. When Christopher’s father realizes this he immediately said, “Those are. . . Oh shit. . . Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit." (Haddon 114) knowing that Christopher read the letters from his mother. Christopher’s father said, “I killed Wellington” (Haddon 120) and Christopher could not comprehend whether his father was joking around or being completely honest with him. Christopher’s father tells Christopher the truth about his mother and Wellington after talking about the letters. When Christopher realizes his mother is alive and his father lied to him, he felt betrayed. His father tells Christopher it was for his own good and that he had to keep it a secret from him. Christopher’s thoughts were scattered; he no longer knew whether he could be near his father. The relationship he has with his father is crushed with a simple lie. Christopher’s father who matters to Christopher the most lies to Christopher, and his point of view suddenly shifts when he realizes

Christopher’s father had come to take him out of jail, however Christopher was supposed stay out of trouble, otherwise he would get into deeper trouble. But Christopher was stubborn and still decided to continue the investigation to find out who killed Wellington. His father kept on scolding him on doing so, and he attempted to restrain Christopher from investigating, he even told him to keep his nose out of other’s business. Despite that Christopher was very stubborn

Everybody processes the ideas of death and dying differently. On pp.42-44, Christopher discusses his rabbit’s death, his mother’s death, and the idea of dying.

It has become paramount that composers utilise various techniques in order to influence an individual’s perception of the world. As seen through the eyes of an Aspergers sufferer, Christopher Boone, Mark Haddon’s inventive novel entitle ‘The Curious incident of the Dog in the Night Time’, skilfully portrays how the decisions of significant characters and their relationships shape the overall message about the difficulties of living with a limiting social condition. This is challenged from the unique perspective of Christopher and explicitly seen through the relationship between the protagonist and both his parents. Haddon employs a myriad of techniques through the concepts of the conflicting nature of love, the desperation for a world of

It is a challenge for many children as they grow up to learn to be more independent. It can be particularly difficult for people with learning disabilities to learn how to move through the world on their own. In The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon, Christopher Boone matures into an independent person after experiencing internal and external conflicts. Christopher struggles with his search for independence, and becomes an extreme example of this integral part of growing up.