Themes In Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Nighttime

Autism, Language, and Communication

Essay Example on Themes The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Nighttime

Although the word ‘Asperger’s’ isn’t mentioned in the novel there is clear evidence that the young 15yr old character Christopher suffers from this syndrome. This condition causes Christopher to lack the ability of understanding others emotions and key facial expressions. He expresses himself in a simple and straightforward way always speaking what he thinks and feels. In the novel Christopher mentions he ‘finds people confusing’.

Chris can understand the verbal side of things but cannot interpret the things he cannot hear like facial expressions, gestures and emotions. He explains that ‘people do too much talking without using words and often talk using metaphors.’ Siobhan draws facial expressions like sad and happy to help Christopher understand others emotions. In the novel Ed is recalled using the metaphor ‘I laughed my socks off’ but Christopher was unable to comprehend what this meant as he takes things very literally and lacks the ability to interpret what is meant.

When he expresses himself he does it in a very obvious way by speaking his mind.

Detective

CIDNT is set up through Christopher writing a detective novel and is based around finding who killed Mrs Shears dog, Wellington. As the book goes on much more than expected is revealed about Christopher’s world around him. His imagination takes over and takes Christopher on a journey never imagined. Chris refers the book he is writing as ‘a murder mystery’ novel but it turns out this may not be just a case of murder.

Get quality help now

Bella Hamilton

Verified

Proficient in: Environmental Science

5 (234)

“ Very organized ,I enjoyed and Loved every bit of our professional interaction ”

+84 relevant experts are online

Hire writer

Ed is revealed to be Wellington’s killer and Chris is led to the belief that he can no longer trust his father. Christopher is uncovered as more than just a boy with Asperger’s and is known to be a very gifted boy. His curiosity and useful traits allow him to work out several mysteries. Christopher’s brain ‘is like a film’ and this allows him to remember many things about incidents that hav…