sparknotes the curious incident of the dog in the nighttime

Although Christopher has loving parents and a highly trained, compassionate teacher, his journey to London demonstrates the obstacles he will face as he grows into an adult and seeks his independence. When he rocks, groans, or hides on a luggage rack for hours at a time, people mock or yell at him. In public with strangers, Christopher resorts to barking like a dog to keep people away from him. Christopher and his father even develop a special “hug,” which involves holding up their palms and touching fingertips, like a secret handshake to show affection in a way that doesn’t upset Christopher. At school and home, people accept Christopher’s aversion and know to keep their distance. For example, Christopher has an extreme aversion to physical touch. The range of Christopher’s interactions expands when he travels to London by himself, and this journey underground offers a more vivid glimpse into just how harrowing the world can be to someone like Christopher, and how much the world misunderstands him. Christopher’s social circle is extremely restricted for a fifteen-year-old boy, and these social limitations offer a glimpse into the limited opportunities he will likely face as an adult, despite his many talents, as the bulk of the population is ill-equipped to understand and accommodate Christopher.

For the most part, Christopher does not socialize beyond this small handful of adults, and any exceptions tend to be catastrophic, such as when he is arrested for striking a police officer who touches him. Alexander-who does not play a major role in his life-seems to know him well enough to exhibit patience and adjust her expectations according to his condition. Siobhan, Christopher’s teacher, is specially trained to help Christopher navigate the demands of life. Although Christopher’s father becomes easily angry, he builds his entire life around accommodating Christopher’s disorder and obviously has an inexhaustible supply of love for his son. In the first half of the novel, the majority of Christopher’s interactions are with people who know Christopher very well and understand his unique needs. Although his IQ appears above average, Christopher’s experiences and interactions are very limited by his developmental disorder. Social DisorderĬhristopher’s condition affects the way he connects and communicates with others. Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work.

Sparknotes the curious incident of the dog in the nighttime