Christopher's Journey in The Curious Incident of The Dog in The Night-time

Introduction

There are five significant quotes in the book, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon. This novel is centered around a 15-year-old boy with autism investigating the suspicious death of a neighborhood dog and keeping track of what happens through his journal, which is this book. The first quote is when Christopher Boone is in Mrs. Shears's backyard; he discovers that “the dog [is] dead. There [is] a garden fork sticking out of the dog” (Haddon, 2003, p. 1). This is arguably the most crucial quote in the book; this mishap is what sets up the series of life-changing events Christopher is about to face. He is driven to uncover the mystery of who killed Mrs. Shears’s dog, Wellington, but what he doesn’t know is that it’s a catalyst for many more conflicts to come.

Prime Numbers and Christopher’s Perspective

Throughout the book, the chapters are numbered only in prime numbers. This is because Christopher, who is on the autism spectrum, feels comfortable and safe with these numbers. He mentions that “prime numbers are what is left when you have taken all the patterns away” and he thinks that prime numbers “are like life. They are very logical but [one] [can] never work out the rules, even if [one] spend[s] all [their] time thinking about them” (Haddon, 2003, p. 12). This quote is significant because it gives the readers an insight into how the protagonist thinks; he relies on logic, which is why he excels in math and science but struggles with understanding social rules used every day in life such as facial expressions. He has poor social skills and is often unable to understand any principles behind them; but like prime numbers, he accepts that he may never know its rules. This acceptance highlights his unique way of interacting with the world, offering a deeper understanding of his character.

Christopher’s Determination and Ambition

Despite struggling socially, Christopher doesn’t let this weakness bring him down. He declares that he is “going to prove that [he] [is] not stupid” and next month, he will take his “A level in maths and [...] get an A grade” (Haddon, 2003, p. 44), which no one has ever accomplished before. In addition, he plans to “take A-level further maths and physics” (Haddon, 2003, p. 45) so he can go to a university. This is one of the many important examples of what his mindset is like and how strong-minded he is. He wants to prove to others that he’s not stupid. He recognizes his weaknesses and his strengths, and he doesn’t hesitate to set ambitious goals for himself. His determination is a testament to his resilience and his refusal to be defined by his challenges.

The Revelation of Family Secrets

During his journey to expose Wellington’s killer, he finds out that his father has been lying to him the whole time about his mother’s death by reading her letters in a hidden box. His mother did not have a “heart attack. [His] mother did not die. [She] [has] been alive all the time” (Haddon, 2003, p. 112). This is a pivotal point in the story—Christopher is led into yet another major conflict aside from the mystery of the murdered dog. This time, he’s out to find out why his father has kept these secrets from him and why his mother has left him in the first place. Therefore, a seed is planted in his head; he has to make his way to London and find his mother, but he’s not sure if he can handle being alone without an adult guiding him along the way. But one thing is for certain—his relationship with his father will never hold the same trust as it did before. This discovery challenges Christopher’s understanding of trust and family, propelling him into a journey of personal growth and self-discovery.

Conclusion: Christopher’s Triumph

Lastly, after Christopher resolves both of his conflicts of finding out who the killer was and ultimately finding his mother, he reveals that he has received an A grade on his A level math test. Then, he mentions that all of his future ambitions involve getting a First Class Honors degree and becoming a scientist. Christopher knows that “[he] can do this because [he] went to London and solved the mystery of who killed Wellington” and that “[he] was brave and wrote a book [which] means [he] can do anything” (Haddon, 2003, p. 221). This quote on the final page of the book is momentous. This is what wraps up the story; it is the ultimate moment when Christopher proves that even with some difficulty and struggle understanding the world around him, he is still able to determine and achieve his goals with perseverance and courage. His journey is an inspiring testament to the power of resilience and determination in overcoming personal challenges.

References

Haddon, M. (2003). The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. Random House.