Independence - Quotes

Christopher's Growing Independence - Quotations

The play can be read as a Coming of Age drama in which Christopher succeeds in becoming more independent. Here are a few quotations about Christopher's independence:

Difficulty communicating

“I find people confusing”

Coping strategies

“Stop groaning. Get your breath. Count the cubes of the cardinal numbers again.”

Listing achievements

“I found my mother. I was brave”
- Christopher lists his achievements to Siobhan at the very end of the play and uses them as proof that he can fulfil his ambitions of going to university, becoming a scientist and living in a house with a garden.

Challenges ahead

“Does that mean I can do anything?”
- The last line of the play, the repeated question, gives audiences the opportunity to reflect on the challenges which still lie ahead for Christopher. We know that he has not fully settled into his new flat with Judy and that he will still occasionally wet himself if the shared toilet has not been cleaned by his mother first.

1Introduction & Context

1.1Novel & Play

1.1.1Mark Haddon's Novel (2003)

1.1.2Simon Stephens' Adaptions (2012)

1.2Christopher's Autism

1.2.1Christopher's Autism

1.2.2End of Topic Test - Introduction & Context

2Form, Structure & Language

2.1Dramatic Devices

2.1.1Writing About the Text as a Playscript

2.1.2Dramatic Devices

2.2Genre & Structure

2.2.1Genre

2.2.2Structure

2.3Language

2.3.1Language

2.3.2End of Topic Test - Form, Structure & Language

3Text Summary & Analysis

3.1Part One

3.1.1Discovering the Dead Dog & Christopher's Autism

3.1.2The Policeman & Siobhan

3.1.3The Police Station & Ed's Entry

3.1.4Mother's Death & Beginning the Investigation

3.1.5Ed's Frustrations & Revisiting Mrs Alexander

3.1.6Remembering Judy & "Fight" Scene

3.1.7Judy's Letters

3.1.8Ed's Confession

3.1.9End of Topic Test - Part One

3.1.10End of Topic Test - Part One 2

3.2Part Two

3.2.1Preparing to Run Away & Train Station

3.2.2On the Train & Arriving in London

3.2.3On the Tube & Arriving at Judy's House

3.2.4Policeman, Ed Visits & Tensions

3.2.5Back in Swindon & New Beginnings

3.2.6The End & Maths Appendix

3.2.7End of Topic Test - Part Two

3.2.8End of Topic Test - Part Two cont....

4Themes

4.1Themes

4.1.1Independence

4.1.2Parenting

4.1.3Order & Disorder

4.1.4End of Topic Test - Themes

5Recap: Main Quotes

5.1Part One - Quotes

5.1.1The Dead Dog & Christopher's Autism - Quotations

5.1.2The Policeman & Siobhan - Quotations

5.1.3The Police Station & Ed's Entry - Quotations

5.1.4Mother's Death & Investigation - Quotations

5.1.5Ed's Frustrations & Mrs Alexander - Quotations

5.1.6Remembering Judy & "Fight" Scene - Quotations

5.1.7Judy's Letters & Ed's Confession - Quotations

5.2Part Two - Quotes

5.2.1Preparing to Run Away & Train Station - Quotations

5.2.2On the Train & Arriving in London - Quotations

5.2.3On the Tube & Judy's House - Quotations

5.2.4Policeman, Ed Visits & Tensions - Quotations

5.2.5Back in Swindon & New Beginnings - Quotations

5.2.6The End & Maths Appendix - Quotations

5.3Themes - Quotes

5.3.1Independence - Quotes

5.3.2Parenting - Quotes

5.3.3Order & Disorder - Quotes

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