Christopher's Autism
English Lit: Edexcel IGCSE The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, topic 1.2.1
Haddon's View on Autism in the Novel
That Christopher is autistic is never mentioned in the play or in the original novel. However, the blurb of the original novel mentions Asperger Syndrome - a form of autism.
Regret about blurb
- Mark Haddon is on record as saying that, for him, the novel was “not a book about Asperger’s”.
- Haddon said he regretted the mention of Asperger Syndrome that appeared in the blurb of the original novel.
- He wanted his novel to have a universal appeal and not be pigeon-holed as ‘a book about autism’.
Reader and professional feedback
- That being said, both the novel and the play are shaped by Christopher’s unique perspective of the world around him.
- Many readers, including medical experts working in the field of behavioural disorders such as autism, have praised the texts’ representation of living with a condition such as Asperger’s.
Haddon's Portrayal of Christopher's Autism
Although each individual with autism is unique, certain behavioural traits are associated with the condition, many of which are displayed by Christopher.
Autistic traits
- These traits stem from developmental difficulties in two key areas:
- Communication/interaction with others.
- Repetitive behaviours.
Difficulty communicating
- Christopher finds it difficult to communicate with other people.
- As he says, early in the play, “I find people confusing”.
- Christopher is unable to ‘read’ people’s facial expressions, tone of voice or their use of sarcasm and humour.
- He processes language very literally, finding metaphors and idiomatic language difficult to comprehend.
Difficulty empathising
- Christopher also struggles to demonstrate empathy with other people, finding it difficult to interpret other people’s feelings unless they are communicated in clear, factual language.
- Christopher also struggles to learn in an appropriate, socially conventional manner in certain situations. This may make him appear ‘cold’ or insensitive at key moments in the play, such as the scene where his father tells him that his mother has died.
Comfort from routine
- Christopher is at times distressed and confused by the unpredictable and chaotic nature of the world around him and, like many other people living with autism, finds safety and reassurance in routines and repetitive behaviour.
- This can be seen at various points in the play, such as his aversion to the colours yellow and brown and by the ritual touching of hands he uses to show affection to his father.
Test yourself on Christopher's Autism
Why did Haddon say he regretted mentioning Asperger's in the blurb?
What is NEVER mentioned in the novel or play?
Where, in the original novel, is Asperger Syndrome mentioned?
What does Christopher say to show his difficulty in communicating with others?