Mark Haddon's Challenges

Mark Haddon’s novel The Curious Incident of the dog in the Night-Time, shows how different characters react in adversities they face. The novel focus’s on an autistic 15 year old, who enters on a journey to find out who kills his neighbour’s dog, which results in him finding his mother and also learning that he is capable of anything, despite the challenges he faces. Hadden explores different characters responses to different challenges, which arise throughout the text. Hadden’s use of characterisation, themes and also symbols, allow the reader to identify these reactions and challenges.

When Judy Boone, Christopher’s mother, faces adversity she reacts abandoning her problems. Hadden expresses Judy as a character who is unable to cope with

Ed is a very “level-headed person” and is persistent with Christopher, however his patients is put to the test with Christopher’s behaviour issues. When he faces up to Christopher being a detective behind his back, he gets “angry and [grabs]” Christopher before hitting him. Hadden then expresses his character as abusive at times and an emotional drinker who always has a “can of beer” when he deals with Christopher’s behaviour issues. When Ed faces bigger problems, such as Christopher’s mum leaving the family, he again gets “really angry”, before he decides to conceal the truth from Christopher. He resorts into telling Christopher that his “mother [dies]”, which becomes one of the major conflicts in the text. Hadden’s use of the theme truth and lies shows that “it’s impossible” to tell the truth all the time and gives justice for Ed’s reaction as everyone, even Christopher “tells lies”. Although Ed’s reactions seem harsh, he also presents emotional reactions when he faces the challenge of regaining Christopher’s trust. Ed exploits his trust with Christopher after telling him his mother dies, he is persistent in getting it back. He decides to make “a project” that they “have to do together” in order to gain each other trust. Hadden’s challenging theme of trust and use of characterisation creates these conflicts and different reactions. When Ed faces challenges