the dog in the night-time
a novel by mark haddon
CHARACTER ANALYSIS
Christopher understands he is different than most people are. He hates talking about things he feels are not important. Christopher doesn't have many friends and it takes a lot for him to trust people, especially strangers. He gets nervous around people he doesn't know and refuses to talk at all to strangers. At the end of the book he dreams about being the only person on the planet and doing whatever he wanted. Such as getting all the video games and computer games at the store. He knows he is great math student which makes him push so hard to take the Maths A level test. He has a great memory which allows him to remember events that happened in the past and he remembers the layouts of specific places. Going to new places makes him nervous because he doesn't know everything around him or have a memorization of the place. When he finds out his mother isn't dead and has been sending him letters from London he gets very upset. He rebels against his father and goes to London all alone. This led to his journey alone in which he had to be independent an act on his own. At the end of the novel, Christopher feels that the trip to London has prepared him to be able to be on his own. He feels he has developed more as an independent person.
DEVELOPMENT
Christopher wants to finish the book so he goes looking for it, but in doing so he finds some unopened letters. Hidden in a box was letters from his mother who was no longer with them. The letters speak of the mother's life in London along with Mr.Shears. Christopher passes out in disbelief with the letters surrounding him leaving his father to find him with the damage he has created. He tried to apologize but Christopher is different and he just refuses to speak. His father feels bad about his lies but he was just trying to keep him safe. His father also tells him the truth about killing Wellington. This leaves Christopher fearing his father and his life as well as no longer trusting his father. The theme then shows his desire to become independent. He then runs aways to London in search of his mother in which he faces problems along the way in which he must use social interaction. He does many things in which he starts to become more independent. When he arrives Mr. Shears does not enjoy his company. This creates arguments between his mother and Mr.Shears. His mother then decides to leave London and return to Swindon taking Mr.Shears car. Christopher was in such a rush to get back to take his math tests further frustrating his mother. When they return Christopher is still deathly afraid of his father and will not speak one word to him. He locks himself in his room, so he feels safe. His father does not want the mother living with them, so she gets a small apartment in which she and Christopher live. He gets an A on his special math tests leaving him to want to further his studies and one day attend a university.