At this point the “murder mystery” of the problem is solved. Christopher’s father killed the dog…but the novel doesn’t end there. The book has become a sort of diary for him, a way to journal his thoughts and experiences, questions he has and so on. It is his connection to the outside world that is comforting to him and is evident with how distraught he was when it was taken away. I think the novel has evolved from a murder mystery of the dog to Christopher’s uncovering of what happened to his mother. It goes from discovering who killed to who is alive. It could also be that this novel is about solving the mystery of how Christopher feels and interacts with the world and learning about his thoughts throughout the story.
At several instances during the novel Christopher fantasizes about a world with no people in it or one that the only ones that are left are "special people like me" (pp. 198–200). He is very comforted by these fantasies. I think a lot of his comfort in these fantasies is common for someone with Autism. Since he has such a hard time understanding the way people work, their emotions, and the ways people interact with one another, he sees these fantasies as a way for him to avoid dealing with all of that. In a world of people just like him, he doesn't have to worry about trying to fit in. I also think he is comforted because all of the things that scare him about people would not exist anymore. Although when he's going to London, he is really scared and just wants to go home and he doesn't even know what his home really is, he just wants to be in a safe place and not necessarily with people. All of the things going on around him are scary to him and he thinks being alone would make it better. His fantasies create a world where he has full control of things.
“And he said, ‘I killed Wellington, Christopher.’ “(pg 120)
The mystery is solved. Christopher’s father killed Wellington because after his wife was found to be having an affair with Mr. Shears he and Mrs. Shears got close. They commiserated together and he fell for her and her company. However, Mrs. Shears cared more about her dog than anything else in the world. After a couple of fights his father got so riled up that he killed the dog. This explains why he was so forceful about Christopher’s investigation and such. But now that the mystery is solved why is there more to the book...? With the letters we now have some insight on Christopher’s mother. She had an affair with Mr. Shears and moved away with him to London where they now live. She left Christopher and his father because she thought that they would be better off without her. She is hot-tempered and could not deal with Christopher’s behavioral problems (which is still no excuse to hit a child). Basically she runs away and uses excuses to make herself feel better for leaving her child and husband. She claims that they will be better off without her and uses that as an excuse to get out of taking care of Christopher and dealing with everyday problems.
Haddon does something remarkable. In the next chapter (157) Christopher discovers that there are 43 letters written and addressed to him in the same handwriting. These letters provide insight into his mother’s mind much like the book leading up to this point has been showing the intricacies of Christopher’s mind. This revealed secret is the key that allows all the puzzle pieces of Christopher’s mystery to fall into place. Since this was a secret that his father was keeping from him there was no way he would have figured it out without the letters or his father telling him (which wouldn’t have happened for the same reason he hid the letters).
Christopher’s mother, we learn, is really alive. The letter is dated a year and a half after she supposedly died. In finding the letter and what it contains Christopher’s world is thrown off balance. His brain cannot process the contradictory facts so he decides that the letter is for a different Christopher. He is incapable of believing that his father, and mother for that matter, would lie to him purposefully. He also determines that he’ll have to go back and look at the other letters since one is not enough proof.
Occam's razor is based on two principles: The principle of plurality states that plurality should not be posited without necessity and the principle of parsimony states that it is pointless to do with more what is done with less. Based on this razor Christopher has narrowed the suspect down to someone who he knows. Mrs. Shear's, Mr. Shear's, and his Father. Christopher’s Father only seems to be nice to him when he needs to make up to him. His offer to take Christopher to the Zoo seems like a bribe to get him to like him again after he knocked Christopher out. Even so there are several instances in the novel where you can see that his father really cares for Christopher. I think he’s afraid to lose Christopher especially after losing his wife. His father may be lying to him in order to protect him from the hurt he feels.
Christopher explains how he goes back and reviews his memories. He rewinds his brain to a certain point and can replay the memory like a video.
“My memory is like a film. That is why I am really good at remembering things, like the conversations I have written down in this book, and what people are wearing, and what they smelled like, because my memory has a smelltrack which is like a soundtrack” (pg 76). This passage highlights Christopher’s mind. It also gives credit to the stories and events in the novel. Because Christopher has this sort of memory and the fact that he doesn’t lie (except white lies) he is a reliable character. The reader knows that everything he recounts is the truth that Christopher sees however he is unable to read other people therefore he is unable to tell when others are lying to him. |
Taylor MeiserA reading of Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. ArchivesCategories |