The Curious Incident...: Themes

The Curious Incident…: Themes

“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time”: Themes

Truth and Deception

• The theme of Truth and Deception is central to Christopher Boone’s investigative journey.
• Christopher favours truthfulness and factual information, making it a personal mission to find out who killed Wellington. This shows his desire for truth, both as a basic moral principle and a requirement due to his autism.
• The deception lies in how the truth about Wellington’s murder is hidden from Christopher, causing him distress and challenging his trust in his father.
• Additionally, the ongoing deception about his mother’s ‘death’ reinforces this theme further, demonstrating the negative impact of deceit on relationships.

The Chaos of Reality

• Reality versus order is another prevalent theme. Christopher’s world is all about order and routine, something that is drastically disrupted when he ventures into the real world in search of his mother.
• Christopher’s take on the reality is perceived through his mathematical and logical thinking. He uses these skills to make sense of the world around him, which often appears chaotic and confusing.
• The empirical world of train schedules, city maps and street signs becomes a source of anxiety for Christopher, almost making the world a character in itself, a hostile one.

Family Relationships

• Family Relationships also play a crucial role in the narrative. The book explores the dynamic between Christopher and his father, his mother, and the mysterious Mr Shears.
• Christopher’s relationships with his parents are noticeably strained due to his condition and their inability to fully understand and accommodate his needs.
• His mother, Judy, is absent for most of the book, allowing for an exploration of how the absence of a parent can impact the family unit.
• Ed Boone’s relationship with Christopher changes over time – initially protective, then regretful after his confession – which underlines the hardships and responsibilities that come along with being a parent of a special needs child.