The Curious Incident: A Misleading Portrayal of the Autistic Community Grace E Cornelius College

Introduction

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, by Mark Haddon, has long been praised for its representation of the autistic community. Since its publication in May of 2003, Haddon has received several compliments by notable critics for his work. “Funny, sad and totally convincing” – A review from Time Magazine. The Daily Telegraph writes, “Beautifully written … Heart-in-the-mouth stuff, terrifying and moving. Haddon is to be congratulated for imagining a new kind of hero, for the humbling instruction this warm and often funny novel offers and for showing that the best lives are lived where difference is cherished.” Finally, Entertainment Weekly writes, “Haddon’s book illuminates the way one mind works so precisely, so humanely, that it reads like both an acutely observed case study and an artful exploration of a different ‘mystery’: the thoughts and feeling we share even with those very different from us”. (Amazon reviews, 2021).

Haddon’s novel shines light on the inner mind of a 15-year-old boy, Christopher, who is presumed by the readers to have autism (although the novel never specifically mentions autism or Asperger’s Syndrome, only that Christopher has some “Behavioral Problems”, as he puts it on page...