Themes Of Autism, Society and Family in The Black Balloon and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time

“The Black Balloon” and “ The curious incident of the dog in the night time” show two different perspectives on Autism.

I'll show this through the 3 major themes over all in the text which are Autism, Family and Society. I show the main two theme “ autism, family and society” by explaining and giving evidence on how it reflects back into the two texts we studied over the term from The Black Balloon and the curious incident of the dog in the night time In both of text we studied Autism was one of the major themes which was in both “ The curious incident of the dog in the night - time.” and “The Black Balloon.”

The two characters who had autism in the texts we studied had different levels of Autism, which gave us different views on autism. Charlie from “ The black balloon” had level 2 / 3 autism which affects charlie from been able to speak properly and have social activity with other people. He was able to give sign language with his family and tried his best to give social skills but he seemed to struggle with those major aspects. Charlie had to attend a different school of people at the same level as him.

Christopher in the novel “The curious incident of the dog in the night-time.” seems to have mild level of autism, he can communicate with others and he's high functioning. In the novel it shows he has high level in math and seems to know a lot about the world. (“My name is Christopher John Francis Boone. I know all the countries of the world and their capital cities and every prime number up to 7, 507.” Haddon, ( 2003 )page 2 )

Charlie and christopher both don tlike been touched or yelled out which i see as something common in autism. (“I do not like people shouting at me. It makes me scared that they are going to hit me or touch me and I do not know what is going to happen. Haddon, ( 2003 ), Page 4 ). Both of the texts we have studied do show difference but also similarities. In the future Christopher maybe have a chance on living by himself but charlie will also need someone to care for him and won't be able to get a job but christopher might be able to extend his way in his high level math and get a job as he is more capable. Society has a major part in both of the text we have studied. It shows how people see others with autism and it also come back into real life and how how people truly do see people with autism.

In the black balloon we categories where people should go to school such as charlie doesn't attend a normal high school with his brother Tom and is sent to a school with people with the same ability as him. In the novel Mrs Shears assumes that Christopher had killed the dog and this may because he has autism but christopher does say the dog was his friend. ( “what in fuck’s name have name have you done to my dog” ) Haddon, 2003, Page 4) My thought is that she assumes that it's all hes fault because he's different. In The Black Balloon the next door neighbours call child protection because they're sick of all the screaming and yelling because of charlie so they don't understand what it's like to have autistic child.

When Charlie gets of the bus at Tom's school in the “ The black balloon” All of the kids start yelling and screaming picking on him but they clearing dont understand that it makes things worse. Also When Charlie goes to the shops and his dad says no to buying something charei threw a tantrum and everyone is the shop is just staring and doesn't have a clue what to do, while Tom was embarrassed. Society doesn't have a clear concept on what it is and how we should react and treat people that may have autism and when we see something happen, we all intend to stare. Family in the two texts we covered this term were very different, none of the families were alike and 2 very different back grounds. Charlie has two parents and 2 sibling and his dad is in the army and mum is pregnant. Christopher's has his dad and that all he thought his mum past away but later in the novel we find out she left christopher and his dad. Charlies family have a lot going on in the movie and the need to give charlie full time care or he goes crazy. Tom seems to feel a bit left out when they have their start chart and after charlie been naughty they still buy him the game control, Tom seems to feel like everything is his responsibility and that he can't do anything without being embarrassed.

Christopher's dad lies to him about his mum until the end of the novel and he finds out the truth. ( “Mother had not had a heart attack. Mother had not died. Mother had been alive all the time. And Father had lied about this. I tried really hard to think if there was any other explanation but I couldn’t think of one. And then I couldn’t think of anything at all because my brain wasn’t working properly. I felt giddy.

It was like the room was swinging from side to side, as if it was at the top of a really tall building and the building was swinging backward and forward in a strong wind (this is a simile, too). But I knew that the room couldn’t be swinging backward and forward, so it must have been something which was happening inside my head. I rolled onto the bed and curled up in a ball. My stomach hurt.” Haddon, 2003 page 141) People also told Christopher not to lie but they lie but his only family member lied to him. It would've been hard for Christopher's dad to be a single dad with a child that isn't “normal”.

Of course there families love them no matter what it probably just makes their life a little bit harder then they need. From the two text we studied in class these are the 3 major themes that caught my attention to write in this comparative essay. Autism both the main characters had in both texts. Society plays a big role in everything and the families have a say and have a major part in christophers and charlie's life in “ The curious incident of the dog in the night time. “ and “ The Black Balloon.”