Differences Between Those With Asperger s Syndrome And...

Social disability significantly modifies the development of the identity and individualisation of children. How does the lack of a strong sense of self in autistic children influence them? Provide examples using two chosen texts. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon and The Eye of the Sheep by Sofie Laguna are two novels that explore important ideas and issues regarding the differences between those with Asperger’s syndrome and those without. In both novels, the protagonists, Christopher Boone and Jimmy Flick respectively, have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). â€Å"For individuals with disabilities, constructing identities is a highly social, ongoing process. This process can be particularly challenging, given the†¦show more content†¦I kept the piece of paper in my pocket and took it out when I didn t understand what someone was saying. But it was very difficult to decide which of the diagrams was most like the face they were making because people s faces move very quickly.† (Haddon, 2003: pp. 4) This quote gives us an insight into Christopher’s thoughts and shows us how enigmatic emotions can be for someone with Asperger’s. Christopher, howev er, is fully aware of the fact that he cannot understand how humans express emotions. â€Å"I like dogs. You always know what a dog is thinking. It has four moods. Happy, sad, cross and concentrating.† (Haddon, 2003: pp. 6) When Christopher openly states his preference for dogs over human beings purely due to his lack of identifying feelings with human beings, it is confirmed that Christopher is incapable of openly conveying his emotions. His lack of empathy is the result of his ASD, which prevents Christopher from expressing emotions and feelings. Likewise, Jimmy Flick in The Eye of the Sheep also has Asperger’s syndrome and his social disability makes him perceive emotions as an unfathomable concept. When Jimmy’s mother is hospitalised, Jimmy’s