We are Curious Humans

I can recognize and identify humanity in people when I see it, but it is much more difficult to define its components. If I were to break down the elements of humanity, I could begin only by saying that humanity means we are all people who come from a common planet. Obviously, civilization has surpassed that definition. People can and want to do more than hunt, cook, and stay warm, all elements of primitive humanity. Modern humanity, I believe, has embraced more complex elements such as an appreciation for vastly different cultures and an increased awareness of technology, medicine, and global events. Perhaps what is most fascinating about what I perceive as humanity today is the ability to interact through an unprecedented number of venues, namely through art, music, literature, the Internet, and the telephone. With that said, artists have complete freedom to portray humanity any way they want. In The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Mark Haddon’s portrayal of humanity in its simplest form is refreshing and intriguing.

Christopher’s essential humanity lies in his physical limitations. Because of his autism, Christopher does not have access to many of the “norms” of humanity. For example, communication is a fundamental human trait. This trait involves the ability to read a person’s face, recognize the emotion, and then respond with the appropriate actions. Christopher can identify emotions such as happiness and sadness, but he cannot read complex feelings that may have layered meanings (such as jealousy and astonishment). It is bizarre to think that Christopher finds it difficult to read emotions because “people’s faces move very quickly” (3). Christopher also does not understand why people show affection and other emotions through touch and embrace. He hates it when others touch him because he cannot identify its origin, whether it is love or anger. In the beginning of the book, Christopher hits the police officer who attempted to grab him.

Christopher’s shortage of social skills and inability to do other regular things in no way inhibits his humanity. In fact, it is even more profound because Christopher’s human qualities are concentrated, naturalistic, and basic. Curiosity is at the core of humanity. Without it, civilization would not be so advanced. It is curiosity of truth that leads Christopher to “wonder who had killed him [Wellington, the dog], and why” (2). Besides solving mysteries, Christopher loves to solve math problems. Humans have always tried to explain anything and everything that influences our world. When humans face a problem, they start off with observation. It may not be an instinct but it is vital to a human’s learning process and growth. Christopher’s unwavering attention to detail and memorization capabilities is beyond what is normally expected. When he is at the train station, he notices a holiday ad to Malaysia. He reillustrates the ad's two orangutans and details the trip’s price, the company’s phone number, and the slogan. In addition, Christopher locates Malaysia on a continent, names its capital and highest mountain, and explains the origin of the word orangutan. This can only be attributed to a combination of his curiosity, observation, and impeccable memory.

Ordinary people can do many things and have traits that can potentially stretch to the limits of humanity. Christopher may not be able to do all the things that normal people can do, but that doesn’t matter because the things he can do, he does extremely well. His powerful grasp on his senses enable his fundamental human traits to be magnified. In the end, Christopher may be more human than others because his senses are pure and lack deception (600).