On the last two pages of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Christopher ends off by telling us he got an A grade on his A-level maths and what he was going to do in the future (take futher A-level maths and get an A grade, take A-level physics and get an A grade, go to university and get a First Class Honors Degree and become a scientist). He then ends it by saying he can do all this because he can do anything because of all the things he did in the book. I think this is very brave and unexpected of him because of Asperger`s disease. But I also think that if he keeps doing things that might frighten him or things he`s never done before, that he might get a little bit better, and not have such a hard time because of Asperger`s.
I think that the ending to this book could have been better, but overall I thought it was a great book to read and it kept me very intrigued. It gave me insight to people living with this disease, and I`m glad that I know a little bit of how their minds work, so if I ever meet someone with Asperger`s disease, I will know how to communicate with them.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-time; Journal #4
On page 140 and 141, Christopher tells us how he sees the world, by giving an example of what normal people would see if they looked at a field he once saw, and by telling us exactly what he saw. While normal people would grass, cows, clouds, flowers, a distant village and a fence, Christopher saw 15 black and white cows, 4 brown and white cows, a distant village with 31 visible houses and a church, ridges in the field, a plastic bag in a hedge, etc.
I thought this was very interesting and unusual, because when he sees something new, he notices every little part about it, and this sometimes hurts him because he is taking too much in at once. This made me realize exactly what he sees, and I imagined seeing like that. In a way, he is very lucky, because he can see things other people can't, but he is also quite unlucky, because he isn't able to appreciate the beautiful view, and he notices and incredible amount of things at once. This also made me realize that I am very lucky to be perfectly healthy and not be cursed with a horrible disease like Asperger's.
I thought this was very interesting and unusual, because when he sees something new, he notices every little part about it, and this sometimes hurts him because he is taking too much in at once. This made me realize exactly what he sees, and I imagined seeing like that. In a way, he is very lucky, because he can see things other people can't, but he is also quite unlucky, because he isn't able to appreciate the beautiful view, and he notices and incredible amount of things at once. This also made me realize that I am very lucky to be perfectly healthy and not be cursed with a horrible disease like Asperger's.
The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-time; Journal #3
When Christopher found out that his mother was actually still alive and his father had lied to him, he freaked. He felt dizzy and confused and puked all over himself before passing out on the floor for many hours. His dad then came home and tried to explain it all, but it didn't work. Christopher felt betrayed by someone he loved. He trusted his father and his father lied to him, about something huge. This scared Christopher a lot because people that love you, aren't supposed to lie to you about things like that. This first lie made Christopher not trust his father anymore, but he would've gotten over it soon enough. But later on, his father tells him another thing he had been lying about: his father had killed Wellington. This second lie made Christopher extremely scared and he decided that it wasn't safe at all to live with his dad anymore. So, he went to London. I think that because of Asperger's disease, he freaked out more than regular people would. A normal person would've been scared, but would not have reacted the way Christopher did, like doing something so drastic as moving to London immediatley.
I think Christopher overreacted a little bit, but overall made a good choice since his father lied to him about two huge things.
I think Christopher overreacted a little bit, but overall made a good choice since his father lied to him about two huge things.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-time; Journal #2
The Monty Hall Problem
Christopher especially likes this math problem, and even shows the whole problem and solution in the book. He likes it because it proves that intuition, which is what people use to make decisions in life, can sometimes be wrong and logic is right. Christopher doesn't have intuition because he has Asperger's disease and he can't understand things like most people, so he uses logic to work things out. Intuition can be much more useful in most cases, but since logic is just straightforward and right, it is the only thing Christopher uses to sort out his problems and make decisions in his life. In the Monty Hall Problem, you are on a gameshow and you choose one of three closed doors, and after you choose it, the gameshow host opens a different door to reveal a goat, and asks if you want to change your door; one door has a car behind it and the other two have goats behind it. The object is to win the car. Marilyn vos Savant said that you should choose any door, and then when asked to change, you always should. Most mathematicians said that this is wrong, but they were using your intuition, which means you would have a 50/50 chance of getting the car. But in this case, intuition is not right. If you change your answer and pick the other door, you have a 2-3 chance of getting the car. Christopher likes this problem because it is complicating and tricky, but straightforward in the end if you use logic. He also likes it because people told him that math was simple, and that's why he likes it, but this problem also shows that math is not simple, it is very complicated and takes a very smart person to understand it and do it.
Christopher especially likes this math problem, and even shows the whole problem and solution in the book. He likes it because it proves that intuition, which is what people use to make decisions in life, can sometimes be wrong and logic is right. Christopher doesn't have intuition because he has Asperger's disease and he can't understand things like most people, so he uses logic to work things out. Intuition can be much more useful in most cases, but since logic is just straightforward and right, it is the only thing Christopher uses to sort out his problems and make decisions in his life. In the Monty Hall Problem, you are on a gameshow and you choose one of three closed doors, and after you choose it, the gameshow host opens a different door to reveal a goat, and asks if you want to change your door; one door has a car behind it and the other two have goats behind it. The object is to win the car. Marilyn vos Savant said that you should choose any door, and then when asked to change, you always should. Most mathematicians said that this is wrong, but they were using your intuition, which means you would have a 50/50 chance of getting the car. But in this case, intuition is not right. If you change your answer and pick the other door, you have a 2-3 chance of getting the car. Christopher likes this problem because it is complicating and tricky, but straightforward in the end if you use logic. He also likes it because people told him that math was simple, and that's why he likes it, but this problem also shows that math is not simple, it is very complicated and takes a very smart person to understand it and do it.
The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-time; Journal #1
Whenever Christopher sees 4 red cars in a row, it is a Good Day for him, and whenever he sees 4 yellow cars in a row, it is a Black Day for him. I thought this was very unusual, but because he has Asperger's disease, he doesn't think like regular people, like how we think it will be a good day if it's sunny or a bad day if it's raining. Instead, he has a ritual where if he sees 3-5 red cars in a row, it will be a Quite Good Day, a Good Day or even a Super Good Day, but since yellow is one of his two most hated colours, if he sees 4 or more yellow cars in a row it's a Black Day where he doesn't talk to anyone or eat anything or do anything risky, because he thinks something dangerous could happen if he did. Some think that thinking like that is just stupid, but everyone does it in their own way, Christopher just has his own method of doing it.
Christopher likes seeing red cars (which makes it a good day) because red is his favourite colour and he likes things to be in order, so when there is many red cars all in a row at once, he believes good things will happen, and vice versa for the yellow cars. Christopher is a very logical and observant person and that's why he thinks about Good Days and Black Days the way he does.
Christopher likes seeing red cars (which makes it a good day) because red is his favourite colour and he likes things to be in order, so when there is many red cars all in a row at once, he believes good things will happen, and vice versa for the yellow cars. Christopher is a very logical and observant person and that's why he thinks about Good Days and Black Days the way he does.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Romeo & Juliet - Journal # 7
I think that the Capulet family and the Montague family are both responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet because of their ancient feud, but I feel that the person most responsible is Capulet. He's the one that told Juliet that she will marry Paris, but she wanted to be with Romeo instead. So she got the potion to pretend she was dead, but because Romeo didn't know she was actually still alive, he mistakenly killed himself, which in turn made Juliet kill herself when she woke up and saw what had happened. So I think the person most responsible is Capulet, because he just didn't listen to the wishes of his daughter, and that killed both her and Romeo.
Romeo & Juliet - Journal # 6
I think that Romeo needs Juliet to proclaim her love for him again and again because of what happened with Rosaline. He's just insecure because Rosaline never loved him back, and he loved her so much, so now that he's in love with Juliet and is about to marry her, he needs to hear her say she loves him again and again because he's just insecure like that, and thinks that she might change her mind any second, especially since they're rushing into everything, so he also might think that it won't work out and needs reassurance. All in all, I just think that Romeo is insecure and a little scared and just needs to know that he's loved by Juliet and that they will be happily married for a long time.
Romeo & Juliet - Journal # 5
Act I, Scene 5
Juliet: Go, ask his name. -If he be married,
My grave is like to be my wedding-bed.
This first exaple I picked because she says that her grave will be her wedding bed if she can't have Romeo, and it is a premonition because later on in the story, a very short while after she gets married to Romeo, she dies, so her grave is pretty much her wedding bed anyways, since it all happened so quick!
Act II, Scene 3
Friar Laurence: Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast.
This second example I picked because Friar Laurence is telling Romeo that if Juliet and himself go too fast and rush into everything, nothing will work out. It is a premonition because Romeo and Juliet rushed into everything: they met, fell in love and got married all in one week, and then they both ended up dying for each other. Maybe if they hadn't rushed into everything, instead just taking things slow, they would've lived happily ever after.
Act II, Scene 6
Romeo: That one short minute gives me in her sight.
Do thou but close our hands with holy words,
Then love-devouring Death do what he dare;
It is enough I may but call her mine.
This third example I picked because Romeo is saying that once Juliet & himself get married, death can come but it doesn't matter because he loves her and he has her now. It is a premonition because after they get married, Juliet takes the potion to pretend she's dead so she can be with Romeo, but Romeo thinks she's ACTUALLY dead and so "love-devouring Death do what he dare" happens to him later on. Then he drinks poison so he can die and be with her in heaven, but then Juliet wakes up and kills herself once she sees Romeo dead.
Juliet: Go, ask his name. -If he be married,
My grave is like to be my wedding-bed.
This first exaple I picked because she says that her grave will be her wedding bed if she can't have Romeo, and it is a premonition because later on in the story, a very short while after she gets married to Romeo, she dies, so her grave is pretty much her wedding bed anyways, since it all happened so quick!
Act II, Scene 3
Friar Laurence: Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast.
This second example I picked because Friar Laurence is telling Romeo that if Juliet and himself go too fast and rush into everything, nothing will work out. It is a premonition because Romeo and Juliet rushed into everything: they met, fell in love and got married all in one week, and then they both ended up dying for each other. Maybe if they hadn't rushed into everything, instead just taking things slow, they would've lived happily ever after.
Act II, Scene 6
Romeo: That one short minute gives me in her sight.
Do thou but close our hands with holy words,
Then love-devouring Death do what he dare;
It is enough I may but call her mine.
This third example I picked because Romeo is saying that once Juliet & himself get married, death can come but it doesn't matter because he loves her and he has her now. It is a premonition because after they get married, Juliet takes the potion to pretend she's dead so she can be with Romeo, but Romeo thinks she's ACTUALLY dead and so "love-devouring Death do what he dare" happens to him later on. Then he drinks poison so he can die and be with her in heaven, but then Juliet wakes up and kills herself once she sees Romeo dead.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Romeo & Juliet - Journal # 4
1) Juliet's talk of Romeo and his name...
"'Juliet: Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What's Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
and for thy name which is no part of thee
Take all myself."
What Juliet is saying in this part, is that the name of a person shouldn't matter, they shouldn't be judged on that. She's saying that even if Romeo was named something else, he'd still be the same guy and she'd still love him, no matter what he's called.
2) Juliet's wish that Romeo not swear by the moon...
"Romeo: Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear
That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops---
Juliet: O, swear not by the moon, th'inconstant moon,
That monthly changes in her circled orb,
lest that thy love prove likewise variable."
Why Juliet wishes that Romeo not swear by the moon is because the moon changes every day, and in a month the cycle is over, so when Romeo swears by the moon, it sounds like he's saying that it won't last more than a month, that the relationship is variable, and Juliet definatley does not want that.
3) Romeo and Juliet's love and 'lightning'...
"Juliet: Well, do not swear. Although I joy in thee,
I have no joy of this contract to-night.
It is too rash, too unadvisable, too sudden,
Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be
Ere one can say "it lightens." Sweet, good-night!"
In this part, Juliet is being sensible because Romeo and her JUST met, and he wants to get married right away, and Juliet is saying that she's not 100% sure about all this because it's too fast like the lightning, which is there one second and lightens up the sky, but is gone the next second and darkness falls again.
"'Juliet: Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What's Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
and for thy name which is no part of thee
Take all myself."
What Juliet is saying in this part, is that the name of a person shouldn't matter, they shouldn't be judged on that. She's saying that even if Romeo was named something else, he'd still be the same guy and she'd still love him, no matter what he's called.
2) Juliet's wish that Romeo not swear by the moon...
"Romeo: Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear
That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops---
Juliet: O, swear not by the moon, th'inconstant moon,
That monthly changes in her circled orb,
lest that thy love prove likewise variable."
Why Juliet wishes that Romeo not swear by the moon is because the moon changes every day, and in a month the cycle is over, so when Romeo swears by the moon, it sounds like he's saying that it won't last more than a month, that the relationship is variable, and Juliet definatley does not want that.
3) Romeo and Juliet's love and 'lightning'...
"Juliet: Well, do not swear. Although I joy in thee,
I have no joy of this contract to-night.
It is too rash, too unadvisable, too sudden,
Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be
Ere one can say "it lightens." Sweet, good-night!"
In this part, Juliet is being sensible because Romeo and her JUST met, and he wants to get married right away, and Juliet is saying that she's not 100% sure about all this because it's too fast like the lightning, which is there one second and lightens up the sky, but is gone the next second and darkness falls again.
Romeo & Juliet - Journal # 3
There has been many different views on marriage expressed so far in the play, some include marrying for wealth and status, others for alliance, some for love and happiness, and another for repuatation and children.The only ones I agree with are Romeo & Juliet's views. He believes you should marry for love, no matter how good or bad it gets! While Juliet thinks quite the same, she wants to be in love with the one she marrys, and be able to meet him and get to know him before it all happens. You should be able to choose your own spouse, not an arranged marriage! All the others think marriage should have a meaning other than love; love is the last thing it should be about, but I think that's a horrible view, which is why I'm thankful we're not living in Elizabethan times, or else almost all women would have arranged marriages; so no choice allowed!That's what I think about the views on marriage so far in the play.
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