Traditionally, we think a hero to be someone who is physically strong but over time evolves into someone who is mentally strong. In both The Odyssey by Homer, a story about a great Greek hero and his journey back home to his wife and son, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon, a story about a boy who has autism and runs away from home and faces many mental roadblocks along the way, heroic traits are displayed. Both of these books show heroes who emerged and gained strength. Odysseus illustrates incredible physical strength but lacks mental strength. In comparison, Christopher shows extreme mental strength. Additionally mental strength is very important and many would say more important than physical strength.
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Christopher has autism and he was determined, staying very strong throughout his adventure. Christopher encountered mental setbacks that he didn't let get to him. By not letting his autism get the best of him Chris was able to finish his adventure successfully. One of the many things that Christopher did during his adventure was creating mental tricks to help him succeed. For example, when Christopher was getting up to use the bathroom, he knew that the other people on the train would make him upset or scare him so he used a simple trick. “ I got up out of my seat and closed my eyes so that my eyelids were just little slits so I couldn't see other people on the train.”(Haddon 162). Without these little tricks, Christopher would not have made it to London. This shows how Christopher doesn't let his autism set him back from his goal. By doing this Christopher shows lots of mental strength. Another time that Christopher used a little mind trick so that he would be prosperous on his adventure was when he was reading a sign and there were too many letters and numbers so he started to get frightened. However, he used a second mind trick “ so I closed my eyes again and counted slowly to 50”(Haddon 170). By doing all of these little tricks Christopher was able to finish his journey. Even though he might have been upset or frustrated at some points of his adventure he would do these little things and would feel better afterwards. This shows extreme mental strength because no matter what his mental setback was he still persevered and was able to make it to
Christopher has autism and he was determined, staying very strong throughout his adventure. Christopher encountered mental setbacks that he didn't let get to him. By not letting his autism get the best of him Chris was able to finish his adventure successfully. One of the many things that Christopher did during his adventure was creating mental tricks to help him succeed. For example, when Christopher was getting up to use the bathroom, he knew that the other people on the train would make him upset or scare him so he used a simple trick. “ I got up out of my seat and closed my eyes so that my eyelids were just little slits so I couldn't see other people on the train.”(Haddon 162). Without these little tricks, Christopher would not have made it to London. This shows how Christopher doesn't let his autism set him back from his goal. By doing this Christopher shows lots of mental strength. Another time that Christopher used a little mind trick so that he would be prosperous on his adventure was when he was reading a sign and there were too many letters and numbers so he started to get frightened. However, he used a second mind trick “ so I closed my eyes again and counted slowly to 50”(Haddon 170). By doing all of these little tricks Christopher was able to finish his journey. Even though he might have been upset or frustrated at some points of his adventure he would do these little things and would feel better afterwards. This shows extreme mental strength because no matter what his mental setback was he still persevered and was able to make it to