Simon Stephens: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

The character of Judy is portrayed as a complex and flawed mother who struggles to connect with her son, Christopher, in Simon Stephens’ play The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. The audience can better understand Judy’s character by learning about her strengths and weaknesses through Stephens’ use of dialogue, stage directions, and characterization.

Through her interactions with Christopher, Stephens depicts Judy in one way—as a mother. She occasionally gives off the impression of being a concerned and caring parent, as when she tries to reassure Christopher after he has a meltdown. For instance, Judy hugs Christopher and tells him, “You’re going to be OK, Christopher,” in response to his question, “What am I going to do?” This suggests