FOCALIZATION ANALYSIS ON AUTISTIC CHILD’S CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IN MARK HADDON’s THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT TIME

Abstract

This research aimed to (1) identify the kind of focalization used in Haddon’s TheCurious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, (2) reveal how autistic child’s character development expressed through focalization of the main characterin the novel. The researcher used qualitative descriptive content analysis. The data of the research were significant expressions related to kind of focalization and autistic child’s character development taken from the novel. The result of this research showed: first, there was one kind of focalization in the novelwhich is internal focalization from two characters, Christopher internal focalization and his mother internal focalization; second, Christopher’s focalization expresses his own characterization and the development. As a child who has disability called asperger syndrome, his characterization before the journey is depicted as dependent, pessimistic, and uncontrolled. During the journey, Christopher faces a lot of obstacles. What has been experienced by Christopher is a blend among strangers and a journey to places he has never visited before. This experience takes a big role in his further character development. He becomes a child who is independent, optimistic, and having self-control.

Keywords: Focalization, children’s literature, disability, Asperger syndrome, character development.