Essay on Agatha Christie and Daisy Armstrong

Giovanni Corsetto Analysis English 12B G 20 May 2015

Murder On The Orient Express is a crime and mystery novel about a man named Hercule Poirot who is a private detective and retired Belgian police office that is trying to solve a case about a murder on the Orient express which is a train that goes from Istanbul to London. This is the conflict in the book and it’s started by the rising action of him needing to return to London for business, but gets caught up by the train getting stuck in a snow bank. The man who was murdered was named Ratchett, who had got away with kidnapping and murder of a 3 year old named Daisy Armstrong. It was likely that this was vengeance upon him because of the many people who didn’t like him and his wealth enabling him to get away with it and escape. After Ratchett is killed, Poirot investigates how it happens and interviews passengers on the train coming to a conclusion that there are two ways this murder happened; either everyone was involved or someone unnoticed committed the crime during the night. The case is solved with the countless evidence gathered by Poirot and the emotional feeling of the passengers towards Daisy Armstrong and how they felt about Ratchett. Murder On The Orient Express fits into the focus group of crime and literature because it displays themes of justice, right and wrong, and the law. Along with the major theme and final thoughts in the story on right and wrong it also coincides with good and evil. Daisy Armstrong is shown as an innocent child having such a short life, while Ratchett is the ultimate evil human being showing no care and absolute atrocity. This theme is incorporated all throughout the story as it begs the question if what these passengers did aboard the train was right or wrong. In the beginning of the story when Poirot boards the train to Istanbul he sees two people talking; Mary Debenham and Colonel Arbuthnot who he overhears. Mary says to Colonel “ Not not. Not now. When it’s all over. When it’s behind us- then-.” (Christie 11). After reading this book and going back you see that this conversation is one of right and wrong because they are discussing the murder of Ratchett and when it’s over what they’ll do. It is wrong for people in society to discuss about murdering someone and that is one of the first scenes in the book that demonstrate this right and wrong theme. Right behind right and wrong morals and what enforces it is the law. In this book it creates the theme of inadequate law by giving the information that Ratchett had kidnapped and killed Daisy Armstrong. After going to court, Ratchett has been able to escape his crime because of his wealth. He shows his wealth in the book when asking Poirot to help keep him safe and figure out who is threatening him with letters. He tells Poirot “Mr. Poirot, I am a rich man - a very rich man. Men in that position have enemies. I have an enemy.” (Christie 20). Ratchett has enemies because he has killed people before and has gotten away with it because of his wealth and leaving the US. Little does Poirot know why he has enemies he tells him he doesn’t like his face and then leaves the restaurant car (Christie 20). This demonstrates the corrupt society regarding law enforcement and how wealth can decide whether you are committed for a crime along with the laid back enforcement to find Ratchett and bring him back. This insufficient law enforcement plays a role towards the end of the play after the 12 passengers stab to death Ratchett and are not convicted of the crime. Not only is

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