Murder on the Orient Express was written and published in the United Kingdom during the early 1900s by a short story writer and playwright; since it was written during this time and in the United Kingdom, Agatha Christie’s word choice is very formal and traditional. Her experience and skill as a writer is revealed through her word choice. Much of the diction is not figurative but literal, making it easier for the audience to understand and comprehend the story. The main protagonist is a Belgian detective whose recall of evidence and facts is very proper and informational, “Mr. Ratchett was found stabbed this morning. He was last known to be alive at 12:37 last night… A watch in his pyjama pocket was found to be badly dented and it had stopped at a…show more content… Quite ready now, Mr. Ratchett” (Christie 13.) The diction used by Christie reveals her social status and region as well as her characters. From her word choice the readers are able to tell of her British origin and her knowledge of how other cultures act or how she perceived them. One of the passengers, Princess Dragomiroff, is very formal and her personality is revealed through her dialogue, “Princess Dragomiroff answered contemptuously. I suppose you mean because I did not tell you that Helena Andrenyi was Mrs. Armstrong’s sister?” (Christie 184.) The novel is mostly comprised of dialogue, making up more than half of the story. The dialogue is very similar to the narrative voice and simply reiterates a story from Agatha Christie’s mind. At first it was hard to identify the dialogue shift of characters but it began to be easier to understand as the story progressed. The shift of dialogue throughout the story expanded the details and allowed the audience to see character development when the passengers were being investigated. Agatha Christie’s diction and use of dialogue helps her novel develop in a unique way. Her informative yet concise diction benefits readers, making it easier for them to
