Enduring Understandings 

In the novels "The Murder on the Orient Express" and "Crooked House" Agatha Christie uses characters to reveal deeper truths about human nature. In "The Murder on the Orient Express," she shows that anyone, given the right circumstances, could be capable of murder. Meanwhile, in "Crooked House," she explores the dynamics of a dysfunctional family, suggesting that love and hatred can coexist. These complex characterizations create the duality of human emotions and actions. 

To begin, in the novel “The Murder on the Orient Express,” Agatha Christie puts high value on her characters by making each one distinctive and essential to the plot. For instance, Hercule Poirot, the Belgian detective, is the epitome of intelligence and wit, setting the tone for the entire novel. Christie quotes him saying, “I have the little grey cells,” emphasizing his mental prowess. Each passenger on the train is intricately crafted too. The American Mrs. Hubbard is described as, “A big, flamboyant, splashy personality,” giving her a distinctive identity. Princess Dragomiroff, on the other hand, is described as “ugly as sin” but with “the eyes of a woman much younger,” showcasing Christie’s ability to create multi-dimensional characters. The most striking character development, though, is seen in the murder victim, Ratchett. Initially presented as a wealthy American businessman, later revelation of his true identity as Cassetti, the child kidnapper, shows Christie’s brilliance is adding depth and complexity to her characters. Overall, Christie’s valuation of her characters is seen in the way she meticulously develops each one, making them integral to the story and the overall theme of justice prevailing over evil. 

To continue, in the novel “Crooked House,” Agatha Christie again shows her value for characters through her meticulous development of each member of the Leonides family. Sophia Leonides, the central character, is introduced as “very cool and astute” and is the voice of reason within the dysfunctional family, demonstrating Christie’s appreciation for the strong, clear-headed characters. The patriarch, Aristide Leonides, although deceased, is depicted as a “small, angry, and energetic” man who wielded significant influence over his family. This gives him a tangible presence throughout the narrative. Brenda, Aristide’s much younger wife, is described as “nervous as a rabbit,” showcasing Christie’s ability to create multi-faceted characters with their unique quirks. One of the most impactful characterizations is that of the child, Josephine. Her eccentric habits are described by Sophia, “She’s a little sneak, that’s what she is! A little sneak with her notebook!” This portrayal, coupled with the twist that she is the murderer, emphasizes Christie’s knack for creating surprising, complex characters. Overall, in “Crooked House,” Christie’s valuation of her characters is evident in the way she gives each family member distinct traits and roles, making them crucial to the narrative and the shocking final reveal. 

In conclusion, both novels showcase her talent for creating rich, multi-dimensional characters. Each individual is integral to the narrative, driving the plot and contributing to the overall themes of the novels. The characters’ unique traits, surprising depths, and the distinct roles they play, reflect Christie’s high valuation of her characters and her exceptional skill as a crime novelist.

“Crooked House by Agatha Christie.” She Reads Novels, 27 Sept. 2021, https://shereadsnovels.com/2021/09/27/crooked-house-by-agatha-christie/. 

Debruge, Peter. “Film Review: ‘Murder on the Orient Express.’” Variety, Variety, 3 Nov. 2017, https://variety.com/2017/film/reviews/murder-on-the-orient-express-review-1202605173/ 

In the novel  “The Murder on the Orient Express,” the train becomes a locked room mystery on wheels. It’s isolated, snowed in, creating intense suspense and a close circle of suspects. Meanwhile, in “Crooked House,” the family’s sprawling, kind of quirky mansion reflects the twisted dynamics and secrets of the characters themselves, shaping the story’s mood and the mystery unfolding. 

Agatha Christie really valued the setting as a crucial part of ‘The Murder on the Orient Express.” The train itself is like this luxurious little world cut off from everything else. There’s a part where she describes it as “The train, its blue and gold, its gleam of varnish, its luxurious fittings, its sleeping car's comfort, was a part of civilization held together by threads of steel.” That shows how the Orient Express symbolizes a comfy bubble of society, but it’s super fragile. She also uses the setting to ramp up the tension. Like when the train gets stuck in the snow. Christie writes, “The train, as though it were a creature alive, heaved a great sigh and then remained immobile.” It’s like the train itself knows something is up, adding this eerie, trapped feeling. The setting isn’t just about the train, it’s the time period too. It’s all about that exotic travel vibe of the 193-s, when getting on the Orient Express was the peak of high-class adventure. Christie uses all of this to make the setting not just a backdrop, but a key player in the whodunit plot. The isolation, the glamour, the snow-all make the mystery more intense since there’s no escape. 

In the novel “Crooked House,” Agatha Christie created a vivid and atmospheric setting that really adds to the mystery. The setting is an essential element, almost like a character itself. She described the family mansion where most of the drama unfolds as, “a crooked house of all,” reflecting the twisted nature of the family and the plot. Christie uses the house to symbolize the dysfunctional family living within, saying, “It was a house that turned in on itself on in a morbid way.” This quote highlights how the setting isn’t just a backdrop but an integral part of the story, mirroring the secrets and lies of the characters. The description of the house and its surroundings plays a key role in setting and the tone for the suspense and intrigue of the novel. The way she crafts the setting really showcases her belief that the environment shaped the people and their actions. The house, with all its corners and hidden aspects, serves as the perfect metaphor for the family’s secretive and twisted nature. 

To conclude, in the novel “The Murder on the Orient Express,” Agatha Christie creates vivid images to help describe the setting. Meanwhile, in “Crooked House,” she uses the eerie mansion to help create the suspense image and setting.

Brad. “The Face of Madness: Agatha Christie’s Crooked House.” Ah Sweet Mystery!, 11 Dec. 2017, https://ahsweetmystery.com/2017/12/11/the-face-of-madness-agatha-christies-crooked-house/. 

Leslie. “Editor Roundtable: Murder on the Orient Express.” Story Grid, 3 Nov. 2020, https://storygrid.com/editor-roundtable-murder-orient-express/. 

In the novel “The Murder on the Orient Express,” she uses a classic closed-circle layout, where the murder happens in an isolated environment, and everyone’s a suspect. Then, in the novel “Crooked House,” she flips the script with a dynamic family drama, where the tension and clues unfold within a twisted household. Both novels show her genius in building suspense and deliver jaw-dropping revelas. 

Agatha Christie totally valued her structure; it’s like she weaves this intricate tapestry of mystery. In the novel “The Murder on the Orient Express,’ she’s all about the details and the sequence of events. She starts with, “The train, its rhythm regular, its noises now that it was in motion monotonous, rocked the passengers to sleep,” setting up the scene where everything is about to change. Then, she throws in clues and red herrings with precision, leading us through Poirot’s investigation with lines like, “The impossible could not have happened, therefore the impossible must be possible in spite of appearances.” It’s her way of saying, pay attention to how things unfold, because every little piece is part of the bigger picture. When Poirot reveals the solution, it’s all about how each part of the plot fits together, saying, “Each one of you in the dining-car that morning had planned to kill Ratchett.”She is almost like a magician, showing us every step but still leaving a dazzling ending. 

In the novel “Crooked House,” Christie is a real architect of suspense and family dynamics. She lays down the groundwork by setting the scene of a complex family with, “It is not without a certain amount of pride that I tell you that  the family of Leonides were exactly as Sophia had described them to me.” She’s cluing us in that every character is a piece of the puzzle. The structure of the plot is key to the tension, with twists that keep you hooked. She even has characters reflect on the structure of the mystery itself, like when Charles Hayward muses, “In books people always know a clue for what it is. But I was in the dark.” This line hits at the heart of Christie’s plot-crafting skill-she layers the narrative, making the obvious seem obscure and vice versa. Of course, the big plot twist reveals the heart of it all, showing how every piece was meticulously planned. When the murder is unveiled, Christie hits us with, “I had a feeling of cold horror.” It’s that structure-careful placement of clues, red herrings, and the slow build-up to an unexpected reveal that makes the story a legend. 

To conclude, Agatha Christie is a master at crafting tightly woven tales in both “The Murder on the Orient Express” and “Crooked House.” She meticulously plans her plot structures, layering clues, misdirection, and character depth.

Brad. “The Face of Madness: Agatha Christie’s Crooked House.” Ah Sweet Mystery!, 11 Dec. 2017, https://ahsweetmystery.com/2017/12/11/the-face-of-madness-agatha-christies-crooked-house/. 

Critical Analysis: “Murder on the Orient Express” by Agatha Christie ..., https://owlcation.com/humanities/Critical-Review-Murder-On-The-Orient-Express