In the book “Murder on the Orient Express”, Agatha Christie uses the murder of a passenger, in order to convey how the characters have to stay true to their morals, ultimately illustrating how violence can lead to more severe problems but as it progresses other details may get released.
Initially the book started off very calm, and all the passengers were enjoying their ride on the train. This all comes to a halt once a major shift in tone occurs. This leads to Ratchett, a business man, gets murdered by a fellow passenger. Not a single person on this train knows who has murdered Ratchett; the unsettling idea of a murderer in the same room as the characters unravels a bigger problem. The book continues and so does the mystery. Hercule Poirot comes in trying to save the day, but it is a lot harder to solve than he thought. The fine, discrete details about each character slowly start to unravel. He learns that Ratchett was linked to a kidnapping; maybe the murderer would have a relation to the same kidnapping. The book progresses and so does Poirot’s lead. Not only are things intensifying with the unsettling news among the passengers, they are starting to take sides and put together their own ideas. This later leads to a significant amount of chaos, which is not needed for how much stress is already involved.
Furthermore, each character reacts to certain situations very differently. Some tend to get quite and stay to their self while others do the complete opposite; while other people tend to act out and cause more problems. Ratchett’s shady past and his motives creates problems among the other passengers. Characters begin to point fingers at everyone and make up scenarios. Finding out Ratchett’s past helps Poirot, but the new released information among the passengers has sparked a new flame. The motive behind the murder builds up and the mood intensifies. Agatha does a terrific job at providing fine details that some readers may not be able to spot. She gives small fine details that Poritot uses to help find the murdered among all of the passengers. Her word choice allows her to express how the characters think and act.
In “Murder on the Orient Express” Agatha Christie engages justice and morality throughout. Agatha’s progression throughout questions the characters moral beliefs and if they should take the law upon themselves, or sit back and let the truth unfold in front of them. Some characters have different beliefs than others, and this creates a suspenseful plot.