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SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM . llc . llc . llc llc Justin Kestler Tammy Hepps Tammy Ben Florman th Floor 8 NY 10011 by SparkNotes USA Boomie Aglietti, Justin Kestler ©2002 Benjamin Lytal, Ross Douthat Benjamin Lytal, Spark Publishing Christian Lorentzen, Camille Murphy Dennis Quinio, Boomie Aglietti Fifth Avenue, Fifth Avenue, New York, New York, 120 A Division of SparkNotes is a registered trademark of SparkNotes Agatha Christie Copyright EXECUTIVE EDITOR ECHNICAL DIRECTOR WRITERS EDITORS EDITORIAL DIRECTOR This edition published by Spark Publishing T SERIES EDITORS PRODUCTION sparknotes

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SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM The is con-

And Then There Were None And Then There Were The Murder of Roger Ackroyd The Murder was published in 1920 and featured the was published in 1920

The Mysterious Affair at Styles, The Mysterious Affair written in 1939, breaks more rules of the mystery genre. No detective solves written in 1939, breaks more rules of the Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller on September 5, 1890, in Torquay, England. In 1914 Miller on September 5, 1890, in Torquay, Agatha Mary Clarissa

the killer turns out to be the narrator, and many readers and critics felt that this was the killer turns out to be the narrator,

The Mousetrap,

tha Christie was born tha Christie was In all, Christie produced eighty novels and short-story collections, most of them featuring either Poirot or In all, Christie produced eighty novels and And Then There Were None, And Then There Were By the time Christie began writing, the mystery novel was a well-established genre with deﬁnite rules. began writing, the mystery novel was a By the time Christie novel. In in 1926, Christie came under ﬁre for writing an “unfair” mystery Fairly early in her career, a

Ag Rosal- Flying Corps. They had a daughter, Archibald Christie, an aviator in the Royal she married Colonel to a mystery stories, initially in response 1928. By that time, Christie had begun writing ind, and divorced in novel, Her first dare from her sister. Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Murder and today however, too deceptive a plot twist. Christie was unapologetic, ranks as one of Christie’s most popular and critically acclaimed novels. It was made into a stage play, and sev- play, most popular and critically acclaimed novels. It was made into a stage ranks as one of Christie’s the most celebrated of which is the 1945 version starring Barry eral film versions have been produced, Huston. Fitzgerald and Walter Miss Marple. She also wrote four works of nonfiction and four- her other famous sleuth, the elderly spinster teen plays, including archaeologist named Sir Max Mallowan, whose trips to the Middle East provided the setting for a number of archaeologist named Sir Max Mallowan, awarded Christie the title of Dame Commander of the British her novels. In 1971, Queen Elizabeth II on January 12, 1976. Empire. Christie died in Oxfordshire, England, debut of one of her most famous characters, the Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot. Christie would go on to Hercule Poirot. Christie would go most famous characters, the Belgian sleuth debut of one of her writer of mystery novels. best-selling become the world’s “Murders in the Rue Morgue,” and writers the mystery genre in his short story Edgar Allan Poe pioneered and began. In traditional mysteries like Poe’s Doyle carried on the tradition Poe like Sir Arthur Conan like Sher- story is told from the perspective of a detective-protagonist (or a friend of the detective, the Doyle’s, At the end of the and pursues a killer. as he or she examines clues Watson) companion, Dr. lock Holmes’s and sums up the case, explaining the crime and clearing up myste- novel, the detective unmasks the murderer gets access to exactly the same information as the detective, rious events. As the story unfolds, the reader game in which the reader has a chance to solve the case for him- or which makes the mystery novel a kind of herself. sidered a masterpiece of the detective genre. the killer’s grasp, and the plot construction makes guessing law’s the case, the murderer escapes from the or perhaps because of it, identity nearly impossible. Despite this rule-breaking,

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era, Lombard, and Blore go outside, resolving to stay in the safety of the open land. Blore decides to go era, Lombard, and Blore go outside, resolving to stay in the safety of the open land. When they arrive on the island, the guests are greeted by Mr. and Mrs. Rogers, the butler and housekeeper, and Mrs. Rogers, the island, the guests are greeted by Mr. When they arrive on on poisoned whiskey and dies. Frightened, the party Marston chokes As they discuss what to do, Tony Rogers apparently died in her sleep. The guests hope to leave The next morning the guests find that Mrs. situation. They decide that one of them must be the killer. The remaining guests meet to discuss their She is soon and she remains alone at the table for a while. giddy, After breakfast, Emily Brent feels slightly is not in his room. That night, Blore hears footsteps in the hall; upon checking, he finds that Armstrong V wrote the Wargrave The mystery baffles the police until a manuscript in a bottle is found. The late Judge

Eight people, all strangers to each other, are invited to Indian Island, off the English coast. Vera Claythorne, a the English coast. Vera are invited to Indian Island, off to each other, Eight people, all strangers and William Philip Lombard, an adventurer, she has been hired as a secretary; former governess, thinks Armstrong for trouble over the weekend; Dr. think they have been hired to look out Blore, an ex-detective, Tony General Macarthur, Emily Brent, owner. to look after the wife of the island’s thinks he has been hired think they are going to visit old friends. Wargrave Marston, and Judge That evening, as all until the next day. Owen, will not arrive someone they call Mr. who report that the host, a recorded voice accusing each of they hear the drawing room after an excellent dinner, the guests gather in that They compare notes and realize committed in the past and never uncovered. them of a specific murder brought here Owen,” which suggests that they were “Mr. none of them, including the servants, knows strange plan. according to someone’s Claythorne plagued by guilt and memories of their crimes. Vera retreats to bed, where almost everyone is Little Indi- of Marston and the first verse of a nursery rhyme, “Ten notices the similarity between the death ans,” that hangs in each bedroom. delivers supplies to the island does not show up. Blore, Lombard, that morning, but the boat that regularly have been murders and determine to scour the island in search of and Armstrong decide that the deaths must feels the oldest guest, General Macarthur, Meanwhile, Owen. They find no one, however. the mysterious Mr. general dead of Armstrong finds the at the ocean. Before lunch, Dr. sure he is going to die and goes to look out a blow to the head. reminds them that the existing evidence suggests any of Wargrave Many make vague accusations, but Judge and everyone goes to bed, locking his or her Afternoon and dinner pass restlessly, them could be the killer. they find that Rogers has been killed while chopping wood in prep- door before doing so. The next morning, feel sure the murders are being carried out according to the dic- aration for breakfast. At this point, the guests that the dining-room table initially featured ten Indian figures, tates of the nursery rhyme. Also, they realize but with each death one of the figures disappears. initiates an organized search with poison. At this point, Wargrave found dead, her neck having been injected The remaining guests belongings, and anything that could be used as a weapon is locked away. of everyone’s goes to take a bath, but she is Vera Finally, at each other. passing time and casting suspicious looks sit together, and Armstrong run to startled by a piece of seaweed hanging from her ceiling and cries out. Blore, Lombard, in a curtain that resembles courtroom robes and draped only to return downstairs to find Wargrave help her, has been shot Wargrave bearing a red mark on his forehead. Armstrong examines the body and reports that in the head. the house or on the island. Blore and Lombard search for Armstrong, but they cannot find him anywhere in the table. When they return from searching, they discover another Indian figure missing from has pushed a statue out of back into the house to get food. The other two hear a crash, and they find someone and Lombard retreat to the shore, the house. Vera killing Blore as he approached a second-story window, steals Vera beach. Convinced that Lombard is the killer, drowned body on the where they find Armstrong’s bedroom to rest, happy to have survived. But upon finding gun and shoots him. She returns to her Lombard’s line of the nursery rhyme, a noose waiting for her in her room, she feels a strange compulsion to enact the last and hangs herself. those whose crimes are not manuscript explaining that he planned the murders because he wanted to punish

punishable under law. Wargrave frankly admits to his own lust for blood and pleasure in seeing the guilty blood and pleasure to his own lust for frankly admits Wargrave under law. punishable his life blaze, instead of letting decided to die in a he was dying, he Wargrave When a doctor told punished. and Mrs. Rogers, Mr. he did away with Marston, his victims and how how he chose He discusses trickle away. him fake Armstrong into helping Dr. how he tricked then describes Brent. Wargrave and Emily Macarthur, arrived, War- When Armstrong cliffs to discuss a plan. the doctor by the promising to meet his own death, ruse the house and pretended to be dead. His the edge into the sea, then returned to grave pushed him over hanged herself on their suspicion. Once Vera of the rest of the guests without drawing enabled him to dispose a way that his body would fall planned to shoot himself in such Wargrave for her, a noose that he prepared empty police would ﬁnd ten dead bodies on an been laid there. Thus, he hoped, the onto the bed as if it had island. SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM 5

The oldest guest. Macarthur is accused of sending a lieutenant, Arthur Character List Character A gullible, slightly timid doctor. Armstrong often draws the suspicion of the A gullible, slightly timid doctor.

A recently retired judge. Wargrave is a highly intelligent old man with a is a highly intelligent old man with Wargrave A recently retired judge. A former police inspector. Blore is a well-built man whose experience often inspires A former police inspector. A former governess who comes to Indian Island purportedly to serve as a secretary to Mrs. who comes to Indian Island purportedly A former governess A mysterious, confident, and resourceful man who seems to have been a mercenary soldier in A mysterious, confident, and resourceful The dignified butler. Rogers continues to be a proper servant even after his wife is found dead Rogers continues to be a proper The dignified butler.

Rogers’s wife. Ethel is a frail woman, and the death of Tony Marston makes her faint. Wargrave Marston makes her faint. Wargrave of Tony wife. Ethel is a frail woman, and the death Rogers’s An old, ruthlessly religious woman who reads her Bible every day. The recording accuses Emily An old, ruthlessly religious woman who reads her Bible every day.

argrave’s experience and air of authority make him a natural leader for the group. He lays out authority make him a natural leader for experience and air of argrave’s believes her husband dominates her and that he masterminded their crime. other guests because of his medical knowledge. He is a recovering alcoholic who once accidentally other guests because of his medical knowledge. drunk. Armstrong, while professionally successful, has a killed a patient by operating on her while He has spent his whole life pursuing making him the perfect tool for the murderer. weak personality, exteriors. to see beneath people’s respectability and public success, and is unable he was corrupt and framed a man named Landor at others to look to him for advice. As a policeman, he acts boldly and frequently takes initiative, but he also the behest of a criminal gang. On the island, suspects the wrong person, and his boldness often verges on makes frequent blunders. He constantly foolhardiness. Africa. Lombard is far bolder and more cunning than most of the other characters, traits that allow him Africa. Lombard is far bolder and more cunning His weakness is his chivalrous attitude toward women, to survive almost until the end of the novel. her as a with whom he has a number of private conversations. He cannot think of particularly Vera, and he underestimates her resourcefulness, which proves a fatal mistake. potential killer, learning that Beatrice was pregnant out a servant whom she ﬁred upon Brent of killing Beatrice Taylor, Brent feels of wedlock. Beatrice subsequently killed herself. Unlike the other characters, Emily her actions. convinced of her own righteousness and does not express the slightest remorse for their former and the bodies begin piling up. The recording accuses Rogers and his wife of letting employer die because they stood to inherit money from her. Once the ﬁrst lover. I because Richmond was his wife’s War Richmond, to his death during World about his crime, becomes resigned to his death already guilt-ridden murders take place, Macarthur, and sits by the sea waiting for it to come to him. Owen. Vera wants to escape a past in which she killed a small boy in her care, Cyril Hamilton, so that past in which she killed a small boy in her wants to escape a Owen. Vera lover estate. Although the coroner cleared her of blame, Vera’s the man she loved would inherit Cyril’s characters in the novel, but she also is one of the most intelligent and capable Vera abandoned her. about her crime, and reacts nervously to the uncanny events suffers from attacks of hysteria, feels guilty powerful effect on her. Little Indians” poem has a on the island. The “Ten commanding personality. As the characters begin to realize that a murderer is hunting them, characters begin to realize that a murderer As the commanding personality. W guilt is Wargrave’s away safely. and ensures that weapons are locked evidence, organizes searches, the characteristics that drive him to the novel in a confession that illuminates revealed at the end of with a sadistic delight in murdering. murders: a strong sense of justice combined commit the series of Claythorne

ra illiam Henry Blore

Ethel Rogers Dr. Edward James Armstrong Edward Dr. Emily Brent Philip Lombard Philip Lombard W Thomas Rogers Macarthur John Gordon General Judge Lawrence Wargrave Judge Lawrence Wargrave Ve

character list character Copyright 2002 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2002 by Copyright A rich, athletic, handsome youth. Tony Marston likes to drive recklessly and seems to lack a recklessly and seems Marston likes to drive Tony handsome youth. A rich, athletic,

A shady, criminal character hired by the murderer to make the arrangements for the island. arrangements for murderer to make the hired by the criminal character A shady, Morris allegedly peddled drugs to a young woman and drove her to suicide. drugs to a young woman and drove Morris allegedly peddled conscience. He killed two small children in a car accident caused by his speeding, but shows no speeding, but shows caused by his children in a car accident He killed two small conscience. remorse. Isaac Morris Isaac Morris Anthony Marston SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM

7 Copyright 2002 by SparkNotes LLC. Claythorne ra Analysis of Major Characters Major of Analysis In some ways, Vera is one of the most intelligent and capable characters in the novel, which explains why is one of the most intelligent and In some ways, Vera It is partially Wargrave’s experience with criminal proceedings that makes the others go along with his experience with criminal proceedings that makes the others go along It is partially Wargrave’s era Claythorne is a former governess who is working as a “games mistress at a third-class school” when the era Claythorne is a former governess who

V Island, believing that she has been hired to serve as a secretary novel begins. She takes a summer job on Indian has a dark secret. At her last job, she was governess to a to a Mrs. Una Owen. Like the other characters, Vera Hugo, would inherit his spoiled little rich boy named Cyril Hamilton. She let Cyril drown so that his relative, inquest cleared her of any wrongdoing, but Hugo, certain An money and then be rich enough to marry her. guilty Throughout the novel, Vera’s more to do with her. had let Cyril die, would have nothing that Vera of Hugo and feels as if he is watching her. She often thinks memories of her crime plague her. who thinks she is a she is one of the last people left standing. She outwits the resourceful Philip Lombard, Despite up the courage to shoot him when he leaps at her. by stealing his gun and then summoning murderer, is not emotionally stable. In addition to her recurrent bouts of guilt over Cyril’s Vera her strength, however, the island and prone to death, she is strongly affected by the almost supernatural nature of the events on that lends an Little Indians” poem attacks of nervous hysteria. More than anyone else, she fixates on the “Ten her tendency toward hys- air of eerie inevitability to the murders. The confluence of these factors—her guilt, environment to create a suggestive teria, and her fascination with the nursery rhyme—enables Wargrave to hang herself and fulfill the last line of complete with a noose and the smell of the sea, which inspires Vera the poem. A recently retired judge, Wargrave is intelligent, cold, and commanding. During his years on the bench, he is intelligent, cold, and commanding. Wargrave A recently retired judge, sen- juries to bring back guilty verdicts and “hanging judge”—a judge who persuaded had a reputation as a with a “frog- as wizened and ugly, Wargrave criminals to death. Christie describes tenced many convicted for- his ugliness makes his appearance more neck,” and “pale shrewd little eyes”; like face[,] . . . tortoise-like the guests realize that a murderer is hunting on Indian Island becomes clear and bidding. Once the situation first to insist publicly that they are deal- for leadership, and he obliges. He is the them, they look to Wargrave When the killer must be part of their group. maniac, and the first to acknowledge that ing with a homicidal analyzes evi- often acts like a judge presiding over a court. Wargrave leading group meetings on the island, he drugs and other possessions, and takes charge of and of people’s dence, authorizes searches both of the island safely locked away. potential weapons, ensuring that they are ability to project an air of cold reason in a time of crisis. In a leadership, but he also has a confidence-inspiring the detective figure, using his experience behavior would make him Wargrave’s standard detective story, a local fisherman But as we learn at the close of the novel, when with the criminal mind to unmask the killer. ten victims, He plans the entire enterprise, selects his killer. himself is the recovers his confession, Wargrave War- however, one of the group. Despite his identity as murderer, buys the island, and then pretends to be are supposedly Since all of his victims in a traditional mystery story. grave is not entirely unlike the detective are like the detective, acts as an agent of justice, making sure that murderers Wargrave, guilty of murder, that he insistence spite of his victims’ obvious guilt and Wargrave’s punished for their crimes. Nevertheless, in Far from being a we are unlikely to find him a sympathetic character. would not let an innocent person suffer, he killed As a boy, taking perverse pleasure in murder. is a sadist, disinterested agent of justice, Wargrave to his task on Indian Island. He never shows pity for his victims; insects for sport, and he brings the same zeal around and kill in order to create what he terms a “work of art”— instead, he regards them as pawns to move his perfect killing spree. Ve Judge Wargrave

8 Copyright 2002 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2002 by Copyright analysis of major characters of major analysis Lombard does display a weakness, however, that ultimately brings about his downfall: his chivalrous and that ultimately brings about a weakness, however, Lombard does display Philip Lombard Philip and a former He is a world traveler on the island. mysterious past of anyone has the most Philip Lombard of the policemen In the epilogue, one of fortune in Africa. served as a soldier who seems to have military man who might . . . [the] sort of fellow curious shows abroad up in some very as having “been mixed describes him hires comes to Indian Island after Isaac Morris some quiet out-of-the-way spot.” He do several murders in Clearly a dangerous man, Lombard Owen needs a “good man in a tight spot.” Mr. him, supposedly because He is bold enough to initiate several panther.” frequently described as moving “like a carries a gun and is and brave enough to of being the killer, perceptive enough to suspect Judge Wargrave searches of the island, voice his past misdeeds. When the recorded Lombard is also honest: he owns up to voice his suspicions. tribe to die in the bush, Lombard cheerfully twenty-one men from an East African accuses him of leaving it. The and a friend, and so they took off with was only enough food for himself admits to it, saying there but Lombard has no such qualms. bring themselves to admit their own guilt, other characters cannot about the murders, he suggests exclud- toward women. In the ﬁrst group conversation old-fashioned attitude suspects, since he considers them incapable of homicidal behavior. ing the women from the list of potential to steal his gun and shoot him when he jumps at tendency to underestimate women enables Vera Lombard’s and Lombard—they are the only characters to die at the hand of his death unites Vera way, In a strange her. someone other than Wargrave. SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM And Then

examines justice, but it bends the formula by making the victims of murder people who examines justice, but it bends the formula

Themes, Motifs & Symbols Motifs Themes, Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work. a literary and often universal ideas explored in Themes are the fundamental deny their crimes are tormented by guilt in private. Gen- The characters who publicly and self-righteously of guilt. Lombard On the other hand, the people who own up to their crimes are less likely to feel pangs exists between lev- While the ones who do not own up to their crimes feel the guiltiest, no such correlation Whether we accept the justice of the events on Indian Island depends on both whether we accept War- Whether we accept the justice of the events who act unjustly from those who seek to restore justice. She Christie explores the line that divides those

The Administration of Justice The Administration The Danger of Reliance on Class Distinctions None And Then There Were becomes more and more tinctions play a subtle but important role in the novel. As the situation on the island The Effects of Guilt on One’s Conscience The Effects of Guilt on One’s has committed a crime, Christie explores different human By creating a story in which every character Beginning with the ﬁrst moments after the recorded voice responses to the burden of a guilty conscience. takes a different approach to dealing with his or her guilt. reveals the guests’ crimes, each character By the following lover. for instance, brusquely dismisses the claim that he killed his wife’s eral Macarthur, Armstrong is equally dismissive of to die. Dr. guilt so overwhelms him that he resignedly waits however, day, his operating table. the charges against him, but he soon starts dreaming about the woman who died on it to save his own life and willingly admits to leaving tribesmen to die in the African bush, insisting that he did and he dis- Marston readily owns up to running down the two children, would willingly do it again. Tony private thought to plays no sense of having done anything wrong. Neither of the two men gives a moment’s his crime. longest, as is illustrated by els of guilt and likelihood of survival. Conscience has no bearing on who lives the Lombard feels no guilt, and the air the contrast between the last two characters left alive, Lombard and Vera. on the other hand, is so guilt-ridden that she ends affect him. Vera, of doom that enshrouds the island doesn’t and the aura Little Indians” poem her life by succumbing to the seemingly inevitable conclusion of the “Ten of almost supernatural vengeance that pervades the novel. Themes and its restoration, through the act of murder, examine justice—its violation, through Most murder mysteries the murderer pays for his or her deed. who solves the crime and ensures that the work of a detective There Were None There Were committed murder themselves. Thus, the killings on Indian Island are arguably acts of justice. Judge War- committed murder themselves. Thus, the by picking out those who are guilty and punishing them. grave does the work of detective and murderer has the Wargrave that all the murder victims deserve their deaths and whether we accept that belief grave’s the sentences. At least some of the murders are unjust if we do not moral authority to pronounce and carry out servant, victims murderers. Emily Brent, for example, did not actually kill her consider all of Wargrave’s one could argue that she deserves a lesser punishment for her sin. Thus, Beatrice Taylor. make someone bad and enforcing justice does not necessar- suggests that unjust behavior does not necessarily in the victims, although they have violated the rules of moral behavior ily make someone good . Wargrave’s Although Wargrave and decent human beings than Wargrave. past, are, for the most part, far more likable and unsympathetic man, and likely insane. serves justice in a technical sense, he is a cruel

10 hemes, motifs & symbols hemes, motifs t Copyright 2002 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2002 by Copyright Symbols are objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts. ideas figures, or colors used to represent abstract Symbols are objects, characters, Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that can help to develop and inform the text’s text’s that can help to develop and inform the devices or literary contrasts, Motifs are recurring structures, major themes. The “Ten Little Indians” Poem The “Ten The Storm Dreams and Hallucinations For most of the novel, a fierce storm cuts the island off from the outside world. This storm works as a plot For most of the novel, a fierce storm cuts the island off from the outside world. free rein. At the same device, for it both prevents anyone from escaping the island and allows the murderer Island. The storm first time, the violence of the weather symbolizes the violent acts taking place on Indian symbolizing the guests’ breaks when the men carry the corpse of General Macarthur into the dining room, dawning realization that a murderer is loose on the island. Symbols The “Ten Little Indians” rhyme guides the progression of the novel. The singsong, childish verses tell the Little Indians” rhyme guides the progression The “Ten end with the line that gives the novel its title: “and then there were story of the deaths of ten Indian boys and in every bedroom, and ten small Indian figures sit on the dining- none.” A framed copy of the rhyme hangs to match, as closely as possible, the lines in the poem, and after each room table. The murders are carried out supernatural of the figures vanishes from the dining room. The overall effect is one of almost one murder, yet they are all the characters realize that the next murder will match the next verse, inevitability; eventually, anyone else. Claythorne more powerfully than it affects Vera unable to escape their fates. The poem affects she eventually kills herself she is operating under the suggestive She becomes obsessed with it, and when final verse. power of the poem’s the novel, usually as a reflection of various characters’ guilty Dreams and hallucinations recur throughout Emily Brent’s Armstrong has a dream in which he operates on a person whose face is first consciences. Dr. memories of accidentally killing a This dream likely grows out of Armstrong’s Marston’s. and then Tony seems to go into a trance while writing in her diary; she wakes woman on the operating table. Emily Brent Taylor scrawled across the page. Beatrice name is Beatrice Taylor” from it to find the words “The murderer’s Brent fired her. former maid, who got pregnant and killed herself after Emily is the name of Emily Brent’s with the scrawl demonstrates, if not her guilty conscience, at least her preoccupation unconscious Brent’s for whose sake she Claythorne often feels that Hugo Hamilton—her former lover, death of her servant. Vera she smells the sea, she remembers the day the boy died, as and whenever let a little boy drown—watches her, if hallucinating. desperate, social hierarchies continue to dictate behavior, and their persistence ultimately makes it harder for makes it harder their persistence ultimately and to dictate behavior, social hierarchies continue desperate, that a after it becomes clear duties even his butler’s continues to perform to survive. Rogers some characters of a man of his Because it is expected has killed his wife. after the murderer is on the loose, and even murderer gone to bed, up after the others have downstairs to clean people, remains Rogers washes up after social class, necessitates the group that his work separation from to chop firewood. The in the morning and rises early Armstrong proves mentality of Dr. the class-bound murderer to kill him. Additionally, makes it easy for the a respectable professional man like Wargrave and others, as he refuses to believe that disastrous for himself could be the killer. Motifs SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM

11 hemes, motifs & symbols hemes, motifs t Copyright 2002 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2002 by Copyright The Mark on Judge Wargrave’s Forehead on Judge Wargrave’s The Mark When Wargrave fakes his own death and then kills himself at the end of the novel, he leaves a red gunshot novel, he leaves a red at the end of the and then kills himself fakes his own death When Wargrave out in his confes- as he points a real wound. This wound, a fake wound, then his forehead—ﬁrst wound on Bible. It symbol- murderer in the of Cain, the ﬁrst placed upon the forehead the brand that God sion, mirrors Cain: both are evil men and murderers. self-admitted links to izes Wargrave’s they are Soon, however, an excellent dinner. arrive on the island, they are treated to When the characters refuse to eat the novel, both Lombard and Vera tongue meat out of cans. At the end of reduced to eating cold to risking death. The shift from a fancy dinner require returning to the house and at all, since eating would events on the island, as the trappings of civiliza- at all symbolizes the larger pattern of canned meat to no food self-preservation. and the characters are reduced to mere tion gradually fall away Food SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM

12 with a shifting point of view unusual in the mystery genre.

Copyright 2002 by SparkNotes LLC. And Then There Were None And Then There Were Summary & Analysis Summary On the same train, Vera Claythorne ponders her invitation to the island. She has been hired as a secretary Claythorne ponders her invitation to the island. She has been hired On the same train, Vera has been hired and ﬁnds her attractive and capable-looking. He The man, Philip Lombard, gazes at Vera sits up straight; she disapproves of slouching. She approves of In another part of the train, Emily Brent to Sticklehaven. He has been invited to the island and prom- General Macarthur is taking a slower train ailing Owen’s is driving to the island, having been asked to report on the condition of Mr. Armstrong Dr. taking a different train from the one the others are tak- Blore, a former detective and another guest, is Mr.

She gives us a look into each character’s thoughts during his or her journey to Sticklehaven and Indian Island. thoughts during She gives us a look into each character’s thoughts might reveal his Murder mysteries usually avoid such a tactic—an early glimpse into the murderer’s innovative perspective into dif- Christie’s or her guilt and thereby ruin the suspense. In this novel, however, and, as a result, establishes ferent characters’ thoughts increases the difficulty of discerning the true murderer Agatha Christie opens Justice Wargrave, a recently retired judge, is taking a train to the seaside town of Sticklehaven, where he is to retired judge, is taking a train to the seaside a recently Justice Wargrave, swirled around the island: since a mysterious Island. He recalls the rumors that have catch a boat to Indian or a member of the royal family really people have suggested that a film star Owen purchased the place, Mr. over its contents. The letter invites him takes a letter from his pocket and glances owns the island. Wargrave by an old friend of his, Constance Culmington, whom he has to spend some time on the island and is signed is exactly the kind of woman who would buy a place like not seen for eight years. He reflects that Constance Indian Island. reflects how lucky she is to get this job, Vera owner. of the island’s by Una Nancy Owen, apparently the wife death. She was cleared of all blame for inquest into someone’s especially after her involvement in a coroner’s of the sea and of She thinks the man she loved, thought her guilty. the death, we learn, but Hugo Hamilton, She forces her knowing she would not reach him in time to save him. swimming after someone in particular, well traveled. thinking he looks at the man across from her, mind away from those memories and glances is being paid well for it, because he has a reputation as a “good man for a mysterious job on Indian Island and someone named Isaac Morris hired him. Lombard looks for- in a tight place.” He has never met his employer; ward to whatever he will find on the island. religious woman who holds most of the world in contempt. She very little, in fact. She is a very conservative, by someone who claims to have once shared a guesthouse with has been invited to Indian Island for a holiday name on the sig- Brent has decided to accept the invitation, even though she cannot quite read the Emily her. nature. to talk over old times. He is glad to have the invitation; he has wor- ised that some of his friends will be there of the rumor. He does not explain the nature rumor. ried that people avoid him because of a thirty-year-old the good luck that enabled wife. He is a wealthy and successful medical man, but, as he drives, he reflects on A sports car roars heavily. his career to survive an incident that happened some years before, when he drank his way to Indian Marston, a rich, handsome, and carefree young man on past Armstrong, driven by Tony Island. reflecting that this job will probably ing. He has a list of the names of all the other guests, and he reads it over, who warns him that a storm is coming and that the day His only company on the train is an old man be easy. Blore reflects that the old man is closer to death and judg- As the man gets off the train, of judgment is near. . . .” ment than he himself is. The narrator warns us that “there, as it happens, he was wrong. Analysis: Chapter 1 Summary: Chapter 1 Summary: Chapter Chapter 1

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lacks the

And Then There Were None And Then There Were 13 summary & analysis summary lacks a brilliant detective to serve as an agent of the moral order, the of the moral order, lacks a brilliant detective to serve as an agent

Copyright 2002 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2002 by Copyright And Then There Were None And Then There Were A man named Fred Narracott ferries the group from Sticklehaven to Indian Island. He reflects on what A man named Fred Narracott ferries the group from Sticklehaven to Indian Island. The opening chapter also builds suspense through Christie’s use of dramatic irony, the contrast between irony, use of dramatic also builds suspense through Christie’s The opening chapter the suspi- partially developed insinuations that her characters possess dark secrets emphasize Christie’s foreboding by She creates a mood of presence in the first chapter. Christie also establishes a clear authorial This kind of heavy-handed writing may be connected to the fact that This kind of heavy-handed writing may wo taxis wait at the Sticklehaven train station to drive the guests to the dock. Justice Wargrave and Emily Wargrave wo taxis wait at the Sticklehaven train station to drive the guests to the dock. Justice Chapter 2 T Claythorne wait together for the second taxi, which cannot Brent share a cab, while Philip Lombard and Vera train until Macarthur’s leave until General Macarthur arrives on the slower train. The two make small talk waiting with a man and Emily are appears, and then the three of them drive to the dock, where Wargrave car appears. In the twi- Marston’s who introduces himself as “Davis.” Just before they set out in the boat, Tony light, he looks like a “a young god” as he drives toward them. at all and do not seem like an odd party these guests constitute, since they do not seem to know each other When the guests arrive at the island, they go up to the Owen must be. friends of a millionaire, which Mr. Rogers, and his wife, Mrs. Rogers, Mr. house, a large, modern-style building, and are greeted by the butler, Owen has been delayed but that they Rogers tells them that Mr. Mr. who serves as cook and housekeeper. dinner is on its way. should make themselves at home. Their rooms are prepared, drinks are made, and brilliant detective who usually plays a central role in murder mysteries. Figures like Sherlock Holmes or brilliant detective who usually plays a central bring- order, own creations, Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot, typically serve as agents of the moral Christie’s no such figure and thereby investing them with meaning. With ing their powers to bear on violent events commentary on providing the kind of omniscient stronger, present in this novel, the authorial voice becomes genre. works of the murder-mystery events that a detective usually provides in a more satisfying ending. For instance, by letting us know what each character is thinking—and such character is thinking—and us know what each instance, by letting ending. For a more satisfying character seems suspense, since each actually increases the the novel—Christie throughout glimpses continue of them may her own thoughts. One the privacy of his or musings, even in innocent and guilty to harbor both sus- and old alike express man, woman, young, exactly who it is, since no way of telling but we have be a killer, the gamut of we have run time the killer is revealed, fears. By the alongside genuine picious thoughts to sympathy for several characters. responses, from condemnation While or audience, know to be the truth. to be the truth and what we, the readers what a character thinks that they are going to Indian Island believe like Emily Brent and General Macarthur, some of the characters, on the that they have been hired to do odd jobs others, like Blore and Lombard, believe to visit old friends and to lack of a single reason for the various visitors on that they are all being deceived. The island, we sense early hidden motive. Because for some deeper, the whole process seem like a pretext come to the island makes for the moment, possesses that each character, to her characters’ minds, we can see Christie gives us access on a that each character is embarking of the situation, while we can understand only a limited understanding he or she realizes. greater adventure than nothing definite in these opening scenes, but she gives hints of ugly cious nature of the situation. She reveals typically takes place after a suspicious death; inquest, which recalls being acquitted by a coroner’s pasts: Vera with it”; Gen- but “always got away not always followed the law, Lombard thinks about the fact that he has Armstrong thinks thoughts turn to a “damned rumour” that has dogged him for years; Dr. eral Macarthur’s together” after some “business” years before. Even before the about how lucky he has been to “pull himself that each potential victim is also a potential suspect. really sinister events begin, we recognize that “the day of judgment is at hand.” Christie imbues the situa- using the old seafaring man, who tells Blore she explicitly states that Blore is wrong to assume that the old- tion with an even more ominous tone when foreshadowing sets a precedent for a significant authorial presence timer is closer to judgment than he is. This comments on events in a dramatic or even melodramatic fash- throughout the novel, as Christie repeatedly ion. Because authorial presence must provide omniscient commentary on events. authorial presence must provide omniscient Summary: Chapter 2

SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM And Then There Were 14 ). It is significant that Vera is the first to notice the poem, since it is the first to notice the ). It is significant that Vera summary & analysis summary Copyright 2002 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2002 by Copyright en Little Indians T p. 28) quotations, (See subverts the conventions of the traditional mystery story, in which the reader is given a set of clues to in which the reader is given a set mystery story, subverts the conventions of the traditional

Into that silence came The Voice. Without warning, inhuman, penetrating . . . “Ladies and gentlemen! warning, inhuman, penetrating Without Into that silence came The Voice. indictments.” are charged with the following Silence, please . . . You Each of the guests goes to his or her room. Vera finds her room well appointed. A statue of a bear sits on the statue of a bear sits on well appointed. A finds her room her room. Vera guests goes to his or Each of the house. He remembers giving as he goes into the evening, passing Wargrave Armstrong arrives in the Dr. Indians” rhyme over his man- Little “Ten a bath. Blore ties his tie and notices the Upstairs, Marston takes As in the first chapter, the second chapter follows the thoughts of each character in turn. Everyone’s mus- the second chapter follows the thoughts of each character in turn. Everyone’s As in the first chapter, dominant motif. The use of a Little Indians” poem, the novel’s This chapter also introduces the “Ten Chapters III–IV Analysis: Chapter 2 situation, Christie seems intent on making each one seem as sus- Having placed her characters in this peculiar but in a way that she grants us access to the characters’ thoughts, picious as possible. As in the first chapter, impression that only increases when we realize that one of makes each of them seem slightly sinister—an This lack of a single clearly guilty character is one of the ways that them is a murderer. mantelpiece, and a nursery rhyme hangs on the wall. Vera recognizes the nursery rhyme from her childhood. the nursery recognizes Vera hangs on the wall. and a nursery rhyme mantelpiece, and so never wakes up, first chokes, the second one by one: the Little Indians” get killed “Ten In the rhyme, Island. staying on Indian since they are that the poem is appropriate reflects none is left alive. Vera forth until of drowning. makes her think out at the sea, which She then looks had a reputation for convinc- that Wargrave front of the judge once or twice, and recalls medical testimony in Armstrong about Constance asks and Wargrave The two men speak to one another, ing juries to convict. He that no one by that name is expected. invited him to the island. He learns Culmington, who supposedly absence. of the host’s remarks on the oddity could about the weekend. He wishes he not to bungle his job. Macarthur has misgivings telpiece. He resolves decides to enjoy the weekend. for dinner, has already left. Lombard, coming down leave, but the motorboat to and cast into hell, and then goes down a Bible passage about sinners being judged Upstairs, Emily reads dinner. None work with and can try to solve the case alongside the detective. Christie is not interested in having us solve the work with and can try to solve the case alongside us, offering plenty of false leads and filling the novel with many case: instead, she seems intent on toying with end. for us to solve the case before the novel’s potential murderers in order to make it difficult arrives at the island and finds it “magical,” Armstrong, for example, Dr. ings come across as slightly sinister. his bath, Marston, in Tony plans”—possibly plans for murder. and it inspires him to “make plans, fantastic with an unspecified “it,” which could refer to the unpleasant week- thinks to himself that he must go through he must not bun- Blore, tying his tie, thinks about the “job” he must do, one that end or to acts of violence. Mr. He could . . . Throw up the whole business.” excuse and get away. gle. Macarthur wishes he could “make an resem- or the business of crime. Lombard, coming down for dinner, mean either the business of the weekend preying on oth- He thinks that he will enjoy this weekend, perhaps because he will enjoy bles a beast of prey. perhaps Emily Brent reads about the just punishment of sinners with tight-lipped satisfaction, ers. Finally, the characters, which these glimpses we begin to distrust With because she plans to punish sinners herself. difficult to solve, but ultimately more satisfying to makes the mystery more intriguing, more uncover. most artful touches, since childhood nursery rhyme as a schematic model for the murders is one of the novel’s an eerie countdown. The it establishes an atmosphere of dread as the childish verses are transformed into title (the novel’s novel’s playful verses, then, perversely lead toward the “and then there were none” of the original title was, in fact, ultimately has the strongest psychological impact on her, eventually driving her to hysterics. ultimately has the strongest psychological impact on her, Summary: Chapter III

SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM 15 summary & analysis summary Copyright 2002 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2002 by Copyright argrave suggests they leave in the morning as soon as the boat arrives; all the guests but one concur. Tony but one concur. argrave suggests they leave in the morning as soon as the boat arrives; all the guests Mr. Rogers says that he and his wife did not kill Jennifer Brady, their employer, an old, sickly woman who their employer, says that he and his wife did not kill Jennifer Brady, Rogers Mr. W The voice falls silent, and almost everyone expresses shock and anger. Mrs. Rogers, who has been standing Mrs. anger. and almost everyone expresses shock and The voice falls silent, People pour themselves drinks. Armstrong help her to bed. and her husband and Dr. Mrs. Rogers revives, The subject turns to the accusations made by the voice on the record, and the guests defend themselves. War- The subject turns to the accusations made Seton, says that Seton was an accused murderer on whom he grave, accused of killing a man named Edward the case, privately recalls that everyone felt sure Seton would be passed sentence. Armstrong, remembering accused of killing Cyril Hamil- Vera, which found Seton guilty. influenced the jury, acquitted, but Wargrave and he drowned while swimming to a rock. She says she tried ton, tells the group that she was his governess, Arthur Richmond, says that Richmond lover, accused of killing his wife’s her best to save him. Macarthur, reconnaissance mission; Macarthur denies that his wife ever had was one of his officers who died on a routine to taking their Lombard, accused of killing twenty-one members of an East African tribe, admits an affair. Marston, saying that he did so in order to save himself. Tony food and abandoning them in the wilderness, remarks that they must have been two children he ran over by acci- accused of killing John and Lucy Combes, dent. inherited some Rogers could not reach the doctor in time. He admits that they died one night when Mr. he testified against a man named James money after her death. Blore says that when he was a police inspector, Armstrong, was guilty. Landor in a bank robbery case. Landor later died in jail, but Blore insists that Landor the name but privately accused of causing the death of a woman named Louisa Mary Clees, denies knowing drunk. Only the dignified remembers the case. Clees was an elderly woman on whom he operated while Emily Brent will not speak to the accusation made against her. on it, and dies. Marston suggests they ought to stay and solve the case. He then takes a drink, chokes Analysis: Chapters III–IV voice clarifies the hints The truth about the party on the island is now partially revealed, since the recorded that they not only all have that Christie has dropped so far about her characters’ shady pasts. Now we know also learn that their host, who- We secrets, but that they have all committed murder in one form or another. games. The name “U. N. ever he or she may be, has a dark sense of humor and delights in tricks and word the title of the record that on words. Additionally, translates it, “unknown,” is a play as Wargrave Owen,” or, sung by dying swans. announces their crimes is “Swan Song,” a term that refers to the sweet song supposedly The guests enjoy a delicious dinner and begin to relax in spite of the odd circumstances. They notice a set of circumstances. They in spite of the odd and begin to relax enjoy a delicious dinner The guests figures with the associate the the table and immediately in the center of of Indians sitting ten china figures draw- moves into the the whole company dinner is over, of their rooms. When hangs framed in all rhyme that a disembod- the group hears room when suddenly Rogers is in the drawing Everyone except Mrs. ing room. naming murder, each of them of from nowhere. It accuses seemingly coming voice, ied, mechanical-sounding crimes, it asks if anyone at the bar has purported crime. After listing the of each guest’s the victim and the date or her defense. something to say in his else searches for the everyone Rogers goes to fetch her some brandy, While Mr. outside the room, faints. player in an adjoining room. Rogers Lombard finds an old-fashioned record source of the voice. Eventually, but he denies knowing what from his employer, turning it on in accordance with orders returns and admits to is entitled “Swan Song.” The record it was going to play. Owen. He says Mr. their employer, explains that he and his wife have never met Rogers returns, he When Mr. his or Everyone else takes turns explaining them, and they received instructions by mail. that an agency hired and specific Owen” impersonated various old friends that “Mr. her invitation to the island, and they realize has taken charge of the discussion, notes that the recorded who acquaintances in the letters. Judge Wargrave, name Blore has chosen as an alias. Blore then Davis,” the Blore, but not a “Mr. message mentioned a Mr. was hired via post as a private detective to protect the jewels of Mrs. reveals his real name and admits that he sounds like and stands for “unknown,” and that a homi- suggests that U. N. Owen U. N. Owen. Wargrave cidal maniac has invited them all here. Summary: Chapter IV SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM 16 summary & analysis summary Copyright 2002 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2002 by Copyright As he prepares for bed, Wargrave thinks about Edward Seton, the man whom the voice earlier accused thinks about As he prepares for bed, Wargrave governess. She was in love with Cyril Hamilton’s remembers her time as Cyril’s In her bedroom, Vera Most of the guests stoutly deny the accusations made against them. As the novel progresses, however, these novel progresses, however, against them. As the the accusations made guests stoutly deny Most of the alleged crimes manifest different reactions. who seem to feel no guilt over their Meanwhile, the people Emily Brent reflects their position in the social hierarchy. The self-righteousness of some of the characters Chapters V–VI Summary: Chapter V it was poisoned, but since Marston poured it himself, the guests Armstrong examines the drink and finds find it hard to believe that such a high-spirited young man would assume he committed suicide. Still, they After a time, body is carried to his bedroom and placed beneath a sheet. want to take his own life. Marston’s who stays downstairs to clean up. As they enter their rooms, everyone goes upstairs to bed except for Rogers, in its blankness. The house, so modern and gleaming, now seems horrifying each guest locks his or her door. defended Seton well, and the prosecution presented a poor case. him of sentencing to death. The defense smiles, remembering how during his summing up Seton. Wargrave Everyone assumed the jury would acquit notices that although ten little Indian statues originally sat goose.” Downstairs, Rogers “[h]e’d cooked Seton’s I he dis- War World on the table, now there are only nine. Macarthur lies awake in bed, recalling how during Rich- ordered the officer, covered that his young wife was having an affair with one of his officers. Furious, he suspected him at the time, mond, on an impossible mission, effectively sending him to his death. No one distant and died of pneu- except perhaps one of the other officers, a man named Armitage. His wife became suspecting by the sea, but after a time he began to worry, Macarthur retired and lived monia a few years later. lying in his bedroom listen- that Armitage had spread the story around and that people knew his secret. Now, that he does not really ing to the sound of the sea, a strange feeling of peace comes over him, and he realizes want to leave the island. knew that if Cyril Vera cousin, Hugo, but Hugo was too poor to marry her and support both himself and her. and again to be allowed to died, Hugo would inherit the family fortune. One day Cyril begged her again aside. As she passes the mantelpiece, she notices pushes these recollections swim to a rock in the ocean. Vera Little Indians” poem, which reads, verse of the “Ten death and the first the similarity between Marston’s “One choked his little self and then there were nine.” The host’s central and most perverse word game involves the “Ten Little Indians” poem, as becomes apparent Indians” poem, as Little “Ten game involves the most perverse word central and The host’s place. murders have taken after a few characters admit after another the the situation, and one under the strain of begin to break down early denials the allegations against way each deals with the in Chapter IV, It is telling to watch, to each other. their guilt loudest, we realize, are actually the deny the charges, but the ones who do so the Most of the guests him or her. for example, are and Armstrong, Macarthur, see earlier how Vera, with guilt. We people most wracked of their crimes but now claim to be innocent. haunted by memories men to anything, willingly admits to leaving the novel never displays remorse for Lombard, who throughout Tony as his highest value. Similarly, He sees no problem with having self-preservation die in the wilderness. egotist, he seems to regard the incident up to running down the children. A complete Marston readily owns refuses suspended. Emily Brent, for her part, for himself, since his license was chiefly as an inconvenience of propriety but also her powerful convic- her incident, which reflects her intense sense even to speak about but virtuous and pure, and so there is tells her, She is not a criminal, her mind tion of her own righteousness. which she finds too ridiculous to trouble her. no reason to even bother denying the charges, the maid partly because her maid is not her social equal. Similarly, does not care about the death of her former top tier of the social hierarchy; he is wealthy and frivolous, Marston inhabits the attractive and youthful Tony Those on who live in what he describes as “some cottage or other.” and feels no remorse for killing children Rogers, for example, continues to tiers behave more meekly in the face of the accusations. Mr. lower society’s Rogers has fainted and she and her husband have been accused of perform his duties as butler even after Mrs. as the situation on the island deteriorates, constricting social hierarchies prevail. Even murder. SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM 17 summary & analysis summary Copyright 2002 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2002 by Copyright is a classic of detective fiction, it can also be seen as a forerunner of the mod- is a classic of detective fiction, it can also be

And Then There Were None And Then There Were Part of this blundering seems to stem from a mistaken devotion to propriety and class distinctions. Even Part of this blundering seems to stem from into char- death, meanwhile, Christie uses her typical brief glimpses During the night following Marston’s brings him news of A number of brief scenes in these chapters foreshadow later events. Just before Rogers In the morning the guests rise, hoping to catch sight of the boat back to the mainland. Vera, Lombard, and back to the mainland. Vera, rise, hoping to catch sight of the boat In the morning the guests not the terrace and decide that the boat will and Lombard discuss their situation on After the meal, Blore argrave’s thoughts reveal only that he feels righteous about the execution of Edward Seton. Armstrong’s thoughts reveal only that he feels righteous argrave’s Analysis: Chapters V–VI While ern horror or slasher story, with its almost supernatural overtones and the strange, serial killer–like mur- with its almost supernatural overtones and the strange, serial ern horror or slasher story, out of its plot, on like a horror movie, the novel depends, both for suspense and for the working And derer. fail to grasp what victims. In these chapters, we see the guests repeatedly foolish behavior by the killer’s have been a suicide and so must have been a mur- death could not that Marston’s should be obvious—namely, on their guard, and the murderer easily disposes they are not they refuse to admit this possibility, Because der. realize what is going on, they continue to make obvious blunders, of Mrs. Rogers. Even once the characters vulnerable. such as going places alone, that leave them and he does death, for instance, Rogers is still expected to serve as the butler and housekeeper, after his wife’s characters think nothing of dis- much grief. The upper-class so without objecting and without even showing Rogers’s Eventually, going so far as to accuse him of murder. cussing Rogers behind his back, with Blore the murderer with an opportunity to finish him off. devotion to his duties as a butler provides learn the details of how Macarthur mur- about their crimes. We acters’ minds to provide more information is somewhat removed from suspicion, since for instance. At the same time, Macarthur lover, dered his wife’s he is about to Perhaps Christie exonerates him because murderer. his thoughts are manifestly not those of a the next morning. Mean- die; indeed, his sudden, strange urge never to leave the island foreshadows his death reveal how she went about disposing of her ward, Cyril, and why she did it, while thoughts while, Vera’s W about the woman who hallucinatory dream suggests rather heavy-handedly that he has a guilty conscience is dreaming about died on his operating table. It also serves to plant suspicion in our minds: since Armstrong killing his fellow guests, perhaps he is planning to kill them for real. decide whether he wants the missing figurine, for example, Armstrong emerges onto the terrace and tries to his later, foreshadowing or with Lombard and Blore. He turns toward Wargrave, to consult with Wargrave congregate at the summit foolish alliance with the judge. Also, the moment when Blore, Lombard, and Vera only three left alive, and of the island to await the boat foreshadows the end of the novel, when they are the Little Indians” poem continues to the motif of the “Ten summit. Meanwhile, they again gather at the island’s the deaths and the be developed, with the disappearance of the figurines and the correspondence between connection between the poem and the death of Marston, who notices the verses of the rhyme. Again, it is Vera foreshadowing the effect that the verses later have on her fragile psyche. Summary: Chapter VI Chapter VI Summary: patient on the he must kill the operating table, realizing which he stands at his has a nightmare in Armstrong cannot rouse his worried because he Marston. Rogers, Brent, then like patient looks like Emily table. The Rogers has died goes to find that Mrs. rises and wakes Armstrong. Armstrong into the room and wife, comes her. she took only the pills Armstrong gave of an overdose of sleeping pills. Rogers says in her sleep, perhaps After breakfast, Armstrong appear. it doesn’t of the island to watch for it, but Blore go to the summit Macarthur gives Rogers his condo- to the group. The group is alarmed, and death announces Mrs. Rogers’s the room, the group begins to speculate about to the room. When Rogers leaves the lences when he returns that Mrs. Rogers died of a guilty con- Brent insists it was an act of God and death. Emily cause of his wife’s killed night. Blore suggests that Rogers the recorded accusation of murder the previous science after hearing of covering up their secret. his wife in the hopes and wanders off, saying that none of expresses his agreement in a dazed voice passing them, come. Macarthur, a baffled and frightened Rogers shows Armstrong that only eight them will ever leave the island. Meanwhile, Indian figures remain on the table. SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM 18 summary & analysis summary Copyright 2002 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2002 by Copyright are finally given an account of Emily Brent’s crime in the form of a remarkably honest confession from crime are finally given an account of Emily Brent’s

When Blore returns with a rope, he finds only Armstrong, who is musing that Macarthur may be the When Blore returns with a rope, he finds Meanwhile, Lombard and Armstrong consult with each other. They discuss the possibility that Rogers They and Armstrong consult with each other. Meanwhile, Lombard her own mouth. She makes an interesting case, since, in a certain way, she is less explicitly guilty of murder her own mouth. She makes an interesting case, since, in a certain way, of her home: she did not than most of the other guests. After all, her only action was to turn a pregnant girl out Cyril or Macarthur intended to kill Richmond, his intended to kill the way Vera intend to kill Beatrice Taylor death, as did Armstrong and Marston. Nevertheless, Emily directly cause someone’s Nor did lover. wife’s what she did than for her Christie depicts Emily as the most unsympathetic character in the novel, less for have committed worse utter lack of remorse and unbending faith in her own righteousness. The others may Emily Brent has no such crimes, but at least they admit to themselves that they did indeed commit crimes. We Analysis: Chapters VII–VIII Summary: Chapter VIII make an exhaustive sweep of the small island. Since the island is Joined by Blore, Armstrong and Lombard which surprises exist. It turns out that Lombard has a revolver, mostly bare rock, few places for concealment come across a dazed Macarthur sitting by himself, staring off into Blore. As they make their search, the men time and that they need to leave him alone. They decide that he the sea. He tells them that there is very little points out that a Leaving him, they discuss how they might signal the mainland, and Lombard must be crazy. He adds that the fishermen and village people probably have been storm is brewing, which will isolate them. some cliffs they Owen, presumably) to disregard all signals from the island. The men come to told (by Mr. rope. Blore returns to the house to get one, while Armstrong won- want to search for caves, but they need a goes out for a walk and comes across the Mac- apparent madness. Meanwhile, Vera ders about Macarthur’s the guilt he sits down, and he talks of the impending end of his life and of the relief he feels, given She arthur. presence, he having seemingly become unaware of Vera’s has felt over the death of Richmond. Eventually, as if he expects her to appear. begins to murmur the name of his dead wife and climbs down the cliff to make his returns, having gone to check some unnamed theory, Lombard killer. hold the rope, Blore remarks that Lombard climbs extremely well. search for caves. As Armstrong and Blore only in books that saying, “It’s it odd that he brought a revolver, He says he does not trust Lombard and thinks the cliff face, and the three people carry revolvers around as a matter of course.” Lombard finds nothing on The search goes quickly, men return to the house, where they make a thorough search for their missing host. moving about upstairs in since the modern house contains few potential hiding places. They hear someone Rogers. Completing their laid, but it turns out to be Mr. bedroom, where her body has been Mrs. Rogers’s search, they conclude there is no one on the island but the eight of them. Emily and Vera take a walk together. Emily reiterates her conviction that Mrs. Rogers died of a guilty con- reiterates her conviction that Mrs. Emily take a walk together. Emily and Vera of killing. Beat- the girl the recorded voice accused Emily of Beatrice Taylor, the story science. She tells Vera Emily immediately threw her out of as a maid, but when Beatrice got pregnant, worked for Emily rice Taylor to feel Emily insists that she has no reason and despairing, Beatrice drowned herself. the house. Friendless horrifies Vera. remorse, but the story old the Rogers couple probably did kill the Armstrong expresses his conviction that killed his wife, and Mrs. They also consider the possibility that simply by withholding drugs that she needed. woman in their care hours seems like an improbable twelve but two deaths—hers and Marston’s—within Rogers killed herself, recites have disappeared. When Armstrong tells Lombard that two Indian figures coincidence. Armstrong notices that they neatly correspond to the two murders. They the first two verses of the poem, Lombard and they deter- Owen, committed the murders and is now hiding on the island, decide that their host, Mr. mine to search for him. Chapters VII–VIII VII–VIII Chapters Chapter VII Summary: SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM 19 summary & analysis summary Copyright 2002 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2002 by Copyright ) 50 p. quotations, (See Everyone except Rogers gathers in the drawing room, and Wargrave takes charge of the meeting. He says takes charge of the Everyone except Rogers gathers in the drawing room, and Wargrave Mr. Owen could only come to the island in one way. It is perfectly clear. Mr. Owen is one of us. Mr. It is perfectly clear. Owen could only come to the island in one way. Mr. Meanwhile, some of the characters begin to realize the truth about the situation and the danger they are all and the danger truth about the situation begin to realize the some of the characters Meanwhile, compromises their alliance, as each Armstrong, and Lombard, mutual suspicion Unfortunately for Blore, Blore, Lombard, and Armstrong become argumentative. Blore suggests that Armstrong gave Mrs. Rogers an Blore, Lombard, and Armstrong become accident or on purpose. Lombard tells Blore not to be offensive, and overdose of sleeping medication either by a gun. Lombard explains that he was hired to do a job by Isaac Blore demands to know why Lombard carries of some sort on the island. The bell rings, announcing lunch. Morris, who implied that he might find trouble whom Armstrong goes to fetch. Rogers serves Everyone troops in for the midday meal except for Macarthur, expressing his hope that a makeshift lunch of cold ham and tongue along with a few other items, anxiously and then hear the doctor the food will satisfy the guests. People make small talk about the approaching storm immediately surmises aloud that Macarthur is returning at a run. He bursts into the dining room, and Vera was killed by a blow to the head. Blore and Arm- stating that Macarthur dead. Armstrong confirms this fear, and the storm breaks as they bear the corpse into the house and place it in body, strong retrieve Macarthur’s and Rogers notice that only seven statues remain on the dining-room table. room. Vera Macarthur’s agree with except for Vera, he has come to the conclusion that the murderer is one of the guests. The others, suspicion. After some initial objections, including discus- He then asks if anyone can be cleared of this theory. it is agreed that they sions of whether women and professional men can possibly be suspected of such crimes, The guests then review their movements of the past must proceed as if any of them could be the murderer. impossible that he or she committed all three murders. actions made it logistically two days to see if anyone’s dismisses them as if warns everyone to be on his or her guard, and No one has a foolproof alibi. Wargrave adjourning a court. Chapters IX–X Summary: Chapter IX consciousness of her own guilt. She is, as Christie puts it, “encased in her own armour of virtue,” using her own armour of virtue,” it, “encased in her She is, as Christie puts of her own guilt. consciousness to justify her actions. religious values men—Arm- we see the three younger In particular, with a crazed murderer. inhabit an island in while they Lom- Armstrong and the mystery. in an effort to solve to work together and Lombard—begin strong, Blore, for the missing figurines, which enables them between the poem, the deaths, and bard make the connection the island, they turn to Blore to overall plan. Then, deciding to search the murderer’s the first time to grasp intelli- bringing together Armstrong’s grouping of three seems like a strong alliance, provide muscle. This end up, along with Vera, police experience. Indeed, these three men Blore’s cunning, and gence, Lombard’s self- out the weaker characters first: Marston, The murderer appears to be weeding the last surviving guests. increased detach- Mrs. Rogers. Macarthur’s dies first, followed by the fainting absorbed and overconfident, for the these chapters, makes him an easy target manifested in his odd behavior during ment from the world, of events, since the murderer characters survive prepares us for a heightening That the strongest murderer. be savvy to kill them off. will no doubt have to their can already see this suspicion developing during We killer. man suspects that one of the others is the Blore’s why Lombard happens to be carrying a revolver. search of the island, when Blore asks Armstrong and it comes out into the open once they are the only two mistrust of Lombard grows as the novel progresses, personality—he is a man of action primarily interested Lombard’s points out later, men left alive. But, as Vera wrong for the part of a murderer whose primary goal seems to be in saving his own life—makes him totally mind is limited. does not consider this idea, because his policeman’s the delivery of cosmic justice. But Blore The former is another example of how Christie subverts the conventions of the detective story. folly Blore’s on the island, yet, unlike an almost omniscient, Sherlock Holmes– policeman is the closest thing to a detective right. style sleuth, Blore never manages to get things SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM with the climactic and orderly

20 And Then There Were None, And Then There Were summary & analysis summary Copyright 2002 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2002 by Copyright Throughout the novel, Christie depicts the weaknesses of each character, weaknesses that eventually Throughout the novel, Christie depicts the weaknesses of each character, the situation. The first Christie uses the details of everyday life to illustrate the increasing desperation of Rogers, polishing the silver, asks Blore if he has any suspicions. Blore says he suspects someone, but he will Blore if he has any suspicions. Blore says asks silver, Rogers, polishing the hand that the She begins to feel groggy and writes in a shaky Emily sits in her room, writing in her diary. the drawing room. The normalcy of teatime makes them relax a Later that afternoon, everyone gathers in era and Lombard talk in the living room. They agree that they do not suspect one another. Lombard not suspect one another. agree that they do living room. They talk in the era and Lombard Analysis: Chapters IX–X of the situ- body inside symbolizes the increasing gravity The storm that breaks as the men carry Macarthur’s longer deny that something terrible is afoot, and the windswept ation on Indian Island. The guests can no takes charge, bringing the surviving charac- this turmoil, Wargrave island begins to seem like a prison. Amid them all. His suggestion that the murderer is one of them forces ters together to confront the menace facing and convictions they are earlier unwilling to face. Here Wargrave the remaining guests to confront suspicions detective, gathering evidence, drawing conclusions, and plays the role of the conventional murder-mystery to Armstrong that the identity of the murderer is “clearly indi- making cryptic comments, such as his remark group discussion mysteries end with a scene much like the cated” by the evidence. Indeed, most of Christie’s announces the reviews the evidence, and the suspects together, in Chapter IX, in which the detective gathers The formula gets tweaked in identity of the killer. drawing-room scene coming halfway through the novel and the identity of the murderer remaining drawing-room scene coming halfway through the novel and the identity of unknown. more than the others, is plagued by guilt over her crime. In doom them. For instance, we earlier see how Vera, become apparent. Arm- the group discussion in Chapter IX, the weaknesses of Armstrong and Lombard from suspicion. He is strong declares that he is a “well-known professional man” and so should be exempt any “professional” person blinded, in other words, by ideas of class and respectability; he cannot imagine that Lombard, since Lombard is far from respectable, and This attitude makes him suspect could be a murderer. of the world—his prevents him from suspecting others. Lombard has a similarly limited understanding could be female. “I suppose quaint and antiquated view of women makes him unable to fathom that the killer he tells her that in his conversation with Vera, and later, you’ll leave the women out of it,” he tells Wargrave, Lombard has an old-fashioned, almost chivalrous view of she is too “sane” and “level-headed” to be the killer. women as powerless and harmless, which leads him to a fatal underestimation of Vera. they eat cold tongue. They begin to watch each other however, night, the guests eat a sumptuous meal; now, express their misgiv- suspiciously until their bedroom doors are safely locked for the night, and they openly away at their standards of decorum. Still, strangely The tense situation is chipping ings about one another. Summary: Chapter X Chapter X Summary: V perhaps, Wargrave; tells her that he suspects for a woman. He then very levelheaded seems Vera remarks that to be both judge and made him want driven him mad God as a judge have years of playing Lombard suggests, hand- sounds like a doctor’s Armstrong, because two deaths by poison says she suspects Vera and executioner. also he went down to fetch him for lunch. She he might have killed Macarthur when iwork. She suggests that he with medical knowledge, he can say what Armstrong is the only member of the group points out that since of death and no one can contradict him. likes about the manner Armstrong as eager to hold on strikes and Armstrong talk. Wargrave Wargrave not say whom. Meanwhile, thinks to himself in their beds, and Wargrave worries that they will all be murdered to his life. Armstrong then commonplace mind.” Wargrave think only in clichés and that he has a “thoroughly that Armstrong can he thinks he knows the identity of the of law, no evidence that would stand up in a court says that while he has murderer. she once employed who killed herself). She snaps to her (the pregnant maid murderer is Beatrice Taylor written such a thing. She thinks that she must be going mad. senses and cannot believe she could have bathroom curtain made of scarlet oilsilk has gone missing. No one bit. Rogers rushes in to announce that a feels nervous again. The guests eat a dinner consisting mostly knows what this absence means, but everyone eating, locking their doors behind them. Only Rogers remains of canned food. They retire to bed soon after the dining-room door so that no one can remove any of the downstairs. Before he goes to bed, he locks remaining Indian figures during the night. SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM 21 summary & analysis summary Copyright 2002 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2002 by Copyright p. 28) quotations, (See argrave suggests they lock away any potential weapons, including Lombard’s gun and Armstrong’s argrave suggests they lock away any potential weapons, including Lombard’s In the drawing room, Blore says he thinks Emily is the killer. Vera tells them the story of Beatrice Taylor. Vera In the drawing room, Blore says he thinks Emily is the killer. W Oh, don’t you understand? Haven’t you read that idiotic rhyme?. . . Seven little Indian boys chopping you read that idiotic Haven’t you understand? Oh, don’t up sticks. The group breaks up while Emily and Vera prepare breakfast. Blore tells Lombard that he thinks Emily is prepare breakfast. Blore tells Lombard that he thinks The group breaks up while Emily and Vera After breakfast, Wargrave suggests they convene in half an hour to discuss the situation. Emily feels woozy, suggests they convene After breakfast, Wargrave to give her a sedative, but she recoils at the idea. As the others go so she remains at the table. Armstrong offers a bee buzzing outside of the window and realizes that there is out and clean up in the kitchen, Emily sees bees and of how She seems drugged or delusional; she thinks sluggishly and calmly of someone behind her. dripping with water from the She thinks the person in the room is Beatrice Taylor, much she likes honey. She then feels a prick on her neck. river. points out that they have no evidence. They go to the but Wargrave theory, Some seem to agree with Blore’s bee buzzing outside and dining room to get Emily and find her dead, her skin turning blue. They notice the died of an injec- remember the rhyme: “A bumblebee stung one and then there were five.” Emily apparently bag. The remaining tion from a hypodermic syringe. Armstrong admits that he has a syringe in his medical guests go together to search his room, and they find the syringe has vanished. find that his revolver is medicine case. Lombard reluctantly agrees, but when they go to his bedroom they puts on a bathing suit) and is searched for weapons. prompting, everyone strips (Vera missing. At Wargrave’s The case is placed in a chest that requires a They store all potentially lethal drugs in a case that requires a key. one to Blore. This way the two strong men would gives one key to Lombard and Wargrave different key. and neither could break into the case or chest without key, have to fight one another if one wanted the other’s gun but cannot find it. They do find the doctor’s making a great racket. The group searches for Lombard’s along with the sixth Indian figure. syringe, however; it was thrown out the dining-room window, Summary: Chapter XII Chapters XI–XII Chapters XI–XII XI Summary: Chapter enough, Rogers continues his impeccable service, staying downstairs to clean up after everyone and scraping clean up after everyone downstairs to service, staying continues his impeccable enough, Rogers on the loose, and there is a murderer has been murdered though his wife as best he can. Even meals together to cling to guests. His determination and neither do the subservience strange, find his continued he does not him from the divisions that separate since the class proves a fatal weakness, the social hierarchy his place in for the murderer. him an easy target guests make He finds the others, to rouse him earlier. he wonders why Rogers did not come Waking, Lombard sleeps late. of Rogers. have to be roused from sleep. Downstairs, they find no sign Blore and Wargrave except for Emily. that she has been walking around the island. Entering the dining Emily comes in wearing a raincoat, saying body in the that another statue is missing. They soon find Rogers’s horror, discovers, to everyone’s room, Vera raving about how suffers a slight breakdown, of his neck. Vera woodshed, with a hatchet wound in the back himself in halves, and then there were six.” The next verse per- the rhyme has been fulfilled—“One chopped and she comes are any hives on the island. Armstrong slaps her, tains to bees, and she asks hysterically if there to her senses. man. As she After some prodding, Blore admits to Lombard that he testified against an innocent the killer. Cyril disappearing stares off into space, letting the bacon burn while she remembers cooks breakfast, Vera asks her if she is afraid to die, Emily begins to Emily remains outwardly calm, but when Vera into the water. will not die because she has led an upright life. At breakfast, the get nervous. She thinks to herself that she but frantic thoughts flood their minds. remaining guests behave very politely, SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM 22 summary & analysis summary Copyright 2002 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2002 by Copyright p. 29) quotations, (See Armstrong raised the limp hand. . . . He said—and his voice was expressionless, dead, far away: “He’s been far away: “He’s the limp hand. . . . He said—and his voice was expressionless, dead, Armstrong raised shot . . . ” She enters her room and suddenly feels as if she were again at the sea- to take a shower. gets up Vera Later, The killer’s success with Rogers and Emily depends on their own mistakes as much as upon the killer’s and Emily depends on their own mistakes success with Rogers The killer’s the characters who die early in the novel, we know much about Although we learn almost nothing about a new authorial tactic, recording characters’ thoughts without In these chapters, Christie makes use of argrave and says that he has been shot in the head. Wargrave’s body is carried to his room. Again, everyone argrave and says that he has been shot in the head. Wargrave’s The uneasy group sits in the drawing room. Armstrong seems particularly nervous; he lights cigarette after The uneasy group sits in the drawing room. Armstrong seems particularly nervous; to operate the house’s cigarette with shaky hands. The guests use candles, since Rogers is no longer around to make tea, and the other four go with her to watch her make it. They tacitly agree that offers Vera generator. only one person will go anywhere at a time, while the other four stay together. her candle. She feels some- shore where Cyril drowned. She smells the salt of the sea, and the wind blows out and find that it was a piece thing wet and clammy touch her throat, and screams. The men rush to the rescue Lombard thinks it was meant to frighten her to death. of seaweed hanging from the ceiling that scared her. they notice it. Suddenly, Blore fetches a glass of alcohol, and they feud over whether he might have poisoned dressed in the red cur- is not with them. They hurry downstairs, and find him sitting in a chair, that Wargrave from some wool that Emily had lost. Armstrong inspects wig made tain that was missing and a gray judge’s W Chapters XIII–XIV Summary: Chapter XIII Analysis: Chapters XI–XII Analysis: Rogers’s In the moments following a variety of characters. casting suspicion on her tactic of Christie continues that might kind of religious mania She possesses the most likely suspect. Emily who seems the death, it is is killed gives walking when Rogers fact that she is out of justice, and the to kill in the name drive someone habit of jumping to conclusions, Blore, displaying his usual to commit the murder. her an opportunity she does Christie make us suspect Emily than of her guilt. But, of course, no sooner becomes the champion from suspicion by having her killed off. briskly removes Emily even in these bizarre circum- stubbornly refuses to alter his routine, we see earlier, cleverness. Rogers, as up after people, remaining downstairs to clean to perform his butler chores, washing up stances. He continues By and going out alone to chop firewood. gone to bed, and rising early in the morning after the others have on the group. This isolation casts suspicion is normal, he separates himself from carrying on as if the situation Emily refuses to take the him. In the same way, the murderer to make short work of him, but it also enables break- and goes walking alone, and then after the others are taking: she gets up early kind of precautions that of Rogers and The deaths an inviting target for the killer. fast she sits alone in the dining room, presenting from the larger group is fatal. Emily drive home the point that separation have emerged by this point: Blore and Lombard are rivals, with the characters that remain. Clear dynamics meanwhile, has managed to establish himself in the two. Wargrave, Lombard clearly the more resourceful of his advice, as when they strip and search each other and when they a leadership role, with the others following the only woman who behaves as if she trusts Lombard more than the others, is lock away the medicines. Vera, unsuspected resources. Her weakness, though, is demon- still surviving, which suggests that she possesses undone death, when she is easily affected and emotionally Rogers’s strated again in her hysterical reaction to is Little Indians” poem. Armstrong, finally, such as the “Ten by suggestive, seemingly supernatural devices and from Blore. and he is a focus of suspicion, both from Vera the most nervous and high-strung of the group, nervous thoughts, As the guests sit around at breakfast, we hear a succession of identifying the thinker. worth trying,” and “The damned fool, he It’s I wonder. it work? including a few suspicious ones (“Would easy”). All we know is that one or more characters are plotting to believed every word I said to him. It was of the events on the island. mislead others, confusing our understanding SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM 23 summary & analysis summary Copyright 2002 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2002 by Copyright ying in bed, Blore tries to go over the facts of the case in his head, but his thoughts keep returning to his to go over the facts of the case in his head, ying in bed, Blore tries Of course, our understanding of these climactic scenes is complicated by the fact that their crucial events Of course, our understanding of these climactic faked death also marks the moment when she decision to leave us in the dark about Wargrave’s Christie’s L argrave’s death will confuse the murderer and flush him out into the open. Instead, it leads to Armstrong’s death will confuse the murderer and flush him out into the open. Instead, it leads to argrave’s Analysis: Chapters XIII–XIV neither we climax. Although of Armstrong mark the novel’s and the disappearance The death of Wargrave have he and Armstrong is not dead; rather, this juncture, Wargrave nor the remaining characters realize it at in place largely because of Wargrave’s does not suspect Wargrave, conspired to fake his death. Armstrong social status. He thinks that the trick of faking fatal obsession with this trust reflects Armstrong’s and society, W these chap- relationship to the rest of the group. Before murderer’s own death and fundamentally changes the his place on the island has Now, suspect among many. is simply part of the group, one ters, Wargrave Armstrong, his co-conspirator) believes him to be dead. His deceit changed, since everyone else (except for if anyone catches a glimpse of him moving around the island, his makes him more vulnerable, in a sense, since increases his no one else is even aware that he is alive, which guilt will be obvious. At the same time, however, undetected and He can do as he pleases, and, as long as he returns to his room freedom of action dramatically. him. pretends to be dead, no one will even suspect and Lom- the same situation as the remaining guests—Blore, Vera, are hidden from us. Christie leaves us in of the narrative. From this point onward, the murders seem bard—which dramatically increases the suspense everyone else is asleep. to defy rational explanation. For instance, Armstrong vanishes from the island while one that is heightened by their con- The deeds of the murderer thus take on an almost supernatural quality, novel is the Little Indians” poem. One of the obvious themes of Christie’s tinued correspondence to the “Ten crimes. As the novel nears working out of justice, since all the murder victims are being punished for earlier as if a supernatural power, its end, this justice seems to be delivered not by any human agent, but by some vengeful God is doling out punishment. a detective story offers a set of clues that irrevocably violates the rules of the detective-fiction genre. Typically, about Wargrave’s readers can use to solve the case for themselves. By withholding the crucial information impossible to solve. Christie makes the case practically seeming death, however, The remaining four eat canned tongue for dinner and then go to bed. Everyone thinks he or she now knows to bed. Everyone thinks he or she now eat canned tongue for dinner and then go The remaining four Lombard notes that his an accusation aloud. Entering his room, although no one makes identity, the killer’s recalls telling him drowning. She tormented by memories of Cyril’s lies awake, Vera gun is back in its drawer. if to make it and would drown. She wonders the rock, knowing that he would be unable he could swim out to that the seaweed must have hung notices a hook in the ceiling and realizes did. Vera Hugo knows what she the black hook fascinates her. from it. For some reason, hears it again. Slipping outside into a noise outside. He listens at the door and He hears framing of Landor. checks the rooms and finds that Arm- Blore going downstairs and out the front door. the hall, he sees a figure to remain in her room, and tell Vera The two men He wakes Lombard and Vera. strong is not in his room. glass and then thinks she hears the sound of breaking room, Vera they hurry outside to investigate. In her Blore and Lombard return without finding anyone: the island is stealthy footsteps moving in the house. and only three Armstrong seems to have vanished. In the house they find a broken windowpane and empty, Indian figurines in the dining room. notices the similarity to the “Ten Little Indians” poem: “Five little Indian boys going in for law; one got in going in for law; one little Indian boys Indians” poem: “Five Little similarity to the “Ten notices the four.” and then there were [dressed like a judge] Chancery Chapter XIV Summary: SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM 24 summary & analysis summary Copyright 2002 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2002 by Copyright era feels an enormous wave of relief and severe exhaustion. She heads back to the house to get some sleep era feels an enormous wave of relief and severe era, Blore, and Lombard spend the morning on the cliffs trying to signal a distress message to the coast spend the morning on the cliffs trying era, Blore, and Lombard V V argrave is still alive, it seems that the murderer must either be Vera or Lombard. Yet we are left with no or Lombard. Yet argrave is still alive, it seems that the murderer must either be Vera era and Lombard, dazed, stand over Armstrong’s body. Vera looks at Lombard and sees his wolflike face Vera body. era and Lombard, dazed, stand over Armstrong’s Analysis: Chapters XV–XVI Since we have no idea that The apparent end of the novel is calculated to leave us in a state of utter confusion. W the two are together by idea how either one could possibly have killed Blore, whose death takes place while how either could have killed Armstrong, since both of them are asleep in the house for that matter, the sea, or, of the Indian figurines, which continue to disappear there is the matter when he goes outside. Additionally, like clockwork even when the house is apparently empty. Summary: Chapter XVI V body above the suggests they move the the end has come. Vera and sharp teeth. Lombard nastily says that is wrong but agrees. When they are finished, Lombard realizes something water line. Lombard sneers at her, He decides to pointing his revolver at him. She has picked it from his pocket. and wheels around to find Vera pulls the trigger and Lombard falls to the ground, shot through gamble and lunges at her; she automatically the heart. she sees the three statues on the table. She breaks two of them and before help arrives. As she enters the house, “He got married and then picks the third up, trying to remember the last line of the poem. She thinks it is drowning. At of Cyril’s there were none.” She begins to think of Hugo, the man she loved but lost as a result sure that Hugo is waiting the top of the stairs she drops the revolver without noticing what she does. She feels from the black hook that for her upstairs. When she opens the door of her bedroom, she sees a noose hanging she remembers the real previously held the seaweed. She sees that Hugo wants her to hang herself, and then a second thought she last line of the poem: “He went and hanged himself and then there were none.” Without puts her head in the noose and kicks away the chair. The remaining three eat breakfast. The storm is gone, and they feel as though a nightmare has passed. Lom- feel as though a nightmare has passed. eat breakfast. The storm is gone, and they The remaining three mysterious disappearance, and Armstrong’s plans to signal the mainland. They discuss bard begins to make but that Lombard has his revolver again, get into an argument: Blore finds it sinister Lombard and Blore and Lombard asks why he may be the killer, give it up. Blore suggests that Lombard Lombard refuses to being distracted. She points out scolds them for Vera shoot Blore if he were the murderer. simply wouldn’t swallowed one and then there were death: “A red herring that applies to Armstrong’s the verse in the rhyme that Armstrong is not really dead and she thinks is a term for a false lead or a decoy, three.” A “red herring” is about a zoo, which the murderer Blore points out that the next line them somehow. and that he has tricked that they are turning into animals. says impatiently enacting on their island, but Vera will have a difficult time to avoid the danger of the house, but even- They decide to stay outside but they get no answer. using a mirror, eat. He is nervous about going alone, but Lombard refuses to lend tually Blore wants to fetch something to Vera that Blore is probably the killer. When Blore is gone, Lombard tries to convince Vera him the revolver. She then suggests that the killer could be alien or supernatural. says she thinks Armstrong must still be alive. troubled conscience and asks her if she did indicates Vera’s Lombard thinks this mention of the supernatural but when he asks if a man was involved, she feels exhausted and kill Cyril. She vehemently denies it at first, hear a faint crash from the house and go to investigate. Blore has admits that there was a man involved. They marble clock that stood on her the bear-shaped window: Vera’s been crushed by something thrown from inside the house somewhere, the two go to wait for help. On their mantle. Thinking that Armstrong must be find Armstrong’s They climb down to look and there beach below. way to the cliffs, they see something on the body. Chapters XV–XVI Chapters Chapter XV Summary: SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM is

And Then There Were None And Then There Were 25 summary & analysis summary Copyright 2002 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2002 by Copyright p. 29) quotations, (See I have wanted—let me admit it frankly—to commit a murder myself. . . . I was, or could be, an artist in commit a murder I have wanted—let me admit it frankly—to crime! The rest of the epilogue takes the form of a manuscript in a bottle, found by a fisherman and given to the The rest of the epilogue takes the form of a manuscript in a bottle, found by a fisherman When all of these facts are considered, the only possible conclusion is the correct one—namely, that some- correct one—namely, conclusion is the the only possible these facts are considered, When all of shows us of their respective personali- die in ways consistent with what Christie The final three characters supernatural suggestiveness of the poem might not really be This combination of guilt, stress, and the wo policeman, Sir Thomas Legge and Inspector Maine, discuss the perplexing Indian Island case. They wo policeman, Sir Thomas Legge and Inspector Epilogue Summary: Epilogue T various guests. It is clear to have reconstructed much of what happened on Indian Island from diaries kept by When they arrived, the police found the chair Vera them that the murderer was not Blore, Lombard, or Vera. Morris, who hired learn that Isaac kicked away to hang herself mysteriously set upright against the wall. We sleeping-pill over- Lombard and Blore and bought the island in the name of U. N. Owen, died of an apparent was murdered. The police dose the night the guests arrived on the island. The police suspect that Morris from the island; they were know that the people of Sticklehaven were instructed to ignore any distress signals the wealthy owners of the told that everything taking place on the island was part of a game being played by island and their guests. to an unsolved who writes that the manuscript offers the solution police. It is written by Judge Wargrave, of justice. Reading myster- crime. He says he was a sadistic child with both a lust for killing and a strong sense career for him because it allowed him to indulge his an appropriate ies always satisfied him. He went into law, persons squirm become a new pleasure for him. guilty Watching zeal for death within the confines of the law. He wanted to kill in an extraordi- After many years as a judge, he developed the desire to play executioner. the a doctor mentioned to Wargrave while adhering to his own sense of justice. One day, theatrical way, nary, felt sure was killed by the number of murders that must go unpunished, citing a recently deceased woman he drug in order to kill her, married couple who worked as her servants. Because the couple withheld a needed one else is still alive on the island. Yet all the evidence that the novel has provided thus far suggests that this is thus far suggests that novel has provided the evidence that the all Yet still alive on the island. one else is on given that they are alone accept it as a and Lombard both Vera In their final confrontation, impossible. since they their behavior is irrational, In a way, killer. that the other is the and each assumes Indian Island, how- rationality, This kind of perfect have killed Blore. them could possibly that neither one of should know endured such a strange and terrible of a pair of human beings who have may be too much to ask ever, of the poem, and they assume that accept the logic the end, both Lombard and Vera sequence of events. In of the evidence is beyond their capabil- to have died really is dead. A careful examination everyone who seems ities. to the he is foolhardy enough to return himself bold but blundering, dies because ties. Blore, who proves as a harmless sex, dies because he underes- who harbors a deep-seated sense of women house alone. Lombard, then, when he lunges at her, her in a position to steal his gun and capabilities—first by putting timates Vera’s by guilt about Cyril Hamil- is haunted Vera be capable of shooting him. Finally, won’t by assuming that she seawater and seeing smelling events with a nearly hallucinogenic clarity, death. She remembers the ton’s fas- Little Indians” poem and has a horrified she is powerfully affected by the “Ten moonlight. Additionally, exacerbat- ceiling of her bedroom. All of these traits come together, cination with the hook hanging from the falls into a kind of death. Unable to cope, Vera for someone’s ing the enormous shock of being responsible she cannot escape. trance and gives in to the fate that she believes however believable we find this last scene, the novel clearly intends enough to drive someone to suicide. But, undone by guilt over her own actions. it to be a realistic picture of an individual a murder mystery in which none of the victims is innocent, and in which most of them are plagued by feelings a murder mystery in which none of the victims earlier decision to sit by the sea waiting to suicide—which parallels Macarthur’s of guilt and remorse. Vera’s knows that she is around the administration of justice. Vera die—is thus a fitting end to a novel that revolves having set the stage, she administers justice to herself. so, with Wargrave and guilty, SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM although the police

And Then There Were None, And Then There Were 26 summary & analysis summary Copyright 2002 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2002 by Copyright argrave took his time gathering a list of victims, bringing up the topic of unpunished murders in casual unpunished murders up the topic of a list of victims, bringing his time gathering argrave took they bore the least responsibility for and Mrs. Rogers first, he writes, because argrave killed Marston and wants pleasure in his own work he takes an artist’s argrave says he wrote the manuscript because by which he will pull the trigger of the revolver from a dis- argrave closes by describing the mechanism The unorthodox structure of this plot begins to make sense when we consider the themes that Christie has The unorthodox structure of this plot begins to make sense when we consider the W W since returned to his room and played dead. Killing Blore was easy, death, Wargrave After Armstrong’s W W The traditional detective story ends with a scene in which the sleuth, having carefully considered all the evi- The traditional detective story ends with a scene in which the sleuth, having carefully concluding by unmasking dence, gathers the characters together and explains everything that has happened, to Something similar takes place in the epilogue the killer. Analysis: Epilogue to explain things and detectives are utterly baffled by what has transpired, and it is left to another character Instead of being investigated and the murderer. Wargrave, Here, this other character is untangle the mystery. man who has committed solved by a master detective, the ten murders in this novel can be solved only by the them. These are classic detec- been exploring: specifically the effects of conscience and the administration of justice. victims guilty of other tive-fiction themes, but Christie gives them a different spin by making her murder Island are not crimes at murders unpunishable by any legal means. One can argue that the killings on Indian he is simply doing with is not killing for personal gain; rather, all but rather acts of ultimate justice. Wargrave in this light, Christie’s his own hands what he did through the agency of law while he was still a judge. Seen makes a certain kind of decision to have him play the detective role and explain the mystery to the reader is the agent of justice, stepping in when a crime has been the detective sense. In a traditional mystery story, the murder could never be proven. This story inspired Wargrave to plan multiple murders of people who had murders of people to plan multiple Wargrave This story inspired could never be proven. the murder that he loved Little Indian” rhyme of the “Ten He thought under the law. could not be prosecuted killed but deaths. its series of inevitable as a child for learned he was ter- Wargrave knew. a case of which they would mention and hoping someone conversations tenth victim, we learn, his victims. Wargrave’s to kill himself after doing away with minally ill and decided been for Indian Island, and who had acted as his agent in making the arrangements was Isaac Morris, who who subsequently killed herself. Before drugs to a young acquaintance of Wargrave, responsible for selling indiges- claimed was a cure for Morris’s gave Morris poison, which he Wargrave leaving for Indian Island, tion. and Mrs. Rogers because moral responsibility, because he was born without a sense of their crimes—Marston Next he killed General their elderly employer. of her husband when they murdered she was under the sway how he tricked Armstrong into goes on to describe near the ocean. Wargrave sneaking up on him Macarthur, a man man . . . it was inconceivable to him that he notes, “was a gullible sort of becoming his ally: Armstrong, Rogers while the butler was out He notes that he killed Mr. of my standing should actually be a murderer.” fake his Armstrong agreed to help Wargrave Emily Brent. Later, chopping sticks. At breakfast, he poisoned of the judge and find a gunhot wound on his forehead. Wargrave death, and pretended to examine the body by the shore that evening. There, he pushed Armstrong over arranged to sneak out and meet the Armstrong a cliff into the ocean. then watched with satisfaction as Vera house alone, and Wargrave the ex-policeman foolishly came up to the make her himself, but he wanted to would have killed Vera writes that he disposed of Lombard. Wargrave the smell of the with a noose hanging down and in a suggestive way, death fit the rhyme, so he set up her room own guilt drive her to suicide. sea wafting in, letting Vera’s was the odd man out— pick up on three clues: first, that Wargrave recognition. He wonders if the police will to death he con- as the rest were, since in condemning Edward Seton he was not really guilty of a murder, the “red herring” points to the fact that Armstrong was some- demned a guilty man. Second, the line about a red mark death by a bullet through the forehead will leave how tricked into his death. Third, Wargrave’s in the biblical book of Genesis. like the brand of Cain, the first murderer an elastic band, thereby shooting himself so that he falls back on his tance and have the revolver flung away by concludes that men from the mainland “will find ten dead bodies bed as though laid there by the others. He and an unsolved problem on Indian Island.” SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM 27 summary & analysis summary Copyright 2002 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2002 by Copyright argrave himself, meanwhile, is a markedly unsympathetic character. He presents himself as an agent of He is a markedly unsympathetic character. argrave himself, meanwhile, Of course, there are objections to seeing Wargrave’s actions as just. For example, one might point out that For example, one might actions as just. to seeing Wargrave’s there are objections Of course, W actions do not Wargrave’s novel both does and does not reassert moral order. At its conclusion, Christie’s argrave’s victims, despicable though their actions may have been. victims, despicable though argrave’s committed and assuring that the murderer is duly punished. In this story, Wargrave is doing exactly that, Wargrave punished. In this story, murderer is duly and assuring that the committed becoming a killer himself. of the law and outside the bounds albeit by stepping much we may murders. However and premeditated are really deliberate crimes that he punishes not all the servant and the merely fired her, kill her servant; Emily she did not actually Brent, for instance, despise Emily may be, his running over Marston however appalling a human specimen Tony committed suicide. Similarly, Armstrong, who did not intend to Dr. accidental. The same lack of malice characterizes of two children was actions may have been heinous, and Marston’s died on his operating table. Armstrong kill the woman who with goes out of her way to make us sympathize deserve to die. Christie that they don’t but one could argue W the taking of life, beginning with the “various to experiencing a perverse pleasure in justice, but he admits mer- his human victims. He is just but not at all killed as a boy and continuing through garden pests” that he his conception of himself as an He is also grandiosely arrogant; enthusiastic cruelty. ciful, and he kills with his toward his selfish ends. Indeed, he writes from human beings to mere means “artist” reduces his victims idea that his perfect crime will go unappreciated. confession only because he cannot bear the the people he has murdered. He has become a murderer himself, go unpunished; he shares the same fate as cannot be allowed to live. In this regard, Christie returns to the neat and so, under his own code of justice, he the guilty receive what they deserve, and no one gets away with moral symmetry of the classic detective story: of a terminal illness in any case, and by kill- would have died Wargrave the same time, however, At murder. death. He arranges his death in a way that thrills him, and dies a ing himself he merely asserts authority over us to feel the satisfaction of finally understanding the mystery, happy man and a proud artist. Christie allows of seeing the murderer sniveling, angrily led away in handcuffs, or but she does not allow us the satisfaction loses his control or his murderous sense of justice. never humiliated in front of the world. Wargrave SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM 28 Copyright 2002 by SparkNotes LLC. Explained Important Quotations Quotations Important warning, inhuman, penetrating . . . “Ladies and gentlemen! Silence, please! . . . You are charged with Silence, please! . . . You . . . “Ladies and gentlemen! warning, inhuman, penetrating the following indictments.” Indian boys playing with a hive. The poem is the novel’s dominant motif, and it adds an air of supernatural inevitability to the murders. We dominant motif, and it adds The poem is the novel’s era utters these sentiments early in Chapter XI, just after Mr. Rogers has been found dead in the woodshed. era utters these sentiments early in Chapter XI, just after Mr.

1. Without silence. Into that silence came The Voice. There was a silence—a comfortable replete meal the guests have just finished their first from the beginning of Chapter III, when This quotation comes and established a general mood of foreboding this moment in the novel, Christie has on Indian Island. Before guilty secrets. Now these secrets are brought into the open by the has hinted that all of her characters have people have been brought to Indian Island for some sinister begin to realize that these recorded voice. We are charged The way the voice presents the list of crimes (“You purpose having to do with their past crimes. The guests are identity. as an important clue to the murderer’s with the following indictments”) serves was style of a courtroom, in the language that Judge Wargrave charged with their murders in the formal accustomed to using during his career. 2. Owen is one of us. Mr. It is perfectly clear. Owen could only come to the island in one way. Mr. IX mark the second crucial turning point in the novel in the middle of Chapter These words from Wargrave accuses the guests of murder). Prior to this moment, everyone has (the first occurs when the recorded voice is hiding somewhere on the island and plan- Owen, that their homicidal host, Mr. assumed, at least publicly, Blore, and Armstrong conduct an exhaustive search of the island ning to murder them. But after Lombard, He plausible conclusion: the killer is one of their party. boldly states the only and find no one, Wargrave considered but kept to themselves. This realization fosters para- speaks aloud what many of the others have goes on and everyone begins to suspect someone different. This noia and suspicion that build as the novel steps in as leader of the group, a role he occupies until his Wargrave quotation also marks the point at which apparent death four chapters later. 3. asking. Bees, hives, bees! . . . Six little sane enough what I’m Do they keep bees on this island? . . . It’s V Little deaths in the “Ten She becomes hysterical and points out that the murders have been patterned after the the third person killed, was murdered with an ax while room. Rogers, Indians” poem that hangs in everyone’s boys chopping up sticks; / he was getting firewood, and the corresponding verse reads “Seven little Indian wild reference to “[b]ees, hives, bees” reflects One chopped himself in halves and then there were six.” Vera’s little Indian boys playing her realization that the next murder will be carried out to correspond to the line “Six because the others do with a hive; / A bumblebee stung one and then there were five.” She raves impatiently not understand, or do not want to admit, what is going on. so will each char- boy, know that just as each successive verse of the poem brings the death of another Indian acter on the island be killed off in sequence.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, or distributed in any form or by any means, el means, any by or form any in distributed or transmitted, reproduced, be may publication this of part No reserved. rights All ectronic or mechanical, including including mechanical, or ectronic SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM 29 Copyright 2002 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2002 by Copyright important quotations explained quotations important himself! . . . But—incongruous as it may seem to some—I was restrained and hampered by my innate to some—I was restrained himself! . . . But—incongruous as it may seem sense of justice. The innocent must not suffer. middle, a round stained mark from which something had trickled . . . Dr. Armstrong . . . said—and his Armstrong . . . said—and trickled . . . Dr. which something had stained mark from middle, a round been shot.” away: “He’s dead, far voice was expressionless, There is little to help us deduce that Wargrave is not actually dead. We share the perception of the remain- share is not actually dead. We us deduce that Wargrave There is little to help occupying a paradoxical obsession with justice leaves Wargrave This combination of murderous zeal and This passage comes from the end of Chapter XIII, when the group of guests finds what appears to be the guests finds what appears when the group of end of Chapter XIII, comes from the This passage he declares that War- and only Armstrong examines the body, In fact, only Dr. corpse of Judge Wargrave. fake has agreed to help Wargrave discover later that Armstrong a shot to the head. We grave has died from The con- of being the killer. suspect Wargrave along with the ruse because he does not his own death, going that he is alive. As long as no one sees hand, since no one but Armstrong knows a free spiracy gives Wargrave pleases and no one will suspect him. can do as he him, Wargrave eliminated as a suspect. By not telling us has died and has thus been that Wargrave ing guests, who assume in which the reader can, detective story, Christie breaks the rules of the traditional exactly what transpires, increases the novel’s This rule-breaking dramatically and solve the mystery. examine the clues theoretically, and almost supernatural. death, subsequent events seem inexplicable faked Wargrave’s suspense, since, with 5. this as the desire of the artist to express myself. I recognized I have wanted . . . to commit a murder to the written confession, which appears in the epilogue This quotation is taken from Judge Wargrave’s he hatched the idea of bringing a group of unpunished mur- explains how novel. In this passage, Wargrave off. Killing people who committed crimes unpunishable under the derers to Indian Island and killing them his desire to mete out justice for wrongdoing. law satisfied both his desire to murder and of death and the both the agent and the detective in this mystery, place in the novel. He is both the murderer the island, even and our sympathies lie with the other people on agent of justice. He is not a likable character, killing does act according to just principles, But in a sense, Wargrave with the ones clearly guilty of murder. responsible for the deaths of others. those, including himself, who are themselves 4. forehead with, in the very the high bald revealing floor, the wig. It fell to the . . . raised Armstrong Dr. SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM en Little Indians) T 30 (originally published as (originally published Copyright 2002 by SparkNotes LLC. Key Facts Key gonist Agatha Christie Novel mystery Murder English 1939, England 1939 Sons Putnam’s G. P. individual. is an unnamed omniscient The narrator forth between each of the ten characters. The point of view constantly shifts back and (or dramatically relates the story in a dark, foreboding, and sinister tone, and often reacts The narrator to the events of the story. melodramatically) Past 1930s Indian Island, a fictional island off the English coast are the most fully developed and Philip Lombard Claythorne Although no clear protagonist exists, Vera and they outlive almost everyone else. characters, And Then There Were None Were There And Then te of first publication te of first publication arrator arrator uthor ime and place written ime and place ype of work ype of work one ense rota ublisher

A T Genre Language T Da P N Point of view T T Setting (time) Setting (place) P Full title

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, or distributed in any form or by any means, el means, any by or form any in distributed or transmitted, reproduced, be may publication this of part No reserved. rights All ectronic or mechanical, including including mechanical, or ectronic SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM 31 key facts Copyright 2002 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2002 by Copyright first sight of Indian Island, which she thinks looks sinister, hints at the trouble to come; the old man’s hints at the trouble to come; the old man’s looks sinister, first sight of Indian Island, which she thinks ’s ra ony Marston, Mrs. Rogers, General Macarthur, Mr. Rogers, and Emily Brent indicate that no one will be Rogers, and Emily Brent indicate that Mr. Macarthur, General ony Marston, Mrs. Rogers, warning to Blore on the train that the day of judgment is approaching hints that Blore will soon die; the that the day warning to Blore on the train fascination with both the Vera’s imminent murders; Little Indians” poem lays out the pattern for the “Ten eventual decision to hang herself. poem and the hook on her ceiling presage her The accusations made by the recorded voice turn the island getaway into a scene of paranoia; the murders of the murders into a scene of paranoia; voice turn the island getaway by the recorded The accusations made T rhyme. Little Indians” able to escape the “Ten strip away any sense of Armstrong Dr. of and the disappearance Judge Wargrave The apparent death of order. restore some sense of order confession, combined with Wargrave’s and Vera, Lombard, of Blore, The murders to the chaos of the story. conscience; the danger of reliance on class of guilt on one’s of justice; the effects The administration distinctions Little Indians” poem; dreams and hallucinations The “Ten forehead; food The storm; the mark on Judge Wargrave’s Ve An anonymous killer gathers a collection of strangers on Indian Island to murder them as punishment for them as murder on Indian Island to of strangers killer gathers a collection An anonymous their past crimes. hemes oreshadowing oreshadowing alling action alling action ymbols Rising action Rising action Climax F T Motifs S F Major conflict Major SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM 32 Copyright 2002 by SparkNotes LLC. Essay Topics Essay uses a variety of techniques to create a foreboding, suspenseful mood. Foreshad- uses a variety of techniques to create a foreboding, Study Questions & Questions Study explain how Wargrave exploits these weaknesses as he carries out his plot. exploits these weaknesses explain how Wargrave novel. Christie also employs a constantly shifting point of view to build suspense. She gives us a glimpse of the Christie also employs a constantly shifting argrave. Lombard, with his gun and his experience in dangerous situations, is a formidable foe, but his argrave. Lombard, with his gun and his experience in dangerous situations, is a era. They are all on their guard, yet Wargrave is able to do away with all four of them by exploiting their is able to do away with all four of them era. They are all on their guard, yet Wargrave

Aside from Wargrave, the last four characters left alive on the island are Armstrong, Blore, Lombard, and the last four characters left alive on the island are Armstrong, Blore, Aside from Wargrave, V He cannot believe that a man that class defines character. weakness is his firm belief weaknesses. Armstrong’s fake his own death, and will- Thus, he agrees to help Wargrave stature could be a murderer. of Wargrave’s him over. to push out by the cliffs late at night, where it is a simple matter for Wargrave ingly meets Wargrave to the house to fetch food and so makes an easy target for weakness is his foolhardiness—he goes alone Blore’s W is thus able to steal his gun and kill weakness is his refusal to believe that women are capable of violence. Vera weakness is hysteria. She is susceptible to the power of suggestion and tormented by her him with it. Vera’s room and thus compels the half- plays upon these weaknesses as he sets up a noose in Vera’s guilt. Wargrave to hang herself. hypnotized Vera owing adds tension, as when the old man on the train warns Blore of the approach of “judgment.” The land- owing adds tension, as when the old man and threatening, as does the weather: during much of the novel, scape of the island sometimes seems eerie by a severe storm whose violence and fury parallels the bloody Indian Island is cut off from the mainland suspense also builds: even before the murders begin, the charac- events unfolding on the island. Psychological novel progresses, they begin to suffer from nightmares, hysterical ters feel guilt and foreboding, and, as the of impending doom. fits, and hallucinations that amplify the air Each another. perspective and then races on to another point of view and then action from one character’s in question seem suspicious. In Chapter II, for example, when the snippet is calculated to make the character cuts abruptly from one character to the next as they prepare for guests have just arrived on the island, Christie to “make plans, fantastic plans”; Anthony Armstrong feels inspired by the beauty of the island Dr. dinner. that he “must go through with it”; Blore ties his tie and hopes he Marston lies in his bath thinking to himself he could “make an excuse and get away . . . Throw up the will not “bungle” his “job”; Macarthur wishes verses about the just punishment of sinners, and Lombard looks whole business.” Emily Brent reads Bible Christie gives us just enough access to each character’s this sequence of snippets, With like a beast of prey. She contin- and then shifts to the next character. murderer, thoughts to make him or her seem like a potential even as the number of suspects dwindles, so that we are never sure ues this technique throughout the novel, whom we should suspect most. 2. Claythorne, and and Vera Blore, Philip Lombard, Armstrong, William Discuss the weaknesses of Dr. And Then There Were None And Then There Were 1. throughout the uses to create and maintain suspense techniques that Christie Discuss the narrative Study Questions

33 And Then There Were None Were There And Then Copyright 2002 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2002 by Copyright study questions & essay topics questions & essay study breaks all of these rules. First, there is no tidy arrest: the murderer gets away First, there is no tidy arrest: the murderer breaks all of these rules. can be criticized as an unfair mystery novel. In a standard mystery story, a crime is mystery story, novel. In a standard as an unfair mystery can be criticized And Then There Were None And Then There Were

does the unusual plot affect the experience of reading the novel? of reading the plot affect the experience does the unusual closely? What effect does this have on the characters? choose to follow the poem so murderer system? do these alliances How and Lombard. and between Vera Wargrave; between Armstrong and and Lombard; affect events? What makes them break down? ever seem to lose control of the situation? entirely by design? Does the murderer nearly impossible for us to solve the mystery of for us to solve nearly impossible In some ways, however, In some ways, however, And Then There Were None None And Then There Were 1. Little Indians” in Discuss the role of the poem “Ten Suggested Essay Topics Suggested Essay Topics And Then There Were None Were And Then There leaves a confession behind. The only outside we discover his identity only because he with his crime, and has and who is utterly baffled by what who arrives too late to accomplish anything detective is a policeman is dead, and so we Judge Wargrave the novel deceives us: we believe that happened. Most unconventionally, In fact, he is still alive, and he is the killer. no longer suspect him. on all of the characters; red herrings abound; a satisfyingly neat isolated and cannot escape; suspicion falls pieces of the puz- actions and motivations are explained, and the ending is produced in which the murderer’s plays the role of the detective, unmask- he also is the killer, Although Judge Wargrave zle fit together tightly. of the novel and explaining how everything transpired. Though ing the criminal—himself—at the end make the story all the more suspenseful. Christie breaks some rules, she does so to 2. class What commentary is she making on her society’s social hierarchies. Discuss how Christie portrays 3. acts justly? Why or why not? Do you think that Wargrave 4. between Blore, Armstrong, Discuss the various alliances that form throughout the novel—particularly those 5. you think this is this die. Why do some live longer than others? Do in which the characters Discuss the order 3. by making it rules of mystery writing the standard decision to violate do you make of Christie’s What committed, a detective comes in to solve the crime, and the reader follows along with the detective, learning comes in to solve the crime, and the reader committed, a detective the theoretically enable the reader to guess learns, and collecting clues that would everything the detective the remaining characters the detective usually gathers of such a mystery, At the close identity of the killer. and explains how the crime was committed. the murderer, reveals the identity of together, SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM 34 Copyright 2002 by SparkNotes LLC. Review & Resources & Review By which false name does Blore identify himself early in the novel? By which false name does Blore identify A. Maltravers B. Davis C. Owen D. Smithers A. B. A battlefield in France C. The South Pole D. The African bush The Sahara Desert In what style is the house built? A.B. Victorian C. Modern Gothic D. Georgian How does the killer accuse the guests of committing murders? How does the killer accuse the guests of A. B. By sending them letters C. By speaking to them on a hidden loudspeaker D. after dinner By listing their crimes on a record that is played them off The killer does not accuse them but just begins killing What is the title of the nursery rhyme that hangs in everyone’s room? nursery rhyme that hangs in everyone’s What is the title of the Bo-Peep” A.B. “Little Little Indians” “Ten C. D. “Little Jack Horner” “Hey Diddle Diddle” come to the island? Why does Vera A. ownership B. the island’s She is a tabloid journalist and wants to confirm rumors about C. She is pursuing Lombard D. with Constance Culmington She has been invited to spend her summer holiday herself Una Nancy Owen She has been hired as a secretary by someone calling A. Tony Marston reckless driver? Which character is a Armstrong A. Tony Lombard B. Dr. C. Philip Wargrave D. Judge

6. Where did Lombard leave twenty-one men to die? 7. 5. 3. 4. Quiz 1. 2.

16. 12. 13. 14. 15. 9. 10. 11. 8. SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM 36 review & resources Copyright 2002 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2002 by Copyright Who is the last of the ten to die? A. Vera B. Lombard C. Wargrave D. Rogers identity? How do the police determine the culprit’s A.B. diary They use clues gleaned from Vera’s C. The ﬁnd the killer alive when they arrive on the island D. never solve the case They a confession in a bottle, which is thrown in the sea and found by a ﬁsherman The killer places How does Vera die? How does Vera A.B. She shoots herself C. She is poisoned D. drowns trying to swim to a rock She She hangs herself How is Blore killed? A. B. A marble bear is dropped on his head C. die He doesn’t D. He is hanged His drink is poisoned A.caterpillar B. An oar C. A His own revolver D. A marble bear Which of the guests die by the seashore? A. and Emily Brent B. Vera C. Lombard, Blore, and Vera D. Lombard, Armstrong, and Macarthur Armstrong and Macarthur Why don’t boats come from the mainland to rescue the guests? boats Why don’t A. B. want to be rescued The guests don’t C. “Owen” ordered the town not to send boats D. The weather is bad Boats arrive only once a week Which guest pretends to be killed? Which guest pretends A.B. Blore Armstrong C. Lombard D. Wargrave From what does Emily Brent die? does Emily Brent From what A.B. A lethal injection C. A bee sting D. Poison in her drink A blow to the head

. Lombard? Which of the following is used to kill 25. 24. 21 22. 23. 20. 18. 19. 17. SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM . 1980 New York: New York: Bowling Green, . New York: Dodd, Mead, . New York: 1986. . . Bowling Green, Ohio: Bowling Green State . Bowling Green, Ohio: 37 1980 answer key: review & resources Copyright 2002 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2002 by Copyright . 2001 Boston: Twayne Publishers, Boston: Twayne . 1980. The Agatha Christie Companion

The Gentle Art of Murder: The Detective Fiction of Agatha Christie. The Detective Fiction of Agatha The Gentle Art of Murder: . A Talent to Deceive: An Appreciation of Agatha Christie to Deceive: An Appreciation A Talent From Agatha Christie to Ruth Rendell: British Women Writers in Detective and Crime Women From Agatha Christie to Ruth Rendell: British Agatha Christie

Forever England: Femininity, Literature, and Conservatism Between the Wars. Literature, Forever England: Femininity,

1991 New York: Palgrave, New York: goner, Mary. Routledge, Fiction. 1: a; 2: a; 3: d; 4: c; 5: b; 6: c; 7: c; 8: d; 9: b ; 10: d; 11: a; 12: d; 13: b; 14: c; 15: c; 16: d; 17: a; 18: d; c; 15: c; 16: d; 17: 11: a; 12: d; 13: b; 14: c; 8: d; 9: b ; 10: d; d; 4: c; 5: b; 6: c; 7: 1: a; 2: a; 3: 24: c; 25: d 21: b; 22: c; 23: d; 19: b; 20: a; University Popular Press, Ohio: Bowling Green University Popular Press, wland, Susan. arnard, Robert. Robert. arnard, argainnier, Earl F. argainnier, Earl F. itzgibbon, Russell H. itzgibbon, Russell B Ro Wa Suggestions for Further Reading Suggestions B F Light, Alison.