What is the summary of the play Murder on the Orient Express written by Agatha Christie? Information about the summary, characters and analysis of Murder on the Orient Express.
Murder on the Orient Express
“Murder on the Orient Express” is a detective novel written by British author Agatha Christie, first published in 1934. The novel features Christie’s famous detective, Hercule Poirot, as the main character.
The story takes place aboard the luxurious Orient Express train, traveling from Istanbul to Calais. One of the passengers, American businessman Samuel Ratchett, is found murdered in his compartment, and all of the other passengers and the train’s staff become suspects. Poirot, who is also on board the train, takes it upon himself to solve the murder and uncover the truth behind Ratchett’s death.
The theme of the novel revolves around the idea of justice and the morality of revenge. Ratchett was a wealthy and powerful man with a dark past, and many of the other passengers on the train had reason to want him dead. As Poirot delves deeper into the case, he discovers that Ratchett’s murder is not a simple crime of passion, but rather a complex web of motives and hidden connections. Poirot must navigate the conflicting interests and motives of the various suspects to uncover the truth and bring the murderer to justice.
“Murder on the Orient Express” is a classic mystery novel that is widely considered to be one of Agatha Christie’s best works. The novel’s richly drawn characters, intricate plot, and stunning twists and turns have made it a timeless classic that continues to captivate audiences to this day. If you enjoy detective stories, psychological thrillers, and suspenseful mysteries, then “Murder on the Orient Express” is definitely a book that you should add to your reading list.
Summary
“Murder on the Orient Express” is a mystery novel written by Agatha Christie, first published in 1934. The story takes place aboard the luxurious Orient Express train, traveling from Istanbul to Calais. The main character is the famous detective, Hercule Poirot, who is also a passenger on the train.
The novel begins with Poirot boarding the train and finding himself in the same compartment as a wealthy American businessman named Samuel Ratchett. During the night, Ratchett is found murdered in his compartment, with multiple stab wounds. Poirot takes it upon himself to solve the murder, and begins his investigation by interviewing all of the other passengers and the train’s staff.
As Poirot delves deeper into the case, he discovers that all of the passengers and the train’s staff have something to hide, and many of them had motives for wanting Ratchett dead. Ratchett was a wealthy and powerful man with a dark past, and had received numerous threats on his life. Poirot must navigate the conflicting interests and motives of the various suspects to uncover the truth and bring the murderer to justice.
As the investigation progresses, Poirot discovers that Ratchett was not who he claimed to be, and was actually involved in a notorious kidnapping case from the past. The kidnapping had resulted in the death of a young girl, and many of the passengers on the train had connections to the case. Poirot realizes that Ratchett’s murder was not a simple crime of passion, but rather a complex web of motives and hidden connections.
In the end, Poirot is able to solve the murder and bring the murderer to justice. The murderer is revealed to be not one person, but a group of people who had all lost someone they loved in the kidnapping case. They had banded together to take revenge on Ratchett, who was responsible for the death of the young girl. Poirot recognizes the morality of their actions, but also realizes that taking the law into their own hands is not the answer. The novel ends with Poirot leaving the train, reflecting on the case and the idea of justice.
Characters
“Murder on the Orient Express” features a large cast of characters, including the following:
- Hercule Poirot: The famous detective who takes it upon himself to solve the murder of Samuel Ratchett.
- Samuel Ratchett: The wealthy American businessman who is found murdered in his compartment on the train.
- Mary Debenham: A governess who is a passenger on the train and one of the suspects in the murder case.
- Colonel Arbuthnot: A retired British army officer who is also a passenger on the train and a suspect in the murder case.
- Dr. Constantine: The train’s doctor who assists Poirot in the investigation.
- Countess Andrenyi: A Hungarian countess who is traveling with her husband, and is also a suspect in the murder case.
- Princess Dragomiroff: A wealthy and influential Russian princess who is a passenger on the train and a suspect in the murder case.
- Hector MacQueen: Ratchett’s secretary, who is also a suspect in the murder case.
- M. Bouc: A director of the train company and a friend of Poirot’s who also assists him in the investigation.
- The Train Staff: Including the conductor, the chef, the waiter, and the conductor’s assistant, who are all suspects in the murder case.
These are some of the key characters in “Murder on the Orient Express.” Each character brings their own unique motives and perspectives to the story, making the mystery of Ratchett’s murder even more complex and intriguing.
