What is the summary of the play The Mousetrap written by Agatha Christie? Information about the summary, characters and analysis of The Mousetrap.
The Mousetrap
“The Mousetrap” is a play written by Agatha Christie. It is a mystery play, set in the countryside of England, that follows a group of strangers who become stranded at a guesthouse due to a snowstorm. As they wait for the roads to clear, a murder occurs, and the guests must work together to figure out which one of them is the killer. The play is known for its twist ending, which has been the subject of much speculation over the years.
Summary
The play begins at Monkswell Manor, a guesthouse in the countryside of England, where a young couple, Mollie and Giles Ralston, have just opened for business. As they prepare for their first guests to arrive, a detective named Sergeant Trotter arrives and tells them about a murder that has occurred in London, in which the victim was strangled with a pair of nylon stockings. He believes that the killer may be headed to Monkswell Manor, and asks the Ralstons to keep an eye out for any suspicious behavior.
As the guests arrive, they include Mr. and Mrs. Boyle, a wealthy older couple; Mr. Paravicini, a mysterious foreign gentleman; Miss Casewell, a young woman who is traveling alone; and Christopher Wren, a nervous young man who claims to be an architect. They are all soon trapped at the guesthouse due to a snowstorm that has blocked the roads.
As they try to pass the time, tensions begin to rise among the group, and they begin to suspect one another of being the killer. Mr. Paravicini tells a story about being involved in a car accident, which only serves to increase their suspicions. The tension is further exacerbated when a recorded message is played, in which a woman is heard being strangled with a stocking.
As the group continues to try to solve the mystery, another murder occurs. Sergeant Trotter arrives and begins to investigate, and eventually, the killer is revealed in a twist ending. The play ends with the guests leaving Monkswell Manor, still trying to come to terms with the events that have occurred.
Characters
Mollie Ralston: Mollie is the young wife of Giles Ralston, and together they run Monkswell Manor. She is friendly and hospitable, and tries to keep the peace among the guests as tensions rise.
Giles Ralston: Giles is Mollie’s husband and the co-owner of Monkswell Manor. He is a calm and level-headed man, and tries to keep the guests from getting too worked up as they try to solve the mystery.
Sergeant Trotter: Sergeant Trotter is a detective who arrives at Monkswell Manor to investigate the murder that has occurred in London. He is clever and determined, and eventually helps to solve the mystery.
Mr. and Mrs. Boyle: Mr. and Mrs. Boyle are an older couple who are wealthy and somewhat pompous. They are not very liked by the other guests, and Mrs. Boyle is particularly disliked for her critical and judgmental nature.
Mr. Paravicini: Mr. Paravicini is a mysterious foreign gentleman who is one of the guests at Monkswell Manor. He is charming and sophisticated, but also appears to be hiding something.
Miss Casewell: Miss Casewell is a young woman who is traveling alone and is one of the guests at Monkswell Manor. She is strong-willed and independent, and is not afraid to speak her mind.
Christopher Wren: Christopher Wren is a nervous young man who claims to be an architect and is one of the guests at Monkswell Manor. He is timid and seems to be hiding something.
