RAJIV GANDHI NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF LAW

PATIALA, PUNJAB

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS

By- AGATHA CHRISTIE

SUBMITTED TO- SUBMITTED BY-

Dr. Navleen Multani Rishank Gupta

(Assistant Professor 19128

Of English) GROUP: 25

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Acknowledgement

I would like to take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude and deep regard to
Dr. Navleen Multani (Assistant Professor of English) for her guidance and valuable
feedback and constant support throughout the duration of project. Her suggestions were
of monumental help in the rough work of my project.

I would also like to express my gratitude to Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law,
Patiala for giving me the topic that enriched my knowledge. I also like to thank the
library staff for constant support.

Lastly I am thankful to my parents and friends for their constant support and coordination
in the completion of the research work.

Table of Contents
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1. Introduction.........................................................................................................(4).
1.1. About the Author............................................................................................(4).
1.2. About the Novel.............................................................................................(4).
2. Characters...........................................................................................................(5).
2.1. Important Characters...........................................................................................
2.1.1. Hercule Poirot.........................................................................................(5).
2.1.2. Mr. Bouc..................................................................................................(5).
2.1.3. Ratchett...................................................................................................(5).
2.1.4. Dr. Constantine........................................................................................(5).
3. Plot Of the Novel..................................................................................................(6).
4. Language And Symbols.......................................................................................(8).
5. Motiff...................................................................................................................(9).
6. Themes...............................................................................................................(10).
7. Exposition..........................................................................................................(12).
8. Criticism............................................................................................................(12).
9. Conclusion..........................................................................................................(13).

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1) INTRODUCTION
1.1About the Author:

Agatha Christie was born in Torquay in 1890 and became, quite simply, the bestselling
novelist in history. Her first novel, the Mysterious Affair at Styles, written towards the
end of the First World War, introduced us to Hercule Poirot, who was to become the most
popular detective in crime fiction since Sherlock Holmes. She is known throughout the
world as the Queen of Crime. Her books have sold over a billion copies in the English
language and another billion in 100 foreign languages. She is the author of 80 crime
novels and short story collections, 19 plays and six novels under the name of Mary
Westmacott.1

1.2About the Book:

Murder on The Orient Express is a novel written by British author Agatha Christie and
was published in 1934. It is known as one of her best known works amongst the
published ones. Book also got accolades from around the world as being one of the best
crime-thriller. The book was first executed and published by Collins Crime Club and in
USA it was published with the name Murder on The Calais Coach by Dodd, Mead and
Company. Murder on The Orient Express tells about an incident of 1930s when an
elegant train the Orient Express, is stopped by heavy snowfall, with many passengers. A
murder is detected, and Poirot's journey from the Middle East to London is interrupted
due to his appointment as detective coach manager to solve the murder. The novel
constantly questions what a jury is and how "just," this system of justice is, especially
when a jury is self-appointed.

1 Christie, A (1934). Murder On The Orient Express. United Kingdom. Collins Crime Club

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2) CHARACTERS
The novel portrays a number of different characters each having its own significance.
Here’s a list of some important characters-:

Hercule Poirot – Hercule Poirot is the protagonist of the novel. A retired Belgian
police officer, Poirot is Christie's best-known detective and is known for his short stature
and long, curly mustache. Poirot is very intelligent, highly aware and intuitive and is a
brilliant detective. The novel is generally written from his point of view. Poirot does not
always follow the law, he always abides his conscience and his sense moral law. He is
wealthy and the decisions he makes are not subject to law or otherwise.

Monsieur Bouc- M. Bouc is a something of a big thing at the train organization that
runs the Orient Express, and he's an old companion of Poirot's. He is Poirot's partner and
sidekick during the examination, a sort you'll frequently find in analyst fiction – he's sort
of like Sherlock Holmes' Watson. His somewhat moderate minds are a differentiation to
Poirot's brisk personality and infiltrating understanding, yet they additionally give Poirot
motivation to expound on his discoveries, which is truly valuable for the reader.

Ratchett- Genuine name Cassetti, seized and killed the youthful Daisy Armstrong for
cash. The Armstrong family kills Ratchett in light of the fact that he got away discipline
in the U.S. Poirot portrays Ratchett as a wild creature.

Dr. Constantine- The coroner on board the Orient Express. Dr. Constantine is
regularly Poirot or M. Bouc's sidekick and is available for the vast majority of the proof
social affair. Dr. Constantine analyzes Ratchett's body and decides when he could have
been slaughtered.

Mrs. Hubbard- Truly Linda Arden, acclaimed entertainer and grandma of Daisy
Armstrong. Mrs. Hubbard gives consistent interference and preoccupation on the train
and is known for her anecdotes about her little girl. Mrs. Hubbard's compartment is
beside Ratchett's.

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3) PLOT

Hercule Poirot, private criminologist and resigned Belgian cop, climbs the Taurus
Express train to Stamboul (Istanbul). On the train there are two different travelers, Mary
Debenham and Colonel Arbuthnot. The two go about as though they are outsiders, yet
Poirot watches conduct that proposes that they are definitely not. Poirot is suspicious of
the couple. The train lands in Stamboul and Poirot checks in at the Tokatlian Hotel. When
Poirot arrives he gets a message calling him back to London. While hanging tight at the
inn for the following train, Poirot chances upon an old companion, M. Bouc, leader of the
Wagon Lit. M. Bouc organizes a space for Poirot on the Orient Express. In the lounge
area of the Tokatlian Hotel, Poirot first spots Ratchett and Hector McQueen having
supper. Poirot realize that Ratchett is an insidious man and he portrays him to M. Bouc as
a creature.

Poirot board the Orient Express. He is compelled to ride in a below average lodge on the
grounds that the train is curiously full. Ratchett and Hector McQueen are additionally on
board the train. Ratchett approaches Poirot and approaches in the event that he will work
for him, Ratchett reveals to Poirot he has been getting compromising letters and that
somebody is attempting to murder him. Poirot declines the case. M. Bouc has taken the
last top-notch lodge, yet organizes to be moved to a different mentor and gives Poirot his
space in five star. The primary night Poirot stays in bed top of the line, he watches some
peculiar events. Promptly in the first part of the day, Poirot is aroused by a cry from
Ratchett's compartment by him. The wagon lit conductor reacts thumps on Ratchett's
entryway and a voice from inside reacts, "Ce n'est rien. Je me suis trompe" (It is nothing.
I am mixed up). Poirot experiences issues dozing on the grounds that there is an
unconventional quietness on the train. Mrs. Hubbard rings her chime and tells the
conductor a man is in her room. Poirot rings his chime for water and is educated by the
conductor that the train is stuck in a snow bank. Poirot hears a noisy pound nearby.

The following morning, the train still ceased, M. Bouc illuminates Poirot that Ratchett
has been killed and the killer is still on board the train. Poirot tells M. Bouc he will
research the case. Poirot first analyzes Ratchett's body and compartment. Ratchett has
twelve cut injuries. The window is left open in Ratchett's compartment, apparently to
make the examiners think the killer got away out the window, however there are no
impressions outside the window in the day off. A tissue with the underlying "H" is found

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in the compartment, a pipe cleaner, a round match not quite the same as the matches
Ratchett utilized and a roasted bit of paper with the name "Armstrong" on it.

The bit of paper with the word Armstrong on it helps Poirot make sense of who Ratchett
truly is and why somebody would need to kill him. A couple of years back, a man named
Cassetti abducted a three-year old young lady, Daisy Armstrong. Cassetti gathered a
payment from the rich Armstrong family, however slaughtered the youngster in any case.
Poirot infers that Ratchett is Cassetti.

The meetings start with the Wagon Lit conductor, at that point Hector McQueen. Poirot
realizes that McQueen is engaged with the case since he thinks about the Armstrong note
found in Ratchett's compartment, Hector is amazed that Poirot found the note since he
thought it had been totally obliterated. He talks with Masterman and afterward Mrs.
Hubbard. Mrs. Hubbard asserts that the killer was in her lodge. The majority of the
travelers give Poirot reasonable explanations during their meetings, albeit a couple of
suspicious components are uncovered: numerous travelers watched a lady in a red
kimono strolling down the corridor the evening of the homicide, yet nobody concedes
they have a red kimono. Mrs. Hubbard reveals to Poirot she had Greta Ohlsson lock the
imparting entryway among she and Ratchett. Hildegarde Schmidt found a more bizarre
wearing a Wagon Lit coat.

The meetings start with the Wagon Lit conductor, at that point Hector McQueen. Poirot
realizes that McQueen is engaged with the case since he thinks about the Armstrong note
found in Ratchett's compartment, Hector is amazed that Poirot found the note since he
thought it had been totally obliterated. He talks with Masterman and afterward Mrs.
Hubbard. Mrs. Hubbard asserts that the killer was in her lodge. The majority of the
travelers give Poirot reasonable explanations during their meetings, albeit a couple of
suspicious components are uncovered: numerous travelers watched a lady in a red
kimono strolling down the corridor the evening of the homicide, yet nobody concedes
they have a red kimono. Mrs. Hubbard reveals to Poirot she had Greta Ohlsson lock the
imparting entryway among she and Ratchett. Hildegarde Schmidt found a more bizarre
wearing a Wagon Lit coat.

Poirot handles each traveler's baggage. During the check he sees a couple of intriguing
things: the mark on Countess Andrenyi's baggage is wet, a Wagon Lit uniform is found in

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Hildegarde Schmidt's sack and, ultimately, the red kimono is found in Poirot's very own
gear.

After the baggage check, Poirot, Dr. Constantine and M. Bouc audit the realities of the
case and build up a rundown of inquiries. In light of the proof and questions, Poirot sits
and contemplates the case. When he surfaces from some degree daze like state, Poirot has
found the answer for the case. Before he uncovers this arrangement in full, he brings in a
few people and uncovers their actual characters. Poirot finds Countess Andrenyi is
Helena Goldenberg, auntie of Daisy Armstrong. She wet her baggage mark and darkened
her name, with an end goal to cover her personality. Additionally, Mary Debenham was
Daisy's tutor, Antonio Foscanelli was the Armstrong's chaffer, Masterman the valet, and
Greta Ohlsson was Daisy Armstrong's medical caretaker. Princess Dragomiroff claims
her hanky from Poirot, a similar found in Ratchett's compartment.

Poirot assembles the majority of the travelers into the eating vehicle and propounds two
potential arrangements. The clench hand arrangement is that an outsider entered the train
at Vincovci and slaughtered Ratchett. The subsequent arrangement is that the majority of
the travelers on board the Orient Express were associated with the homicide. He contends
that twelve of the thirteen travelers, all near the Armstrong case, slaughtered Ratchett to
retaliate for the homicide of Daisy Armstrong. Mrs. Hubbard, uncovered as Linda Arden,
concedes that the subsequent arrangement is right. Poirot recommends that M. Bouc and
Dr. Constantine tell the police that the first arrangement is right to ensure the family. M.
Bouc and Dr. Constantine acknowledge Poirot's proposal.

4) LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS

Hercule Poirot –Hercule Poirot works as a judge. He is the judge of truth and the
most astounding specialist. On account of the homicide on the Orient Express, he utilizes
his belief in an unwritten good law to decide how equity can best be served. When he
realizes every one of the actualities identified with the homicide of Samuel Ratchett—
otherwise known as Lenfranco Cassetti—he recognizes those capable. His following
stage is to acknowledge or supersede the choice of the jury—who are themselves
blameworthy of homicide. He assesses the explanations behind their wrongdoing and
chooses to enable them to go free. He decides the culprits don't justify discipline and
society would not profit by their discipline. This choice lays on his belief that the killers
were supported in slaughtering Ratchett. Ratchett's very own wrongdoing was awful

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enough to merit a definitive discipline—demise—yet the criminal equity framework
neglected to distribute it. Poirot's choice is evidently founded on a higher law than that of
people or nation. Since Poirot typifies a predominant profound quality, in the creator's
view he is able to make such a judgment.

The Twelve Murderers – The 12 killers speak to the 12 individuals from a jury in a
genuine criminal case. A jury hears the proof, decides blamelessness and blame, and in
certain purviews sets the discipline. The jury in the state's body of evidence against
Samuel Ratchett—otherwise known as Cassetti—neglected to convict him of abducting
and killing Daisy Armstrong because of a detail. The injured individual's survivors see
the jury's choice as defective and choose to cure this circumstance. They become a self-
delegated jury and do what they think about a simply sentence: executing the lawbreaker.
Despite the fact that the travelers violate the law, Poirot treats them like a legitimate jury
that with regards to the story made a lawful assurance.

TRAIN- The Simplon Orient Express moves over the European landmass, and as it
does, it goes about as a sort of court that is not attached to a particular nation or spot, but
instead to all spots. It's where it's entirely expected to see individuals everything being
equal and foundations, so it's an ideal spot for a wrongdoing, for example, Ratchett's
homicide.

5) MOTIF
CLASS-There is an exacting class structure in most Christie's books and particularly in
Murder on The Orient Express. Class speaks to one's money related prosperity, however
passionate. The hirelings are a lot flimsier characters than then the non-average workers
travelers. Hildegarde Schmidt, Greta Ohlsson, Antonio Foscanelli and, in the long run
Mary Debenham all break into tears by the novel's end. None of different characters get
so steamed about the circumstance, maybe in light of the fact that they don't need to. On
the off chance that they free their occupations, it isn't such a major ordeal, as they are
autonomously rich and most are not required to work. Mary Debenham even reveals to

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Poirot she doesn't tell individuals she was related with the Armstrong since she is stressed
over verifying different employments. Despite the fact that the lodge is comprised of
"various classes and nationalities," it is carefully separated into regular workers and
privileged travelers.

IDENTITY-One of the best themes is Murder on the Orient Express is that of

personality. In the initial two areas of the book, the traveler's personalities are thought to
be right, yet in the third segment the genuine characters of the travelers are uncovered.
The theme adds to the shock of the book. As Poirot concedes, there are no standard
methods for researching this case, so he and the reader are compelled to initially
acknowledge the proof as the travelers as truth. There is no real way to check whether
they are lying or not. A large portion of the travelers come clean about their names,
however not their callings or relationship with the Armstrong family. Royal lady
Andrenyi endeavors to smear and change her name, Heleana to Eleana, and Linda Arden
makes up a completely invented character to play while on board the train.

AMERICANS-Americans, in any event the two conceded, are comedic characters in

the content. Both Hardman and Mrs. Hubbard utilize ill-advised slang, are genuinely
unpleasant and think their nation is the best, the two exaggerations of American guys and
females. Mrs. Hubbard inclined to calling individuals "people," tells individuals that
Europe needs Western goals and Hardman, who always talks in clumsy slang tells M.
Bouc he would "gain proficiency with a couple proceed strategies over there...Europe
needs awakening. She's half snoozing." Poirot concurs that America is a position of
advancement, however it is clear this advancement isn't constantly positive.2

6) THEMES

Trail By Jury- This theme is problematic in Murder on the Orient Express as A jury is
comprised of twelve residents who stroll into a court and choose whether a respondent is

2 SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on Murder on the Orient Express.” SparkNotes.com.

SparkNotes LLC. n.d.. Web. 9 Sept. 2019.

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liable or blameless. Murder on the Orient Express toys with a similar concept. There are
twelve individuals on the train who go about as jury and killer of a crook. Equity is
served such that it wasn't ensured in the courts. Equity is regularly compared with
vengeance in this novel, driving us to consider the manners by which the two are
comparative and extraordinary.

Reason And Logic- Reason and Logic are analyst Hercule Poirot's weapons of
decision. Poirot depends upon his knowledge into human instinct, his forces of
perception, and the deductive strategy so as to get to reality of things. As you will see, he
is constantly cautious in propelling his focuses and never makes false suspicions. Along
these lines, the novel offers us a case of fantastically solid judgment. Poirot, all things
considered, unravels the confounded plot at last. We may likewise say that however the
novel is about a homicide, it is hopeful in that it has extraordinary confidence in the
intensity of efficient motivation to determine convoluted issues – and to see through to
reality of things.

FOREIGNNESS AND 'THE OTHER- The cast of characters riding the Orient
Express is unimaginably different – and almost every traveler has a really firm feeling
about every other person. The French presume the Italians, the British are inconsistent
with the Americans, etc. Huge numbers of the perspectives are intolerant or preferential,
yet recall that the vast majority of the travelers are faking it trying to conceal the
homicide that they all take part in. In this sense, they are receiving generalizations about
different nations so as to play their parts all the more viably.

LIES AND DECEIT- This tale is one major lie! Poirot in the long run finds that the
majority of the characters in it are putting him on and showcasing their parts to conceal
the homicide. Be that as it may, pause. Aren't all books made up? Such is the idea of
fiction. Murder on the Orient Express in all respects strikingly adjusts fiction composing
with lies and duplicity. Notice the numerous references to playacting and writing. It gets
some information about the contrasts between the two – and the similitudes.

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7) EXPOSITION
The main theme in this novel is JUSTICE. The book revolves around the murder and its
investigation which is related to law. The story is about a killing of 60-year-old
businessman, Ratchett by 12 people on the Orient Express. The reason behind the killing
is the abduction and killing of a little girl child Daisy Armstrong by Ratchett. In this book
though the justice has been served to the Armstrong family but the way did not involve
the due procedure of law. This shows that there are some loop holes in the legal system.
The protagonist of the novel Hercule Poirot, described as probably the world’s best
detective was handed over this case to find the culprit. The novel describes the confusion
between Morals and Law, as Mr. Poirot always thought that one can be either Right or
Wrong, but at the end he gets confused weather to save the culprits or punish them as
their motive was not wrong but the act was unlawful. In the novel number “12” has a
special context as in general 12 Is the number of member in a jury, thus signifying the
flaws in the Jury trial as in the novel the 12 culprit (acting like a jury) justifying the act of
murder as bringing the justice to Armstrong family whereas it was just an act of revenge.

8) CRITICISM
“The little grey cells solve once more the seemingly insoluble. Mrs. Christie mak7es an
improbable tale very real, and keeps her readers enthralled and guessing to the end.”3

— The Times Literary Supplement

The manner in which it was composed worked truly well for me. I cherished attempting
to theory and match proof to individuals and suspects. Be that as it may, she generally
retained that key data that prompted the following piece of the book. The one thing that
didn't work for me was that most of the individuals were French speakers and there was a
significant expression spoken in French. There were no interpretations so I needed to find

3 "Murder on the Orient Express (review)". The Times Literary Supplement. London, England: News
UK. 11 January 1934. p. 29.

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it. Else I would prescribe this book to any individual who adores secrets, tension, and that
Agatha Christie

9) CONCLUSION
Conclusion can be made on the basis of two parts.

First basis is the REVENGE ANALYSIS, Murder on the Orient Express tells about a
family and their revenge. It is explained in the background of the murder on the train. It
begins from the heartache occurred to a grandmother and mother i.e. Mrs. Hubbard. The
cause of sentiment of revenge was the kidnapping and murder of Daisy Armstrong by
Cassetti, followed with the death on Daisy’s mother and a baby in the womb. Also due to
all this John Armstrong committed suicide as he felt lonely and depressed. Thus inspiring
Mrs. Hubbard and others to kill Cassetti.

Second basis is the SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS, the closest to the Armstrong family
were also feeling sad and depressed due to the deaths of the members of Armstrong
family, thereby helping Mrs. Hubbard in planning and executing the murder of Cassetti to
almost perfection. But it was because of the Cleverness and Intelligence of the famous
Detective Hercule Poirot the case was solved and the culprits were identified. This case
brought a drastic change the Mr. Poirot’s view of seeing the imbalance of the world,
which eventually lead to freeing of the culprits of the Cassetti murder case.

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