THE BIG FOUR – AGATHA CHRISTIE.
BACKGROUND OF THE AUTHOR:
Agatha Christie is known throughout the world as “THE QUEEN OF CRIME”.
She is a novelist, short story writer, playwright and a poet. Most of her
novels were based on the murder mystery, thriller, crime fiction, detective and
romance. She is the most widely published author of all time and in any
language. She is the author of 80 crime novels, 19 plays and six novels written
under the name of Mary Westmacott.
“AGATHA CHRISTIE WAS THE GREATEST EXPONENT OF THE CLASSICAL DETECTIVE
STORY. HER UNQUI LITERARY TALENTS HAVE CROSSED EVERY BOUNDARY OF AGE, RACE,
CLASS, GEOGRAPHY AND EDUCATION. WHILE SHE REFINED THE TEMPLATE FOR A FICTIONAL
FORM THE READING OF HER BOOKS BECAME AN INTERNATIONAL PASTIME”.
TOO MANY TWISTS AND TURNS MADE ME TO CHOOSE HER
NOVEL:
First
crime novel which I read was “THE UNEXPECTED GUEST - AGATHA CHRISTIE”. Too many
twists and turns which created interest and made me crazy to read all other
nooks of her. At first without any idea about the author I selected one of her
book “the unexpected guest”. But it is from that novel I got to know the power,
twists, which always keeps the reader in curiousity and eagerness about the
murderer. I was much inspired by her writings and also her use of language in
the way in which the plot has been carried away from one segment to the other, this gave me a
spark in my mind to read all the other novels of her. At the very beginning of
the novel, when the murder is committed it gives a shrill thought in our mind
and eager to know what is next? Though author’s detective story is not an real
incident but an imaginative concept but it
drags the readers to read all her other novels too. And so I have choosen to
read her another book “THE BIG FOUR”.
THE BIG FOUR – AGATHE CHRISTIE:
This
book is clearly and logically structured. The whole story revolves around the
number 4. The uninvited guest coated
from head to foot in dust his face was thin and emaciated, who stands in front
of Poirots bedroom. What was he about to tell?
Was he a friend? Was he a
stranger? Who was he? he
suffered from any shock? Why was he
repeating the phrase “14 FARRAWAY STREET”?
Why he was scribbling 4 in the paper each one bigger than the last? or Is there any connection betweenthe figure
4?
Poirot and Hasting left the stranger in the care of the servant and set
off to catch a train to Southampton during the journey,Poirot suspects his
South Amercianmission was an excuse toget him out the way. So he aborts this
trip and returns to London. When he returns to his room , there was another
shock waiting for him. When he entered
he saw the stranger is already dead. Agatha Christie is an expert in giving
shock to the readers every know and then.
At this point so many questions arises in the mind of the readers. Who was the strangers? What was the purpose for him to enter the
bedroom of Poirot? Hoe did he enter when
all the doors and windows were closed?
At who is the murderer?
A
Doctor with an unknown person arrives to Poirot’s apartment. The unknown person reveals the truth that he
is from LUNATIC ASYLUM in search of his inmate.
He recognizes the dead stranger as Meyerling who had disappeared five
years ago. The stranger was poisoned
with hydrogen cyanide . It is important
to note the hands of the clock was turned to 4’o clock. Here again Agasthe
gives emphasise on the number 4 . The
truth again here is been revealed that no one got escaped from asylum. But Japp soon rushes and recognizes that the
dead man was a prominent in secret service.
Once again the confussion arises in the mind of the readers. If he is from secret service ,who has the
guts to murder him? Who is the unknown
person who came with the doctor? How did
he meet the doctor? Why were the people
murdered who investigated about big 4 and Li Chang Yen? Why were they murdered by poisoning,
stabbing, electrocution,cholera and burnt to death?
By
reading only the first two chapters in
this book we can see that it has the
power to raise so many questions in the minds of the readers.
“THE MORE THE
TWIST SHE INDULGES
THE MORE THE
CURIOUSITY INCREASES’
This is the power of the author.
It surpassed my expectations dramatically. There’s suspects clues and a last minutes
reveal with a typical explanation. In
almost all her novel I can find her playing with many twists. When I think the novel is going to end , at
that point Agatha Christie suddenly gives rebirth to the novel. The unique technic that she uses in her
novel is that, at the end of the play the unexpected or the unsuspected person
will be the murderer. I think the book has all
the essential ingredients , so that it can be so-called as a crime
novel.It has the power to affect the minds of the readers.
“EVERY
MURDERER IS PROBABLY SOMEBODY’S OLD FRIEND”
“TOO MUCH MERCY…OFTEN RESULTED IN
FURTHER CRIMES WHICH WERE FATAL TO INNOCENT VICTIMS WHO NEED NOT HAVE VICTIMS
IF JUSTICS HAD BEEN PUT FIRST AND MERCY SECOND”
- Chitra
