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Similes
Chapter 6
Explanation and Analysis:
Christie uses a cryptic and mysterious style in And Then There Were None in order to pique the reader’s curiosity while nevertheless concealing the solution to the puzzle that lies at the heart of the novel. Moving quickly between the perspective of various characters, she presents a number of clues, some of which point to the identity of the killer and some of which are “red herrings,” or in other words, clues that are deliberately misleading. One typically perplexing clue comes in the form of a series of model soldiers made of porcelain, described in a conversation between Rogers the butler and Dr. Armstrong:
“It’s those little figures, sir. In the middle of the table. The little china figures. Ten of them, there were. I’ll swear to that, ten of them.”
Armstrong said:
“Yes, ten. We counted them last night at dinner.”
Rogers came nearer.
“That’s just it, sir. Last night, when I was clearing up, there wasn’t but nine, sir. I noticed it and thought it queer. But that’s all I thought. And now, sir, this morning. I didn’t notice when I laid the breakfast. I was upset and all that. But now, sir, when I came to clear away. See for yourself if you don’t believe me. There’s only eight, sir! Only eight! It doesn’t make sense, does it? Only eight.…”
After the deaths of housekeeper Mrs. Rogers and young daredevil Anthony Marston, Mr. Rogers notices that two of the ten soldiers have disappeared. At first, the meaning of this disappearance is inexplicable but suggestive, as there are 10 individuals in the house, corresponding to the number of soldiers. Later events in the novel suggest that the murderer is using the figures to mark the deaths of characters.
Related Themes:
