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Metaphors
Definition of Mood
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect of a piece of writing... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes... read full definition
Chapter Thirty-One
Explanation and Analysis:
Death on the Nile has an inquisitive, curious mood. Readers enjoy twists while also trusting that the murderers and their methods will be revealed at the end of the book; any questions brought up will be answered. Mysteries often ask their readers to take a more active part in trying to guess what will occur next, and the clues in Death on the Nile mean that the reader stands a good chance of guessing at least some of the criminal involvements of the characters.
The multiple deaths might darken the mood for some readers, but the novel remains light and humorous, in part because the victims and perpetrators are not entirely sympathetic. Linnet set the novel's events into motion herself by "stealing" her best friend's lover, and in Chapter 31, Jackie's murder-suicide of herself and Simon is characterized by Poirot as a better result than a lifetime in prison:
Mrs. Allerton said: “You wanted her to take that way out?”
“Yes. But she would not take it alone. That is why Simon Doyle has died an easier death than he deserved.”
Neither Poirot nor Race think highly of Linnet's servant Louise, and she's exposed as a blackmailer when they discover her body. Nor is the drunken and conceited Mrs. Otterbourne, whom Jackie kills, a sympathetic figure. Finally and importantly, it never seems Poirot himself is in danger, which makes the novel more about solving the mystery than escaping a murderer.
Related Themes:
