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Similes
Chapter Twenty-Five
Explanation and Analysis—Lord Dawlish:
In Chapter 25, Poirot reveals to Miss Van Schuyler that the young communist upstart Ferguson is, in fact, a wealthy nobleman. The moment is full of situational irony—not only because Ferguson's background doesn't line up with his ideals, but also because Miss Van Schuyler has spent the entire trip trying to make powerful and wealthy acquaintances.
“You recognized him, I suppose?”
“Recognized him?”
“Calls himself Ferguson and won’t use his title because of his advanced ideas.”
“His title?” Miss Van Schuyler’s tone was sharp.
“Yes, that’s young Lord Dawlish. Rolling in money, of course, but he became a communist when he was at Oxford.”
Miss Van Schuyler has spent the entire novel trying to social-climb and brag about the nobility she knows, and she has treated Cornelia badly in part because Cornelia is poor. Ferguson, an outspoken communist who has nothing but nasty things to say about the rich, provokes Miss Van Schuyler's ire, and they argue. When Ferguson says he wants to marry Cornelia, Miss Van Schuyler tells him his social status is not adequate.
After Ferguson leaves, Poirot informs Miss Van Schuyler that Ferguson has a title and is extraordinarily wealthy. Ferguson is the exact sort of person she has been trying to impress the entire trip, but she's despised him openly under the impression he's unimportant. While Ferguson's lack of tolerance and outspokenness are undoubtedly character flaws, and there is irony in his communism given he's a wealthy nobleman and Oxford student, he does seem genuinely committed to his ideals. He never tries to win Cornelia over by telling her about his wealth or his rank.
Related Themes:
