question : Analyse how conflict was used to teach about injustice.
Justice will come for those who are innocent. Agatha Christie portrays this throughout the murder mystery novel “And Then There Were None” using conflict to teach the reader about injustice. This is strongly shown through the conflict of Vera Claythorne vs self, Dr Armstrong vs self and Wargrave vs characters. Each of these individuals teaches different ways in which justice is served through conflict.
Vera Claythorne who is thought to be the kind, genuine lady who dreadfully witnessed the drowning of Cyril, her soulmate Hugo’s beloved son, is found on the island to actually be a selfish murderer who in fact planned Cyrils drowning. Over her time at the island the guilt of the crime she had commuted caught up on her. From chapter one it was deny, deny, deny about what the recorder had presented but through the isolation of the island she began to become trapped within her own inner self. An example to show this is “he was a horrid whiny little boy.” Vera uses the listing of these descriptive words to show her inner thought to Emily Brent who she had always denied the crime to. This proves that the conflict she was having within herself was retrieving the justice that was yet to be served for the innocent Cyril.
Vera’s conflict grew stronger and stronger which in the end led her to insanity. Being one of the last two people left alive on the island made her convince herself that she was indeed winning, this increased much more when she murdered Lombard. Vera began resighting “I did it Hugo, I have won. We can now be together forever.” Vera believed that she had won, beating her own war with herself. Although she soon began to come to the realization that Hugo doesn’t want her anymore. Walking back into her room viewing the noose hanging down from a hook and a chair underneath she imagined Hugo. The guilt that has grown over the time being at soldier island has pushed her so far to believe she does not now deserve to be alive, zero self worth remained, Hugo doesn’t want her, she is now alone. Agatha Christie has conveyed to the reader a now stronger understanding of how conflict with oneself can lead to those who have not yet redeemed their valid justice to be valued the way they deserve. Cyril was unjust but the punishment that Vera has received has allowed him peace and justice.
The Conflict within Armstrong and himself firstly grew his inner worth but then began to make himself gullible and weaker in a way in which had a totally different toll on him. Dr Armstrong committed the murder of an elderly lady who he performed an operation on under the influence of alcohol. Because of this she did bleed out and die. This created the conflict between Armstrong vs himself to gain the justice that is deserved. Since that night he has never taken even a drop of alcohol. He has the guilt on his mind of what he has done, this has a positive realization of what he has committed which has grown himself. The conflict has made him realise what he has committed, although while at the island he states. “The elderly woman did not need to live anyway.” This shows that although he knows what he has done he has no remorse or sympathy for his murdering. Armstrong has given himself some justice for the murder by not consuming alcohol but the innocent lady still lies in injustice.
Soldier Island has proven his weakness that he now has within himself for thinking he is a better person, this leads him to becoming the innocent for Wargrave. In the scene when he goes down to the beach by himself where Wargrave then murders him shows the weakness that someone may gain when thinking they are never in the wrong. The author has used the different type of conflict with one’s self vs self to teach us that someone who is unjust will get justice even in the way in which in this novel with Armstrong it seemed he wouldn’t be punished instead he was made a foul of. Even the most minor things that you commit and do not recognise the bad deed you have done will have a consequence, even just so small.
Judge Wargrave plays a large role in the murders of the novel although this is unknown for the reader. He builds the conflict within the characters. This is proven through the ordering of the deaths. When analyzing the order of deaths vs the crimes committed and how much remorse or punishment has been shown it becomes clear how he has relieved justice for those innocent. Relating to the little Indian poem that he read as a child. An example is through the character who died in the beginning Mrs Rogers compared to Vera Claythorn. Mrs Rogers and Mr Rogers were guilty for the death of the lady whom they were supposed to be caring for, she died as she did not receive her medication that was necessary for her health, they gained inheritance. Mrs Rogers was not the instigator of this crime and did not believe it was right, for this she did not have to suffer on the island with the guilt and was murdered second. Compared to Vera, no remorse, no guilt, planned murder. Wargrave categorized her into deserving to live with the forever growing conflict with herself. Being last alive the insanity grew day by day that finally pushed her into realizing what she had committed. By Wargrave using himself and his power vs the characters the innocent victims of the murders received the justice they deserve. The author demonstrates in the murder mystery the impact conflict has and how it is used to teach us about injustice. Wargrave vs the characters shows us that the severity of what is committed will determine your fate and gain justice for those who deserve it.
Justice will come for those who are innocent, as demonstrated by Agatha Christie through the use of conflict and how it is used to teach about injustice. Different individuals in the text use their different ways to teach us that justice is always served. Vera, Armstrong and Wargrave are true instigators of how punishment for crimes and justice are presented in the murder mystery. Conflict is well demonstrated and how it is used to teach the reader about injustice by Agatha Christie as stated in the examples above.
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