Abstract

As the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie is not only famous for her ingenious design in plots but also successful in creating realistic meanings hidden behind the stories. Her works break through the limitation of detective stories, involving some social issues at her time, such as crime, class, justice, etc. Her indefatigable effort in the discussion of crime and punishment is to express her ideals of justice, which has a great influence on the development of detective fictions. In her master work And Then There Were None, the justice theory is systematically and elaborately conveyed by a special arrangement of plot and characters. This thesis is going to analyze the justice theory in And Then There Were None according to the different images of characters. The justice theory is mainly discussed from three perspectives: in judicial authority, in society and in individuals, through which to draw the conclusion that 1) justice is upheld by a judicial authority which is objective, impartial, brave and respectful for life; 2) justice is upheld by the restraints, the right orientations and the respect of social moral standards; 3) justice is in the awakening of moral conscience, in the sympathy with others and in the resistance against evilness. Under the repression of death in this book, Christie’s ideals of justice reveal her good wishes and humanistic care for life. 

Keywords: justice theory; And Then There Were None; judicial authority; social moral standards; moral conscience

Contents

Abstract

摘  要

1.-Introduction-1

1.1-Background Information-1

1.2-Studies on Agatha Christie and her works at home and abroad-2

1.2.1-Studies on Narrative Styles-2

1.2.2-Studies on Humanities-2

1.2.3-Studies on Social Significance-3

1.2.4-Studies on Justice-4

1.3-Research problem-4

1.4-Contents and Significance-4

2.-Christies Justice Theory in Three Perspectives-6

2.1-Justice Theory in Judicial Authority—The Images of Mr. Justice Wargrave-6

2.1.1-As a Judge—Judicial Authority Should be Objective, Impartial and Brave-6

2.1.2-As a Murderer—Judicial Authority Should be Respectful for Life-8

2.2-Justice Theory in Society—The Images of Emily Brent-9

2.2.1-As a Defender of Social Moral Standards—A Restraint for Injustice and A Right Orientation for Justice-10

2.2.2-As a Culprit—Justice is in the Respect for Life-10

2.3-Justice Theory in Individuals—The Images of Vera Claythorne-11

2.3.1-As a Murderer—Justice is in the Awakening of Moral Conscience-12

2.3.2-As a Companion—Justice is in the Sympathy to Others and the Resistance to Evilness-13

3.-Conclusion-15

3.1-Judicial Authority-15

3.2-Society-15

3.3-Individuals-16

4.-References-18