外国语毕业论文-分析阿加莎克里斯蒂在其侦探小说《阳光下的罪恶》中的写作手法

分析阿加莎·克里斯蒂在其侦探小说《阳光下的罪恶》中的写作手法AnAnalysisofAgathaChristie’sWritingSkillsinHerDetectiveStoryEvilUnderTheSunWangHuayiUndertheSupervisionofMouLilinSchoolofForeignLanguagesandCulturesPanzhihuaMay2009

ContentsAbstract …………………..IKeyWords ………………..I摘要 ……………………II关键词 ……………………IIIntroduction ……………...1I.UniqueCharmofthePlot ……………...31.PuzzlesattheCenterofaPlot…………………32.PuzzlingandComplicatedPlot……………….…..42.1TheConflictsbetweentheSuspectsandtheMurderee……………….42.2TheConflictsbetweenMotiveandAlibi……………..52.3DifferentWaysofInvestigationbetweenPoirotandtheChiefConstableColonelWeston 53.UnexpectedbutReasonableEnd 6II.Characterization………………………81.TheDeceptiveInnocentImage 82.TheDeceptiveGuiltyImage 8III.Conversation ………………………..101.ConversationasaWayofCharacterization 102.ConversationasaWayofDetection 11IV.MurderandInvestigation…………...121.Setting 122.MurdererandVictim 122.1Murderer 132.2Victim 133.MethodsUsedbytheMurderer…………………143.1HiddenCharacterizationandMotive 143.2TheDeceptionofTime 143.3Impersonation 164.MethodofInvestigation—Jig-saw……………..16Conclusion……………...17Acknowledgements…………………….18Bibliography……………19AbstractAgathaChristie,the“Queen”ofdetectivefiction,isfamousfortheuniquenessandcharmofherdetectivenovels.EvilUnderTheSunisoneofherrepresentativeworks.Itisamurdercasetakingplaceonasmallislandwithwonderfulplotandunexpectedend.Thethesiswillanalyzethewritingskillsofthisnovel.AgathaChristie’sarrangementoftheplotisveryunique.Thepuzzleoftenoccursatthecenterofaplotinsteadofatthebeginning.Sheoftenusesvariouswaysofcharacterizationtopromotetheplot.Inaddition,usingconversationasawayofdetectionisacharacterofthisnovelaswellastheuniquenessofAgathaChristie’swritingskills.Moreover,thewayofmurderandinvestigationwillalsobeanalyzed.Throughtheinvestigationofthisnovel,AgathaChristie’sdifferentwaysofwritingdetectivenovelswillbediscovered.Herworksareuniqueintheworldofdetectivenovels.KeyWordsdetective;murder;plot;characterization;conversation;investigation

摘要阿加莎·克里斯蒂，英国侦探小说女王，以其独特且充满魅力的侦探小说著称于世。《阳光下的罪恶》是她的代表作之一，讲述了一个发生在小岛上的杀人事件，情节精彩，结局出人意料。本文将对《阳光下的罪恶》的创作手法进行探讨。阿加莎·克里斯蒂的情节设置独树一帜，迷案总是发生在故事中期而非开头，她常利用各种方法塑造小说中的人物形象以配合整个小说情节的发展。除此之外，在《阳光下的罪恶》中，最有特色的是用对话作为破案方法之一，这也是阿加莎·克里斯蒂的独到之处。最后本文还将探讨该小说中的犯案和调查方法。通过对该小说的研究，可以发现阿加莎·克里斯蒂的侦探小说写作手法的与众不同，她的作品不愧是侦探小说中的一朵奇葩。关键词侦探；谋杀；小说情节；人物；对话；调查

IntroductionAslongashumanbeingsremaincurious,itiscertainthatdetectivenovels,inalltheirvariousforms,willcontinuetoexertdestinedglamour.InBritain,the“Queen”ofmurdermysterynovelis,withoutdoubt,AgathaChristie.Althoughthewriterherselfdiedmorethanthirtyyearsago,hernovelsandshortstorycollectionsarestillsoldinhugenumbers.TheattractionofAgathaChristie’sbooks,bothinBritainandabroad,isnothardtounderstand.Eachbookofhersiscleverlyconstructed.Sheusescharactersthatareeasilyrecognizableandherplotsdevelopalmostlikeclockwork.Butmostimportantly,allherstoriessetpuzzles,thereaderscanenjoythemselves.Forhertalentoflayingpuzzlesinherfiction,shewasremarkablycelebratedasthe“QueenofCrime”,“QueenofDetectiveFiction”,“QueenoftheMysteryGenre”,“QueenofMaze”,“MistressofMystery”.Andwhatismore,shewasappointedas“DameofTheBritishEmpire”bytheQueenofUKin1971.VariousresearcheshavebeenmadeonAgathaChristie’swork.Mostofthemfocusonthewritingmethodsandglamourofhernovels,andsomeareinterestedinhermysteriouslife.Asafemalewriter,especiallyasafemaledetectivewriter,AgathaChristie’sfemaleelementinhernovelsisalsodiscussed.HerculePoirotcamefirsttoAgathaChristie’sfictionalworldinTheMysteriousAffairatStylesin1920(firstpublishingyear).Thiscomicsleuth,whowasproudofhis“littlegraycells”,enjoyedgreatpopularityinthedetectivehistory.Inthisthesis,basedontheanalysisofAgathaChristie’srepresentativeworks—EvilUnderTheSun,theglamourandwritingskillsofAgathaChristie’sdetectivenovelwillbediscussed.EvilUnderTheSunisAgathaChristie’sfamousdetectivestory.Itisastorywhichtakesplaceonasmallisolatedisland.Somepeople,includingafatBelgiandetectivenamedHerculePoirot,cometothisislandtospendtheirholiday.Thecharactershavesomesubtlerelationships.Asthestorygoeson,oneofthevisitorsArlenaMarshallismurdered.Oddlyenough,thesuspectsinvolvedinthecaseallhavemotivestokillArlena,buteachofthemhasapparentalibi.HerculePoirot,withhis“greycells”,usesaquitedifferentwaytosolvethiscaseandrevealsthemurderer.Thestoryisexcitingandtheendingisunexpected.Therearefourmainpartsinthethesis.Thefirstpartfocusesonthearrangementoftheplot.Thesecondpart,includingdeceptiveimageoftheinnocenceandguiltiness,discusesthewaysofcharacterization.Inthethirdpart,conversationasawayofcharacterizationanddetectionisinvestigated.Thefourthpartwillanalyzethewaysofmurderandinvestigation.ThepurposeofthethesisistodiscusstheuniquewritingskillsofAgathaChristie’sdetectivenovel.Throughtheinvestigationofthisnovel,AgathaChristie’sdifferentwaysofwritingdetectivenovelswillbediscovered.Herworksareuniqueintheworldofdetectivenovels.=1\*ROMANI.UniqueCharmofthePlotAgathaChristie’sdetectivefictionhasherownuniquefeatures.AnyonewhohasreadjustoneofChristie’snovelswilldefinitelybepuzzledandthenbedeceived,buthewillalsolookforanotherbookofChristie’sandwillbedeceivedforanothertime.Overandoveragain,thepuzzlesofChristie’smysterieshavecaughtmanyonherconjuredtrap,which,notsurprisingly,isthemagicpowerofherworksandliesonheruniquenessofplotting.Theuniquenesswillbeshowninthefollowingaspects:puzzleatthecenterofaplot,puzzlingandcomplicatedplot,andunexpectedbutreasonableend.1.PuzzlesattheCenterofaPlotThedetectivefictionofAgathaChristiedistinguishesitself(alsoexclaimedbymanycritics)asa“crosspuzzle”,inwhichthefocusofallisthe“murderpuzzle”andhencethedetectionbythesleutharoundthemurder.Inmostclassicdetectivenovels,puzzlesareoftensetintheverybeginning.Thevictimmayhavebeenmurdered,orsomestrangeorhorriblethingshavehappenedinthebeginning,thentheinvestigationisundertaken.ButinEvilUnderTheSun,thepuzzleunfoldsinthemiddlechaptersasthescenariogoeson.Therearethirteenchaptersinthisnovel.Inthefirstchapter,AgathaChristieintroducesthederivationandgeographicalsituationoftheJollyRogerHotelontheislandofLeathercombeBay.Andthenshewritesmanyconversationsamongcharactersthroughwhichreaderscanhaveanimpressionoftheguestsinthehotel.Fromchaptertwotochapterfour,thestorydevelopswithoutanyexcitingorstrangethings,andtherearestillmanyconversations.ThemurderhappensattheendofchapterfourwhenArlenaMarshall’sbodyisfoundonthebenchofPixyCove.ManyreaderswhofirstreadChristie’sworkoftenfeelunaccustomedtothisarrangementofplot,andsometimesevenfeelboredinfirstchapters.ThishappensinmanyofChristie’snovel,butwiseassheis,sheknowsthatthereadersdonotalwayskeepenthusiasm.Justwhenthereadersfellrelax2.PuzzlingandComplicatedPlotPlotsofChristie’snovelareusuallyconcentratedontheprocessoffindingtheculprit.Afterthemurdertakesplace,thedetectivetrieshisbesttofindusefulclues.Althoughtherearesomemisleadingclues,themostimportantclueswouldbefoundatlast.Throughinvestigation,everycharacterissuspectedbuttheculpritturnsouttobetheonewhohastheleastpossibilitytocommitthecrime.Duringthedetective’sprocessoffindingoutthecriminal,Christiearrangesmanyenigmasandtraps,whichleadtheinvestigationintoavaguecondition.Inordertoachievehertrapping,thewriterusesseveralconflicts.2.1TheConflictsBetweentheSuspectsandtheMurdereeAfterthemurderhappens,severalpeoplearesuspectedbecausetheyallhavesomesubtlerelationshipswiththevictimArlenaMarshall.ThefistsuspectisherhusbandKennethMarshall.ArlenaMarshallisabeautifulwomanwhohasstrongalluretoman,andsheisnotoriousforthis.Ontheisland,shespendsalotoftimewithPatrickRedfern,ahandsomeyoungmanwhosewifeisChristineRedfern.Withoutdoubt,PatrickRedfernisArlena’slover.AsArlena’shusband,KennethMarshallmustbeveryangryabouttheaffairofArlenaandRedfern.Moreover,heistheonlyheirofArlens’sfortuneifshedies.Meanwhile,ChristineRedfernwhoseemstotallyignoredbyherhusbandalsohasthereasontohateArlena.LindaMarshall,KennethMarshall’sdaughter,doesnotlikeherstepmother,tobemoreexact,shehatesher.LindathinksherdaysbecomedarkbecauseofArlena.RosamundDarnley,KennethMarshall’sfriend,persuadesMarshalltodivorceArlenabutfails.ShelovesMarshallandthinksArlenaisabadexistencetobothCaptainMarshallandLinda.2.2TheConflictBetweenMotiveandAlibiMurderwithoutreasonsdoesnotexistintheclassicChristie’snovels.CaptainMarshall’smotivetokillArlenaisforjealousyandmoney.Lindawantstokillherstepmotherbecauseshehatesher.RosamundDarnley,outofherloveforMarshallandLinda,hasmotivetocommitthecrime,letaloneChristineRedfern.Butaftertheinquiry,allofthemhaveapparentalibi.Asthedoctorconcludes,themurdermusthappenduringtheperiodfrom11:00amto11:45am.Duringthistime,CaptainMarshalliswritinglettersbytypewriterwhichcanbeprovenbyaservantinthehotel.LindaandChristineRedfernaretogetherinGullCove,andLindacanproveChristineleavesfortennisin11:45am,sobothofthemhavenotimetokillArlenawhoisinPixyCoveatthattime.AsforRosamundDarnley,shesayssheisreadingbooksinSunnyLedgeduringthattime,andthiscanbeprovenbyEmilyBrewsterandPatrickRedfernbecausetheyseeherwhentheyareboating.Motiveisalwaysakeytoaninvestigation,butinthiscase,thesuspectswhohaveapparentmotivesallhavealibi,whichmakestheplotbecomemoreandmorecomplicateandpuzzling.Theconflictbetweenmotiveandalibimakesthewholeinvestigationfullofmysteries.2.3DifferentWaysofInvestigationBetweenPoirotandtheChiefConstableColonelWestonInthedevelopmentoftheplot,ChristiemakesuseofthedifferentwaysofinvestigationsbetweenPoirotandColonelWestontomaketheplotmorecomplicatedandpuzzling.ColonelWeston,whostandsforthereadersthepolice,usuallyfocuseshisattentiononthesuperficialfactsuchasthealibi,motivesandeverycluehefinds.HeevencomestoaconclusionthatthemurderhasrelationshipwithadopegangbecausesomeheroinisfoundinPixyCove.Fromtheaspectofevidence,hisratiocinationisacceptable.However,Poirot’swayisquitedifferent.WhenColonelWestonholdshisinquisition,Poirotjustobservesthesuspectssilentlyandthenheconductshisownunofficialinquiry.Hepaysallhisattentiontosomesmalldetailssuchasapairofscissors,abrokenpipestem,andabottlethrownfromawindow,agreencalendar,andapacketofcandlesandsoon.Bymixingthesetwowaysup,thewriter,ontheonehand,makestheplotfullofenigmasandtraps,ontheotherhand,makestheplotfluentlydeveloptotheunexpectedend.3.UnexpectedbutReasonableEndAgathaChristieisgoodatdevisingthiskindofplotandunexpectedend.Shewouldneverletthereadersknowthecriminaltillthelastfewpages.Evenintheend,Christieneverforgetstocreatemystery.Inadditiontotheattempttofigureoutthecrime,thereadersarealsopuzzledbythedetective’sactivitysincePoirothascometounderstandwhatisgoingon.Hisactionsoftestinghishypothesesandentrappingthecriminalbecomenewmysteriestothereaders.TheculpritsofChristie’sfictionareoftenapretentiouslymarriedhusband(DeathontheNile,theMysteriousAffairatStyles),orafrivolousactress(LordEdgwareDies,CardsontheTable),oranexcusablemaniacs(BythePrickingofMyThumbs),orajealousarcheologist(MurderinMesopotamia),oratalentedchild(CrookedHouse).Similartricksaretriedoverandoveragain.InEvilundertheSun,theembitteredwifeofthemurdereristotallyignoredbyhim,butisproventobetheconspiracyofthecrime.TheclimaxcomeswhenPoirotrevealstheculprits—PatrickRedfernandChristineRedfern.Thereadershavetorearrangetheirlogicbecausetheculpritisnotonepersonbuttwowhoseemtobeunabletocommitthecrime.AlthoughChristineRedfernhasstrongmotivetokillArlena,sheisaweakwomanwithlittlestrength,andmostimportantly,shehasstrongalibi.AsforPatrickRedfern,heactslikeafoolishyoungmanwhoisluredbyArlena.HeisstrongenoughtostrangleArlena,buthehasnomotiveandtimetodothis,becauseheisthefirstpersonwhofindsArlen’sdeath,andbeforethat,heisboatingwithEmilyBrewster.Moreover,thereaderscanneverimagethatthe“body”foundbyPatrickRedfernandEmilyBrewsterisnotArlenabutChristineRedfernwhodisguisesherselfasArlena.Thereadersareshockedbythetruth,butwillacceptitbecauseitissoreasonablealthoughsoincredible.InEvilUnderTheSun,thereisnosignofwhatsoeverofunraveling,andthereaderswouldliketohittheirfaceintheend,becausetheyarebluffedmorethantwicebythe“tricky”author.Butallinall,thesefeaturesareextremelytightenedtogethertopointatasamedirection:themurderitselfisthemagnetofthewholeplot,aroundwhichChristiecomposesherpuzzlesandschemedouthermurderplans.Butamurderplot,whethercomplicatedornot,hastointerpretitselflogically,yettobedetectedbytheaptsleuth,andtoexhilaratetheaveragereaders,otherwisethebookwouldnotappealtoalargereadership.=2\*ROMANII.CharacterizationInAgathaChristie’sdetectivenovels,thesuspectsareoftenlimitedtoseveralpersons.Christie’scharacterizationisoutstanding.Everyoneinvolvedinthecasehasaparticularpersonalityandoftenhaseffectonthecase.InAgathaChristie’sworks,thecharactercanbeatrap,whichstopsthereadersfromknowingthetruth;ontheotherhand,itcanleaveadeepimpressiononthereaders’minds.1.TheDeceptiveInnocentImageAgathaChristiefirstgivesthereadersanimpressionthatChristineRedfernisaweakandinnocentperson.Shetakesadvantageofseveralothercharacters’opinionstowardshertoachievehergoal.Forexample,inMrs.Gardener’sopinion,ChristineRedfernisapoorlittlewomanwhoisignoredbyherhusband..Inadditiontootherpeople’sopinionofChristineRedfern,throughaseriesofactionsundertakenbyMrs.Redfernherself,ChristiealsomakesuseofhercompetenceofconstructingtrapstoleadthereaderstobelievethatChristineRedfernisinnocent.Inordertomakeherseeminnocent,ChristineRedfernpretendstohaveacrophobiaandmakesothersbelievesheisaweakwomanwithlittlestrength.2.TheDeceptiveGuiltyImageAfterArlena’sdeath,themostsuspiciouspersonturnsouttobeherhusbandKennethMarshall.CaptainMarshallisafrightfullyquietandreservedpeople.HehasmotiveandstrengthtokillArlena.Inordertomakehimmoresuspicious,thewritertellsthereadersasecondmotiveforMarshalltomurderArlena.WhenMarshall’slettersarechecked,thepolicefindthathiscompanyisinadangerouscondition,andheistheonlyheirofArlena’sfortune.JealousandfinancialcrisismakeMarshallseemmoreandmoresuspicious.ButMarshallisarealgentleandinnocentperson.TheguiltyimageofhimisChristie’swayofdeceivingthereaders.TheinnocentimageofChristineRedfernandguiltyimageofKennethMarshallisanexcellenttrap.Firstly,throughtheseimages,thewritercangivesomemisleadingcluestodistractthereadersfromtherightway.Secondly,throughit,AgathaChristiecancontinuetouseherimaginationtocreatemoremysteriesandsuspects.Thirdly,shecanalsogivethereadersanunexpectedbutreasonableend.Thus,shemakesthereaderskeeptheirinterest.Inthemeantime,thereadersreceiveamorallessonbysharpcontrastbetweentheinnocentandtheguiltyimage.=3\*ROMANIII.ConversationEnormoususeofconversationsinherwritingisadistinctivefeatureofChristie’slanguage.Inthisnovel,Christieskillfullyusesconversationstodevelopherplotsnaturallyandfluently.Suchconversationsnotonlyplayanessentialroleinspreadinggossipordailygimmick,butalsoserveasathreadsewingupallthechaptersorplots.Throughconversations,thecharacterizationsofthepeopleconcerningthemurdercaseareshowed,andPoirotoftengoesonhisinvestigationinawayoftalkingwithdifferentpeople.1.ConversationasaWayofCharacterizationInChristie’snovel,thedescribingofpeopleisoftenthroughthewayofconversation.People’sinformationofpersonalityisoftenconcealedintheirtalks.Generallyspeaking,characterizationthroughconversationhastwoways.Thefirstwayistomakeuseoftheconversationbetweenthepeoplewhoknowthecharacter.Forinstance,thedialoguebetweenMajorBarryandEmilyBrewstershowsthereaderswhichkindofpeopleArlenaMarshallis:MajorBarrysaid:“ArlenaStuart(that’swhoshewasbeforeshemarriedMarshall)—IsawherinComeandGobeforesheleftthestage.Somethingworthlookingat,eh?”(EvilUnderTheSun:19)EmilyBrewstersaidabruptly:“Youtalkedabouteviljustnow,M.Poirot.Nowtomymindthatwoman’sapersonificationofevil!She’sabadlotthroughandthrough.Ihappentoknowagooddealabouther”(EvilUnderTheSun:19).Thesecondwayistogetinformationfromtheconversationsbetweenthecharacterhimselfandotherpeople.EmilyBrewsterhasacrophobia,onceshesaidtoothers:“Ifunkthatmyself.It’sallrightfortheyoung.TheCowanboysandtheyoungMastermans,theyrunupanddownandenjoyit”(EvilUnderTheSun:14).Thewriterlaystheinformationandpersonalityinconversations,fromwhichthereaderscangainageneralideaofcharacterizations.2.ConversationasaWayofDetectionPoirotalwaysvaluesthesignificanceofaconversationtodiscoverthemeaningfulclues.Hegoesonhisinvestigationinawayoftalkingwithdifferentpeopleconcerningamurdercase.Often,thelittlesleuthcanexploithelpfulandcrucialcluesduringasmalltalk.Sinceallthepeopleinasmalltalkorconversationwill“givethemselvesaway”,thesleuthcandiscernthetruthfromtherandomconversation,inwhichthespeakerconcealssomepartofthefactunconsciouslyoronpurpose.BasedonthesesmalltalkscanPoirotthinkwithhis“littlegraycells”andseethewayrightup.InmanyAgathaChristie’snovels,Poirotoftenusesconversationasawayofdetection.Unexceptional,healsodoesthesamethinginEvilUnderTheSun,aftertheenquiryholdbyColonelWeston,Poirotbeginshisownunofficialinvestigationwithinquiringthepeopleinvolvedinthemurdercase.Hepaysattentiontothedetailsofwhattheysayandfindsusefulclues.ThiswayofdetectionistheclassicstyleofAgathaChristie.=4\*ROMANIV.MurderandInvestigationThedeathderivingfrommurderneverruinsthepassionateinterestofanyreader,particularlyAgathaChristie’sfans.Anddeathoftenoccursinalocked-roomcircumstance,inwhichtheinnocentworldoutsidethelockedroomcouldbeexcludedandthusthemurdersuspectswouldbecircumscribedinasmallgroupofpeople.1.SettingInEvilUnderTheSun,thestorytakesplaceonanisland.TheJollyRogerhotelisonthelittlewindsweptgull-hauntedpromontorywhichiscutofffromlandateachhightide.Aconcretecausewayislaiddownfromthemainlandtotheisland.Noonebuthotelguestsareallowedupontheisland.Inordertokeeppeopleoff,attheislandendofthecausewaythereisagatewithanoticesays‘JollyRogerHotel.Private.NoentryexcepttoHotel.’Therocksrisesheeroutoftheseaoneithersidethereandcannotbeclimbed.Althoughpeoplecantakeaboatandrowroundandlandononeofthecoves,butthatseldomhappens,andfromLeathercombeBayharbor2.MurdererandVictimWheneverthereisamurdercase,therearemurdererandvictim.Amurdererrequiresqualifiedskillsandcouragetocommitacrime.Althoughdeath,itself,accountsfornothingindetectivefiction,theaftermathandthusinvestigationofadeathdoesaccountsomuch.2.1MurdererIfadeathoccurrednotbecauseofasuicide,anaccident,oranaturalone,itwouldtoalargeextentcomefrommurder.Amurdererrequiresqualifiedskillsandcouragetocommitacrime.InEvilUnderTheSun,themurdererandhisconspiracyarecunningandbloody.AsDrNeasdenjudges,Arlenaisstrangledbyaprettypowerfulpairofhands.Fromthisthereaderscanimaginehowatrociousthemurderis.Inordertomaketheirplanverycarefullyandboldly,PatrickRedfernandhiswifehidetheirrealpersonality,actinginaninnocentway.Everyone,exceptPoirot,isdeceivedbythem.Theyhaveallthequalificationamurdererneeds:cunningness,barbarity,greedinessandacting.2.2VictimSincethevictimofadetectivenovelusuallyisthebeginningofapuzzle,howtoprojectthedeathandcharacterizethevictimisalsotheinterestofthewriter.Nevertheless,manyalotvictimsinChristie’sfictionarethosewhoinsomesensedeservedeath.Thereisnosuchthingasaplainfactofmurder.Murdersprings,ninetimesoutoften,outofthecharacterandcircumstancesofthemurderedpeople.InEvilUnderTheSun,theglamorousbutselfishactressArlenaisstrangled.Herdeathavoidsotherdisasterscausedbyherevillybeautifulnessandbyhercarefornothingbutherself,andatthesametimeherdeathbringshopeforherhusbandandherstepdaughter,whoareshadowedundertheactress.This,tosomedegree,reflectstheopinionaboutrightandwrongofAgathaChristie.3.MethodsUsedbytheMurdererInEvilUnderTheSun,themurderandhisconspiracyuseseveralcunningmethodstomisleadtheinvestigationandthereaders.3.1HiddenCharacterizationandMotiveInordertocarryouttheirplan,themurderersPatrickRedfernandChristineRedfernhidetheirrealpersonalityandactlikeinnocentpeople.PatrickRedfern,whoserealcharacterisbloodyandgreedy,trieshisbesttogiveothersanimpressionofbeingfoolishandunsophisticated.AsforhiswifeChristineRedfern,everyonetakesherasapoorandweakwomanwhoneverresortstoviolence.AdialoguesaidbyRosamundDarnleyshowsthesuccessofthemurderers’pretense:‘She’sgothereyeonPatrickRedfernnow.He’sagoodlookingman—andratherthesimplekind—youknow,fondofhiswife,andnotaphilanderer.That’sthekindthat’smeatanddrinktoArlena.IlikelittleMrs.Redfern—she’snice—lookinginherfairwashed-outway—butIdon’tthinkshe’llstandadog’schanceagainstthatman-eatingtiger,Arlena’(EvilUnderTheSun:28).Thehiddenmotivehelpsthemurdererfrombeingsuspected.NotlikeotherpeoplewhohaveapparentmotivestokillArlena,ineveryone’seyePatrickRedfernisjustoneofArlena’ssuccessionofpoormutts—justsomethingforhertopassthetimewith.ButthefactisthatArlenaisPatrick’svictim,nottheotherwayabout.ThereasonforPatricktokillArlenaisoutofhisgreedynature—hisgreedinessformoneywhichhehidesdeeply.3.2TheDeceptionofTimeInmostformsofdetectivenovels,timeanddetailsaretobeconsideredasthemostimportantelementstogetthefullpictureofthecrime.Anytimewhenamurderisoccurring,thedetectivewillbeinvitedtosolveit.Inordertorevealtherealmurder,timeisacrucialthingforthedetectivetoclearthesmokescreenofamurder.However,timeisoftendeceivingunderthetricksofthemurderers,soitisalwayshardtodiscerntheartificialtimefromtherealtimeofamurder.AndthereisnoexceptioninthedetectivefictionofAgathaChristie,inwhichtimeisoftenusedtodeceiveourintelligentreaders.MurderersinChristie’sfictionoftensettheclockorwatchforwardorbackward.In