Thomas Mocorrea
Agatha Christie's views on inter-war British society
Interwar Britain was a chapter of history that signified peace and relative economic stagnation. As a result of World War One, Britain slowly transformed and lead towards an egalitarian society. This was a result of a change in mindset and ideology that led the decline of the Liberal Party and the uprising of the Labour Party that challenged the dominant Conservative Party. Agatha Christie develops her novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, around the clash of ideologies between the old traditional conservative party and the upcoming Labour Party. As the setting is based in an extremely wealthy household of social elites surrounded by lower class servants and middle class aids, it provides an excellent setup for her cultural criticism and representation of inter war British society. Agatha Christie reflects a cynical yet accurate representation of traditional social elites within Britain through their immorality, corruption, and greed, however contrasts that to Poirot who signifies “the beacon of moral truth” and the reaffirming representation of the rise of the working class and morality.
The setting in Mysterious Affair of Styles reflects Christie’s social criticism of traditional British Society. Agatha Christie sets her novel in the ironically peaceful countryside village of Styles St. Mary. As Hastings travels to the Styles with John Cavendish he exits an “absurd little station,” (Christie 6) he is struck by the beauty and serenity of the country, “It was a still, warm day in early July. As one looked out over the flat Essex country, it seemed almost impossible to believe that, not so very far away, a great war was running its appointed course.” (Christie 7) As Christie clearly displays the peace and tranquility of Styles, she does not fail to identify the irony and contrast of the existence of such a peaceful place as a raging war progressed. The setting is quite contradictory to the plot and is used in many of Christie's works as it differs from the corruption and scandal that later occurs, “The reader following a crime in the country house is struck by two incongruities: the serene Garden of Eden topography invaded by the murderer, and the seemingly harmonious world which is torn apart by passion, greed, violence, suspicion, and murder.” (Maida 182)
By referencing historic traditions, Christie makes the reader subtly aware of the time period to which she is writing. She writes, “Got a drop or two of petrol still, you see. Mainly owing to the maters activities.” As the war progresses, provisions and supplies for citizens decrease and petrol being of great significance for the army is rationed to the people. Not only does this give the reader a good grasp of the setting but it also introduces Christie sataric way of cultural criticism, as there are troops being slaughtered and John Cavendish is complaining about petrol levels in his car. The idea of the remote town filled with middle class workers is almost set up to revolve around the property of the Hall. Most workers within the town refer to “the Hall” in a superior light and others sarcastically refer to its implicit significance; both examples further the thought of its importance and Christie's representation of traditional conservative British society. During the trial Mr. Mace gives insight into the working class’ view of the Hall, “Oh, no, sir – of course not. But, seeing it was Mr. Inglethorp of the Hall, I thought there was no harm in it. Inwardly I sympathized. It was only human nature to endeavor to please the Hall.” (Christie 74) (Could add in quote of farmer and sarcastic when talking about the house Hall) Christie clearly displays that the middle class puts the Hall and the people from the Hall on a pedestal, which is representative of traditional British society. Not only does the setting of MAS critically display British society that revolved around elites but so do the characters.
Agatha Christie criticizes traditional Conservative values within Britain by portraying the main characters in Styles as Money and power hungry individuals. John Cavendish, Alfred Inglethorp, and Emily Inglethorp are used as vehicles to display the ideals of British elites during this era. Although, Christie subtly enters social criticism which is normally separated from the mystery itself leaving it as a deeper meaning behind the conventional morals that come out of a mystery novel, she successfully ties in criticism with the mystery at times. The basis of any murder mystery is the murder itself, Christie successfully intertwines cultural criticism with mystery as she makes the motive for the mystery over wealth, “In the Mysterious Affair at Styles, the murder results from aberrant personal greed.” (Stowe 576) As a consequence of wealth being the obvious motivation, the mystery is made more intricate as characters such as John Cavendish show clear interest in Emily's money and property. As the mystery and the societal criticism collide Christie successfully displays that social critiques can not only be implemented into mystery novels without taking away from its primary purpose as popular entertainment, but in fact add to the complexity of the mystery, overall adding to the enjoyment of the reader. Although exaggerated, it appears to be that each and every resident at Styles is morally unjust. Through this characterization Christie makes her cynical views toward British elite clear. It appears that every character in Styles is either greed filled, belligerently selfish, and or involved in adultery. Despite that Inglethorp committed the murder out of greed, he is not the only character who is interested in Emily’s money. John Cavendish additionally shows significant concern with the extent of his inheritance through constant conversation. (should i get quote or just be more descriptive?) Further reflecting the immoral behaviour of the British upper class, both John and Alfred are having an affair with their respective wives. Most likely unaware of their immoral behavior many residents as well as workers within Styles desire or allow the existence of traditional British conservatism.
In the Mysterious Affair at Styles, there is a distinct attitude towards change displayed by the residents of the Hall. As accordance to the nature of human beings, residents of Styles, who are social elites, do not desire change. As they are happy living a lavish lifestyle they would have no reason to want that to be interrupted. Hastings clearly displays this desire to continue with tradition as he describes Dorcas, “ Dorcas was standing in the boudoir, her hands folded in front of her, and her grey hair rose in stiff waves under her white cap. She was the very model and picture of a good old-fashioned servant,” (Christie 170) Hastings continues his description later in the story, “ Dear old Dorcas! As she stood there, with her honest face upturned to mine, I thought what a fine specimen she was of the old-fashioned servant that is so fast dying out.” (Christie 171)