The Research of Curtain: Poirot’s Last Case in the View of Narratology

Abstract

The narrative artistry on display in Agatha Christie’s Curtain: Poirot’s Last Case is both significant and outstanding. Central to this seminal work's success are its deft employment of a limited third-person narrative perspective, a narrative structure that seamlessly interleaves dialogue with clue collection, as well as several highly effective narrative techniques such as foreshadowing and misguiding. By utilizing a limited third-person perspective, Christie is able to adeptly provide the reader with enough information to remain engaged and invested, while simultaneously keeping a distance that allows for unexpected plot twists and revelations. In addition, the book’s unique narrative structure serves to further highlight the cleverness of Christie’s approach, with the novel flowing effortlessly from one clue-gathering scene to another, interspersed with revealing conversations between the characters and the ever-present Poirot. Finally, the use of narrative techniques such as foreshadowing and misguiding showcase Christie’s unparalleled skill as a writer of mystery and suspense. Through her employment of these techniques, Christie is able to further engage the reader, keeping them guessing and questioning their assumptions until the final revelation.