And Then There Were None Gender Roles

Class distinction and gender roles are two major themes in Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None." Throughout the novel, Christie explores how these societal constructs shape the characters' behavior and motivations, and how they contribute to the tense and complex dynamics among the group.

This novel takes place in 1930s England, a highly structured society in which social standing could determine one's life and relationships. In terms of class distinction, Christie depicts a broad array of characters, including a judge, a doctor, a businessman, a former police officer, and a servant. As the plot progresses and distrust between the characters grows, their class distinctions become increasingly clear. Those of higher social standing frequently

Throughout the novel, women are frequently subjected to sexism and mistreatment by men. The men take the lead right away and continue to do so throughout the novel. This is especially noticeable when they select their search party group. In their eyes, the leaders are strong and able-bodied men. They exclude the men who are not active like them. General Macarthur does not make the cut because of his age and neither does Justice Wargrave. Additionally, Ms. Brent and Vera Claythorne are not included in the search group since the men believe they will be of little help. In the book, it says, “We’d better rope in Blore to help us. He’ll be a good man in a pinch. Better not tell the women. As for the others, the General’s ga ga, I think, and old Wargrave’s forte is masterly inactivity. The three of us can attend to this job.” (page 108). However, neither of these women is portrayed as the stereotypical women character from that time period. For instance, a stereotypical woman is expected to care for the child, nurture them, and submit to the demands of a man. Vera does the exact opposite. In this novel, she is responsible for the death of a child. She is depicted as an irrational and hysterical female, yet at the same time, the author shows us that this woman is also intelligent, strong, and resourceful. In the novel, it says, “Vera screamed. She screamed and screamed—screams of the utmost terror—wild and desperate cries for help…. She was conscious only of supreme terror.” (page 197). She also shows resourcefulness when she steals the gun from Philip Lombard and shoots him to protect herself. Furthermore, she is the only character smart enough to connect the deaths to the poems. Emily Brent is also different from your typical spinster. Unlike most women of that time who were depicted as dependent upon a man and quiet, Emily Brent is extremely opinionated