Similarities Between Macarthur And Then There Were None

Normal? How can a normal person possibly exist when you’re stranded on an island with 9 other people, one of which is a murderer. I wouldn’t say there is a normal character in “And Then There Were None” by Agatha Christie. Macarthur, and old and rather careless man, is one of 10 guests is invited for a stay on Soldier island. Of the 10 guests, Macarthur, in my opinion, would be the most “normal” one. Macarthur unusual personality doesn’t make him go mad, but he also doesn’t seem overly relaxed. Macarthur is an edgy guy. It does not take long for the readers to figure out Macarthur is edgy, the first time Macarthur is brought into the story the reader can tell he’s anxious. “Damnable, these slow branch line trains! This place, soldier island, was really no distance at all as the crow flies” (Christie 10). Macarthur’s edgy personality doesn’t just show in the very beginning of the book. “His hand was shaking. His shoulders sagged. He suddenly looked 10 years older” (Christie 49). Macarthur’s nervous like personality shows he is “normal” because any “normal” person in Macarthur’s situation would feel edgy about being on an island with 9 complete strangers, one of which is a murderer. Throughout the book,

Macarthur is different because unlike all of the other guests on the island, Macarthur doesn’t freak out with everything that is happening on the island. Just like any “normal” person in the situation, Macarthur is affected by the oddness of the situation, but he keeps his cool. Macarthur’s action “his head turned- there was a queer mixture of questioning and apprehension in his look” (Christie 128) made Vera Claythorne suspicious, but compared to her hallucination on page 186, Macarthur’s action was nothing. Nothing about Macarthur’s action was unusual given the situation Macarthur’s actions are quite more “normal” than everyone