Similarity Report ID: oid:28078:24931725

PAPER NAME

22188_Vardan Jaggi_English.docx

WORD COUNT CHARACTER COUNT

3923 Words 19275 Characters

PAGE COUNT FILE SIZE

14 Pages 96.8KB

SUBMISSION DATE REPORT DATE

Oct 13, 2022 9:48 PM GMT+5:30 Oct 13, 2022 9:49 PM GMT+5:30

4% Overall Similarity
The combined total of all matches, including overlapping sources, for each database.
3% Internet database 0% Publications database
Crossref database Crossref Posted Content database
2% Submitted Works database

Excluded from Similarity Report

Bibliographic material Quoted material
Cited material Small Matches (Less then 10 words)

Summary
 3
RAJIV GANDHI NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF
LAW, PUNJAB

ENGLISH PROJECT

SUBMITTED BY: SUBMITTED TO:

VARDAN JAGGI DR. TANYA MANDER

ROLL NO. - 22188 ASST. PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH,

RGNUL, PUNJAB
 THE MOUSETRAP
BY AGATHA CHRISTIE

Figure 1 Image Credits- https://www.theatregold.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/mousetrap-london.jp

6
1|Page
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 3

1.1 The Mystery writer: Agatha Christie .........................................................................3-4

1.2 Historical Context ............................................................................................................ 4

1.3 The Mousetrap: A brief narration ..............................................................................4-6

2. Characters in the Play ......................................................................................................... 7

2.1 Sergeant Trotter: The detective ...................................................................................... 7

2.2 Giles and Mollie Ralston: The husband and wife ......................................................... 7

2.3 Christopher Wren: Neurotic Young man ...................................................................... 7

2.4 Mrs Boyle: Murdered lady...........................................................................................7-8

2.5 Miss Casewell, Major Metcalf, Mr Paravicini: Other Guests ..................................... 8

2
3. Setting, Symbols, Motifs and Themes ................................................................................ 9

3.1 The Setting of the Play ................................................................................................9-10

3.2 Symbols used and their significance............................................................................. 10

3.2.1 Three Blind Mice and their significance .............................................................. 10

3.3 Recurring Motifs ............................................................................................................ 10

3.3.1 Murder, Investigation, Double Identity and Revenge ......................................... 10

3.4 Themes ............................................................................................................................ 11

3.4.1 Crime and Punishment ............................................................................................ 11

3.4.2 Appearance and Reality .......................................................................................... 11

3.4.3 Justice and Injustice ................................................................................................ 11

4. Exposition: The convergence of Literature and Law ..................................................... 12

5. Critical Analysis ................................................................................................................. 13

6. Works Cited....................................................................................................................... 14

2|Page
1. Introduction
1
“The Mousetrap is a murder mystery play. It has the longest initial run of any play in history,
with over 24,500 performances so far. It is longest running play of the modern era.” The BBC
first broadcast "The Mousetrap," a radio drama by Agatha Christie, under the name Three Blind
Mice in 1952. It was turned into a theatre play on October 6, 1952. The play later broke multiple
1
records for its uninterrupted theatrical run when it was moved to St. Martin's Theatre in London
on March 23, 1974. One of Agatha Christie's most well-known plays for her crime novels is
the one in question. Given that it is a mystery, there are a number of early understanding issues,
particularly given that the majority of the characters have dual identities. Our interest is
maintained by the murder's mystery, and when it is solved, we are left in awe.

5
1.1 The mystery writer: Agatha Christie
On September 15, 1890, Dame Agatha Christie In Devon, England, Agatha Mary Clarissa
Christie was born. She was raised in a fairly prosperous middle class family and had her
education at home from a governess and tutor. She joined an amateur dramatic ensemble after
graduating from school and began creating plays for them. After being married, she authored
her first mystery book, "The Mysterious Affair at Styles," which launched her literary career
(1920). She debuted Hercule Poirot, a well-known character, in this book. Over the years, he
has served as an inspiration for several fictional and real-life investigators. He may seem
foolish and stupid, yet he is also quite astute and smart. A few years later, in the 1930 book
"Murder in the Vicarage," she introduced one of her other well-known detectives, Miss Jane
Marple. She soon adopted Miss Marple as her preferred sleuth. Twelve of her novels and
several short tales included Miss Marple.

Christie wrote and published books and short tales up to her passing on January 12, 1976. She
became known as "The Queen of Crime." She is listed as the all-time best-selling author in the
4
Guinness Book of Records. 2Further, it has three entries in Guinness Book of Records,
including: for the ‘longest continuous run of any show in the world’; ‘most durable’ and
‘longest serving understudy’. Her autobiography, An Autobiography, was published

1
Christie, Agatha. "The Mousetrap." The Mousetrap. Evergreen Publications(India) Ltd., 2017. 216

2
. https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/theatre/agatha-christies-the-mousetrap-what-happens-
backstage/article29942888

3|Page
posthumously in 1977. In 1971, before her death, she was honoured with the title Dame of
British Empire.

1.2 Historical Context

1
Dramatization of The Mousetrap took place amid a time of post-World War II reconstruction,
a new monarchy, food shortages, and the menace of communism. The bombings of the war
have decimated entire regions of the country, and London in particular is seeing a revival. On
February 6, 1952, the monarch of England who presided over the country during the war years
passes away. Three Blind Mice, the original title of this drama, was composed in 1947 for a
royal family. Many of the events depicted in the play are actual struggles that developed after
the war.

The Mousetrap's setting transported the audience from the inside to the outside. She assisted in
getting out of the trouble that afflicted England. When other writers were mourning the dead
and penning works that depicted how London was destroying itself, Agatha Christie was still
providing readers with a literary escape. Andrew Sanders maintains that Christie’s play, 3“tells
us something about the resilience of certain theatrical conventions and styles.”

1.3 The Mousetrap: A brief narration

All of the roadways are covered in snow due to the unfavourable weather. Giles and Mollie
Ralston welcome their first guests at Monkswell Manor in the early morning hours of the
winter. A piercing whistle of the children's song "Three Blind Mice" can be heard in the late
afternoon. Mrs. Maureen Lyon was killed in London, according to a radio broadcast, and the
alleged killer is described as donning a black overcoat, a light scarf, and a soft felt hat.
Additionally, it states that the police are eager to speak with a man who was spotted nearby
7
wearing a black overcoat, a light scarf, and a soft felt hat.

We infer from the exchange that Mollie's aunt gave her the guest home as a present. Giles and
Mollie are both new to the field, so they are filled with concerns. Christopher Wren, a nervous
young guy, will soon be the first visitor. He is active and enthusiastic, and he enjoys the

3
https://www.encyclopedia.com
4|Page
furnishings in the drawing room. Christopher is brought by Mollie to his assigned room, the
Oak Room. The following visitor is Mrs. Boyle. She seldom likes anything and has complaints
about everything. She is angry because no one met her at the station. Major Metcalf, another
visitor, and she had to ride in the same cab. As Christopher Wen opted to stay in the Rose room
because he enjoyed the four-poster in it, Mollie requests Giles to take Major Metcalf to the
Blue room and Mrs. Boyle to the Oak room after their chat. Mollie was questioned by Mrs.
Boyle if they employed any housekeepers. Mrs. Boyle is quite dissatisfied with the response
when Mollie tells her that there are good local ladies who can work here.

A young woman of a macho type named Miss Casewell is the third visitor to come. She
discusses the possible murderous madman who strangled a lady nearby Paddington while
sitting by the fireside. While Christopher assists Mollie in the kitchen, Mollie leaves to make
plans for a wonderful supper. When the doorbell rings, a surprise visitor enters carrying a tiny
package and identifies himself as Paravicini. He identified himself a "guy of mystery."

Everyone was perplexed when Mollie received a call from the Berkshire police informing her
that a constable had been dispatched to the mansion. Giles tells them to smile and informs them
that nobody will arrive today due to congested roads. Sergeant Trotter then arrives on a
helicopter. He invites everyone to take a seat in the proper sequence because he has to make a
brief statement. He implies in a relevant way that one of them could be linked to the killing of
the woman in Paddington Streets. Trotter then makes reference to an earlier incident in which
the court transferred three kids to Mr. and Mrs. Stanning's house for care and safety a few years
ago. However, there was terrible child abuse and neglect going on at home. Mrs. Maureen
Lyon, the victim who was slain, was responsible for torturing and abusing the defenceless kids.
8
A letter was found close to the body, along with a bar of music to the tune of the nursery rhyme
"Three Blind Mice," stating that there are "three blind mice" and that "this is first."

He also mentions a little boy, age eleven, who passed away. One of the other girls was adopted.
The older boy would be 22 years old and had left the service. Then he spreads the rumour that
a killer may very possibly be one of them.

Trotter proceeds down the severed telephone cable. Mrs. Boyle enters her chamber once more.
She quickly shuts the window. The door only then opens. There is the sound of "Three Blind
Mice" music. Someone walks into the space. Gurgles and a scuffle can be heard coming from
the radio, which is on full blast. Mrs. Boyle's body falls since she was the judge who ordered

5|Page
the kids to Stanning's house. Soon, Mollie enters, crosses the radio to turn it off and then her
eyes fall upon the Mrs Boyle lying strangled before the sofa. She screams.

For a brief questioning, Sergeant Trotter calls for everyone's presence in the room. He requests
that they provide testimony on their roles in the murder. Trotter then advises that they all
rebuild their moves, including his own. He claims that although the identical action will be
carried out, it may not be by the same individual. He gives each individual a particular role. He
assumes the character of Mrs. Boyle. When the Three Blind Mice theme song is heard,
everyone begins to work on their jobs, and Trotter summons Mrs. Ralston (Mollie). Trotter
charges her of trying to cover up her knowledge of the mistreated kids. Then, he introduces
himself as Georgie, Jimmy's brother, and the farm's deceased children. Then he explains to her
how he made the bogus call and admits he is not a police officer. He tries to shoot her while
explaining his motivation for seeking retribution for Jimmy's passing. At this moment, other
visitors arrive, and Miss Casewell informs Trotter that one of them is Kathy, his sister, who
travelled to England to look for him. She carries him along. Later, we discover that Major
Metcalf is an undercover police officer who maintained tabs on every move and who consented
to be replaced by a visitor titled Major Metcalf. The enigma is now resolved.

2. Characters in the Play

The play's characters are its most crucial component since they act as its catalyst. Every
narrative has a primary character who keeps the readers' interest throughout, and many stories
have many characters. The Mousetrap's main characters are as follows:

2.1 Sergeant Trotter: the detective

Like most of the other characters in this drama, Sergeant Trotter, the detective, has a secret
identity. He first gives the residents of Monkswell Manor the impression that he is protecting
them. He has a cheery demeanour and a cockney accent. He subsequently explains that the
child in question is actually Georgie, one of the three unlucky kids who were mistreated by Mr.
and Mrs. Stanning at Longridge Farm. He finds it awful that his younger brother died as a result
of Stanning's mistreatment. He swears to exact retribution on his brother's behalf. When he is
older, he kills Mrs. Stanning and then makes a very convincing Sergeant Trotter appearance,
leaving no room for doubt as to who the real murderer is. Leslie Katherine, his sister, later
recognises him because to the way he twirls his hair nervously.

6|Page
2.2 Giles and Mollie Ralston: The husband and wife
Giles Ralston's wife, Mollie, runs a guest home called Monkswell Manor. She has been Giles'
wife for a year and is in her twenties. Giles is really helpful and kind. Giles and Mollie lack the
necessary experience to manage a newly established guest home. In a school where Jimmy, a
victim of cruel treatment, attended classes and later passed away, Mollie held the position of
instructor. The youngster attempted to write her a letter, but it was not delivered in time.
Georgie, the killer, believed that she might have rescued Jimmy. Because of this, he desired to
have her killed and added to the Three Blind Mice.

2.3 Christopher Wren: Neurotic Young man

The youthful Christopher Wren is the first person to check into the guest house at Monkswell
Manor. He has a crazy, chaotic appearance. Christopher is a person of mystery. He has been
named after an architect from the seventeenth century and declares to be one. Later, he admits
that he is not an architect and that Wren is not his true name. He enjoys singing and humming
Three Blind Mice and is infantile.

2.4 Mrs Boyle: Murdered lady

Mrs. Boyle, a middle-aged visitor to the Monkswell Manor guest home, is one of the three
blind mice that were killed. While most visitors are cooperative, she has a short fuse and is
severe and rude. There aren't many guests that Mrs doesn't argue with. We discover in the
middle of the play that she served as a magistrate on the bench and sent those three kids to Mr.
and Mrs. Stanning for care and protection, where they were mistreated and abused. She shares
equal blame with her older brother Jimmy in the murderer's eyes. She is executed by being
strangled for torturing the three kids.

2.5 Miss Casewell, Major Metcalf, Mr Paravicini: Other Guests

Mr. Paravicini, Miss Casewell, and Major Metcalf are among the other visitors who stay at the
Monkswell Manor inn. Mr. Paravicini, who introduces himself as a "man of mystery," arrives
last and unexpectedly. Major Metcalf is a middle-aged, square-shouldered foreigner with an

7|Page
ageing moustache who acts quite militarily. In the play's final scene, it is revealed that he is a
police officer who goes undercover to the guest house to assist in the hunt for the murderer.
Miss Casewell, who initially withholds information about her visit to Monkswell Manor,
eventually reveals her real name to be Leslie Margaret Katherine Casewell. She is the one who
first recognises Trotter because to his customary practise of twisting his hair. Sergeant Trotter
is about to shoot Mollie until she interrupts and calms him.

2
3. Setting, Symbols, Motifs and Themes
The setting of a play refers to the period, location, and cultural context in which the action
occurs. Setting enables us to relate what occurs in a very direct way.

3.1 The Setting of the Play

1
The Mousetrap is situated in Monkswell Manor, a modest inn located thirty miles from London.
The home has been delicately transformed into a guesthouse. Due to the snowfall, guest house
urban life is entirely cut off.

Late afternoon is when the activity starts, and nighttime is when it ends. However, the first
thing that comes to mind is that we should pay heed to the radio announcement of the murder
at Longridge Farm, 24 Culver Street, Paddington. Mrs. Boyle turns on the radio as scene 1
comes to a close. A topic is discussed in front of the audience.

The play's midway is indicated by the second scene. The visitors have shown up. A police
officer is being dispatched to the guest house, the Police Superintendent announces. As soon
as Sergeant Trotter enters the guest home, he questions and inspects everyone. He makes a
suggestion that a killer may be among them. He accuses everyone, and Mrs. Boyle's death
brings the drama to a close.

The second focuses on investigation, with all of the guests gathered in one room for an inquiry.
Nobody provided the adequate responses. They are instructed to share their positions at the
moment of the murder. Everyone was instructed to re-enact the events by the Sergeant. While
visitors are focused on their job, Sergeant makes a call to Mollie. He attempts to shoot her after
telling her his true identity as a killer. But Miss Casewell and Major Metcalf manage to foil his
scheme.

8|Page
3.2 Symbols used and their significance
3.2.1 Three Blind Mice and their significance
The nursery tale "three blind mice" is the major inspiration for The Mousetrap. In actuality, the
title of The Mousetrap when it was initially written as a radio drama was "Three Blind Mice."
This children's song refers to the trio of victims that the killer is meant to kill. Starting off, it's
intriguing how "Three Blind Mice" music and a letter with the song's lyrics were discovered
close to Mrs. Maureen Lyon's body, indicating that there are three targets and two more are to
be killed. Near the conclusion, when Mollie is asked by Sergeant to go to the drawing room,
sit at the piano, and play the music when he asks her, Paravicini performs it on the piano in the
middle of the scene.

Music: -

4
“Three Blind Mice,

Three Blind Mice,

See how they run!

See how they run!

They all ran after the farmer’s wife.

She cut off their tails with a carving knife.

Have you ever seen such a sight in your life?

As Three Blind Mice,

Three Blind Mice.”

Since The Mousetrap is a drama about retaliation, the nursery rhyme and soundtrack are
particularly fitting. When the young man's identity is revealed, every aspect of the performance
helps the audience to identify and relate to him.

In conclusion, we may argue that the timing and melody of Three Blind Mice at the play's
beginning, middle, and finish are highly fitting for a drama about retribution.

4
https://allnurseryrhymes.com › three-blind-mice

9|Page
3.3 Recurring Motifs
3.3.1 Murder, Investigation, Double Identity and Revenge
The themes of murder, inquiry, false identity, and retribution are central to The Mousetrap. The
murder aids in carrying out the plot to get revenge, and the entire play is conducted with these
themes of retribution and false identity. Georgie, who goes by Sergeant Trotter, intends to exact
retribution for the death of his younger brother. He enters the guest home under a false identity
to safeguard others who are staying there. Skilfully, playing the character he checks the people
staying there whether they have relation with Mrs Maureen Lyon or not. When he had the
opportunity, he killed Mrs. Boyle as part of his plot. He attempted to shoot Mollie again via
investigation—she was his third and last target.

3.4 Themes
3.4.1 Crime and Punishment
The overarching concept is that crimes are not tolerated. In this drama, evildoers are always
punished accordingly. An innocent youngster who was entrusted in Mrs. Stanning's care and
protection died as a result of her willful negligence and mistreatment. Trotter believes that even
though she served her sentence, jail wasn't severe enough for her. Despite being indirectly at
fault, Mrs. Boyle received punishment as well. Only a life may buy a life, according to the
author, unless the killer is not morally accountable. Also, sometimes the good needs to suffer
in order to defeat the bad.

3.4.2 Appearance and Reality

The contrast between appearance and reality is a key element in The Mousetrap. Where the
mystery is played, concerns about what is genuine and what is not arise. The majority of the
play's characters have names. In mystery novels, the detective is typically an outsider who
solves mysteries. But in The Mousetrap, the investigator is a mystery in and of himself; in fact,
he is the killer. The majority of people are not who they seem to be. Major Metcalf is a trotter

10 | P a g e
and undercover police officer who pretends to be the cop but is actually Georgie, a murderer.
The characters in this story must seem predictable to the readers, yet they are not.

3.4.3 Justice and Injustice

You can interpret The Mousetrap as a drama about justice. The boy's death and the brutality
done to his siblings are the fault of two murder victims, Mrs. Maureen Lyon and Mrs. Boyle.
Georgie believes that even though Mrs. Maureen fulfilled her prison sentence, justice has not
been delivered through the legal system. He therefore chooses to administer justice. Here, the
author has attempted to show sympathy for the killer without undermining the rule of justice.

The third and last victim was a sympathetic person who wasn't actually to blame for the killing
of an innocent youngster. Therefore, justice has been served and injustice has been put to rest.

4. Exposition: The convergence of Literature and Law

The Mousetrap seems to suggest that one may experience injustice as a result of the justice
offered by the law. The three children were sent under the care and protection of Mrs. Stanning
by the court, which had Mrs. Boyle sitting on the bench. The law claims that this choice is in
the children's best interests, yet it is not. Children were mistreated and abused to the point that
the younger child died. These defenceless kids were mistreated via the use of justice.

When Georgie and his siblings were taken to Mrs. Lyon's house for care and safety, she
tormented and mistreated those innocent children, which led to the murder of younger son
Jimmy. Christie also feels that justice has not been served by social or legal methods. Mrs.
Maureen Lyon has already done her time in jail for this wickedness, but Georgie thinks that
justice has not been served. He therefore chooses to administer justice. He intends to kill
everyone involved in the killing of his younger brother. Although Georgie is a murderer, many
believe he is not guilty because they mistreated him and his brothers and because they don't
care about victims.

Every individual has the right to life, and neither adults nor children are allowed to be tortured
or abused cruelly. Even the Juvenile Justice Act of 2015 makes provisions for kids who need
care and protection as well as kids who are in legal trouble. No matter where they live, who

11 | P a g e
they are, what language they speak, or whether they are a boy or a girl, every kid is entitled to
all of their rights. Rights such as the right to live in dignity, the right to be safe from bodily
harm, the right to information and opinion freedom, and the right to an education. No kid should
ever endure unjust treatment. As small mistake leads to enormous wrong. Similar to how those
innocent youngsters in this play were treated severely, which is immoral, pushing them to
become present-day murderers is also a major injustice. Depriving children of their
independence and liberty also constitutes a violation of Article 21, which gives everyone the
right to live in dignity.

5. Critical Analysis
The "Mousetrap" can be subjected to a lot of frequent criticisms. By looking at the play from
different angles, readers may get a new perspective on the story and learn more about the
characters' motivations. The Mousetrap takes place in London, England in 1952. Because of
the severe weather, the guest home was cut off from city life. Suddenly, the radio broadcasts
the murderous news that Mrs. Maureen was killed at Longridge Farm. The second murder is
that of Mrs. Boyle, a judge on the bench who had authorised the sending of those kids to Mrs.
Lyon's care, where they were subjected to abuse and suffering. One of the kids was pushed to
commit a crime and plan a murder as a result of this bad behaviour. However, three lives may
have been avoided if the legal fraternity had been more cautious while giving the residence to
those defenceless youngsters. Mrs. Maureen Lyon, Mrs. Boyle, and Jimmy are three of their
names.
1
Few theatregoers knew that Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap, which debuted in 1952 in
London's west end, would become a success for the following fifty years. According to Times
of London reviews,

5
“Piece admiralty fulfils the special requirements of the theatre. This provides the colour, the
mystification, the suspects and the screams and that all fit the play as snugly as pieces in a
jigsaw puzzle.”

5
https://www.encyclopedia.com
12 | P a g e
6. Works Cited
1) Christie, Agatha. "The Mousetrap." The Mousetrap. Evergreen Publications(India) Ltd.,
2017. 216
2) https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/theatre/agatha-christies-the-mousetrap-what-
happens-backstage/article29942888
3) https://allnurseryrhymes.com › three-blind-mice
4) "The Mousetrap ." Drama for Students. . Encyclopedia.com. 22 Sep.
2021 <https://www.encyclopedia.com>

13 | P a g e
 Similarity Report ID: oid:28078:24931725

4% Overall Similarity
Top sources found in the following databases:
3% Internet database 0% Publications database
Crossref database Crossref Posted Content database
2% Submitted Works database

TOP SOURCES
The sources with the highest number of matches within the submission. Overlapping sources will not be
displayed.

encyclopedia.com
1 1%
Internet

rgnul on 2021-05-14
2 <1%
Submitted works

coursehero.com
3 <1%
Internet

londontheatre.co.uk
4 <1%
Internet

Monsignor Edward Pace High School on 2005-03-08

5 <1%
Submitted works

simuland.net
6 <1%
Internet

Kelly Walsh High School on 2005-01-17

7 <1%
Submitted works

Louisiana Tech University on 2014-12-09

8 <1%
Submitted works

Sources overview