Agatha Christie - Three Blind Mice Lecture

Setting

• Cold, snowy weather.
• A mysterious man in a dark overcoat and muffler visits number 74 Culver Street.
• Whistles "Three Blind Mice" as he goes up the stairs.

Monkswell Manor

• Molly and Giles Davis own Monkswell Manor.
• They are new to running a guest house.
• They decided to start a guest house due to housing issues and inherited furniture.
• First guests arriving despite heavy snowfall.

Characters

Molly Davis

• Protagonist, married to Giles.
• Energetic and optimistic about the guest house.

Giles Davis

• Molly's husband.
• Ex-naval man, handy and resourceful.

Mrs Boyle

• Guest, large and forbidding.
• Critical of the guest house's operations.

Major Metcalf

• Guest, former military man.
• Stolid and dependable.

Christopher Wren

• Guest, young and eccentric.
• Claims to be an architect.

Mr Paravicini

• Unexpected guest, arrives due to car troubles.
• Mysterious and possibly dangerous.

Inspector Parminter & Sergeant Kane

• Investigating a murder in Culver Street.
• Involves a notebook with addresses including Monkswell Manor.

Plot Developments

• A murder in Culver Street connects to Monkswell Manor.
• The suspect list includes all guests at Monkswell Manor.
• The guests are snowed in, unable to leave.
• Tension rises as each guest's story and past unveil.
• The police investigation reveals connections to a past crime involving a farm and mistreated children.

Key Themes

• Isolation and paranoia due to being snowed in.
• Trust and suspicion among strangers.
• Past sins and their consequences.
• The blurring line between appearance and reality.

Suspense Elements

• Mysterious whistling of "Three Blind Mice."
• Sudden arrival of unexpected guests.
• Communication cut (telephone line down).
• Mistrust and hidden identities.

Key Events

• Discovery of Mrs Boyle's murder at the manor.
• Sergeant Trotter's arrival on skis introduces a new dynamic.
• Reconstruction of the murder scenario to uncover lies.
• Fake Sergeant Trotter revealed as Jim, the real murderer, avenging his brother's death.

Resolution

• Major Metcalf reveals himself as Inspector Tanner, apprehending the murderer.
• Jim's motive linked to a traumatic past and misguided revenge.
• Molly and Giles reconcile misunderstandings.
• Mr Paravicini's mysterious and possibly criminal background hinted.

Conclusion

• The play ends with a sense of restored order, albeit with lingering mysteries about certain characters.
• The themes of trust and deception remain pivotal throughout the narrative.