‘The most satisfying crime texts are those
within which the punishment fits the crime.ʼ
Explore the significance of the degrees of
punishment. [25 marks]
‘The most satisfying crime texts are those within which the punishment fits the crime.ʼ Explore
the significance of the degrees of punishment in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd [25 marks]
For centuries, critics have discussed whether a readers satisfaction towards the justice which
has occurred in the crime fiction, directly correlates to the punishment of the crime fitting the
crime which occurred. In this essay I will therefore discuss this in the crime fiction texts of ‘The
Murder of Roger Ackroydʼ and poems ‘The Ballad of Reading Gaolʼ and ‘Peter Grimesʼ.
In ‘The Murder of Roger Ackroydʼ Christie directly explores the idea of punishment being
specific to the crime committed by allowing Poirot, the detective figure who is not bound by
laws of state or a job in the police force, to tailor his own specifically designed punishment for
the criminal Dr Sheppard. As Poirot vaguely suggests the possibility of; “for instance, an
overdose of a sleeping draught” linking Dr Sheppardʼs method of death with Mrs Ferrars, his
victim. In Dr Sheppardʼs confession in the ‘Apologiaʼ his resigned tone in the phrase “let it be
veronal” suggests that he will comply with the fate Poirot has set out for him referring to this
punishment as being a sort of “poetic justice” suggesting to the reader they should agree with
this form of punishment for him also as being the satisfying end to the novel. As he dies in the
same way in which Mrs Ferrars killed her husband, with poison, which is what Dr Sheppard was
blackmailing her for, the reader can almost imagine the laughing figure of Mrs Ferrars in the
background being complicit in Sheppardʼs death in the same way he was in hers. It adds a
circular element to the narrative as in the same way the novels begins with; “Mrs Ferrars died
on the night on the 16th-17th September- a Thursday” we imagine a broadcast or newspaper
article declaring Dr Sheppardʼs death in a similar way. Through this his death can be read as a
cathartic outlet for the reader due to it being a satisfactory punishment for his evil deeds.
Yet, some critics have stated that his punishment is not satisfying and does not fit the crime. As
Poirot allows Dr Sheppard to kill himself, he prevents him from facing the embarrassment and
humiliation which would come from taking the truth “to Inspector Raglan in the morning”. He
escapes legal proceedings and courtroom shame where his duplicity would be revealed to the
entire village of Kingʼs Abbot. Dr Sheppard also reflects no remorse towards his crimes in his
Apologia stating, “It was the direct consequence of her own actions. I feel no pity for her. I have
no pity for myself either”.
within which the punishment fits the crime.ʼ
Explore the significance of the degrees of
punishment. [25 marks]
‘The most satisfying crime texts are those within which the punishment fits the crime.ʼ Explore
the significance of the degrees of punishment in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd [25 marks]
For centuries, critics have discussed whether a readers satisfaction towards the justice which
has occurred in the crime fiction, directly correlates to the punishment of the crime fitting the
crime which occurred. In this essay I will therefore discuss this in the crime fiction texts of ‘The
Murder of Roger Ackroydʼ and poems ‘The Ballad of Reading Gaolʼ and ‘Peter Grimesʼ.
In ‘The Murder of Roger Ackroydʼ Christie directly explores the idea of punishment being
specific to the crime committed by allowing Poirot, the detective figure who is not bound by
laws of state or a job in the police force, to tailor his own specifically designed punishment for
the criminal Dr Sheppard. As Poirot vaguely suggests the possibility of; “for instance, an
overdose of a sleeping draught” linking Dr Sheppardʼs method of death with Mrs Ferrars, his
victim. In Dr Sheppardʼs confession in the ‘Apologiaʼ his resigned tone in the phrase “let it be
veronal” suggests that he will comply with the fate Poirot has set out for him referring to this
punishment as being a sort of “poetic justice” suggesting to the reader they should agree with
this form of punishment for him also as being the satisfying end to the novel. As he dies in the
same way in which Mrs Ferrars killed her husband, with poison, which is what Dr Sheppard was
blackmailing her for, the reader can almost imagine the laughing figure of Mrs Ferrars in the
background being complicit in Sheppardʼs death in the same way he was in hers. It adds a
circular element to the narrative as in the same way the novels begins with; “Mrs Ferrars died
on the night on the 16th-17th September- a Thursday” we imagine a broadcast or newspaper
article declaring Dr Sheppardʼs death in a similar way. Through this his death can be read as a
cathartic outlet for the reader due to it being a satisfactory punishment for his evil deeds.
Yet, some critics have stated that his punishment is not satisfying and does not fit the crime. As
Poirot allows Dr Sheppard to kill himself, he prevents him from facing the embarrassment and
humiliation which would come from taking the truth “to Inspector Raglan in the morning”. He
escapes legal proceedings and courtroom shame where his duplicity would be revealed to the
entire village of Kingʼs Abbot. Dr Sheppard also reflects no remorse towards his crimes in his
Apologia stating, “It was the direct consequence of her own actions. I feel no pity for her. I have
no pity for myself either”.
