Shaffer 1

Kate Shaffer

Ms. Starry

English 9H

7 September 2017

And Then There Were None Essay

In Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None” the characters play a huge role in

everything that goes on. Mrs. Rogers is introverted the entire time and relates to the message that

karma kills or this case Mr. Owen does.

To begin with, stock characters are characters who remain the same throughout the book.

Mrs. Rogers is a perfect example, because she never changed or even had time to change since

she was the second death. From the beginning Mrs. Rogers was a servant so she did what she

was told so she was obedient and introverted. She rarely questioned anyone and did as ordered

which also made her seem shy when you meet her. This was shown when Vera and Mrs. Rogers

first met, “ Vera had followed Mrs. Rogers upstairs…Mrs. Rogers was saying: ‘I hope you’ve

got everything you want Miss?’ …’You’ll ring if there’s anything you want Miss?’ Mrs. Rogers

had a flat, monotonous voice. Vera glanced at her curiously. What a white blooded ghost of a

woman! ,” (Christie 25). Vera can see that Mrs. Rogers doesn’t show very much emotion and

simply wants to please the guests, which can lead her to the assumption that she is introverted.

Not long after this Anthony Marston died. After his death Mrs. Rogers couldn’t sleep so she took

some sleeping medication to help. That next morning she was dead too. She wasn’t present on

Soldier Island for very long so she never evolved as a character. She remained herself the entire

time, therefore, she was a stock character who could be described as introverted.
 Shaffer 2

Kate Shaffer

Ms. Starry

English 9H

7 September 2017
Mrs. Rogers also relates to the message of the novel. Everything on the island went well

when they first got there. But then Anthony died, “he picked up his drink and drank it off in a

gulp. Too quickly perhaps. He chocked-choked badly. His face contorted, turned purple. He

gasped for breath-then he slid down off his chair, the glass falling from his hand,” (Christie 60).

Like mentioned Mrs. Rogers then took sleeping pills and died the next morning, “ ‘It’s the wife

doctor. I can’t get her to wake. My God! I can’t get her to wake!...'Yes, she’s gone.’ “(Christie

74-75) After Mrs. Rogers died everyone noticed the deaths were corresponding with the poem.

Everyone realized they were not suicides but murders. Mrs. Rogers’ death deepened the

understanding of what was actually happening on the island. The message was don’t kill or harm

anyone because karma or in this case, Mr. Owen will come for you.

In conclusion, Mrs. Rogers, a stock character, who remained herself the whole time,

progressed the plot. Also she contributed to the theme and understanding of the novel. She was,

along with the other guests, a very significant character. Mrs. Rogers, who may not have lived

very long, impacted the story and made it an interesting page turner.