Murder on the Orient Express
Theme #2
Justice and Judgement
Definitions
• Justice is a concept of moral rightness based
on ethics, rationality, law, religion, or equity.
• Judgment is the evaluation of evidence and
making a decision
Explanation of the theme
Justice and Judgment: How is justice juxtaposed
with revenge?
Juxtaposed: Place or deal with close together
for contrasting effect: "black-and-white photos
were juxtaposed with color images"
Questions to consider
1. What is the significance of the number of
stab wounds that Mr. Ratchett receives?
2. Why doesn’t Ratchett serve any jail time for
the murder of Daisy Armstrong?
3. Why does Princess Dragomiroff say the “strict
justice” has been done in Ratchett’s murder?
Do you agree or disagree?
Questions to consider (cont.)
4. What is the difference between justice and
revenge? Which feeling motivates the
tweleve passengers on the Orient Express?
5. Are the twelve passengers on the Orient
Express a fair replacement for an actual jury?
Why or why not?
Is this an example of justice or
judgement?
• "We're going to take for a ride, Ratchett. Some
time soon. We're going to GET you, see?"
(1.6.63)
What does the number twelve allude
to and therefore hints at a logical
consequence of past actions?
"How many wounds are there exactly?" "I
make it twelve. One or two are so light as to be
practically scratches. On the other hand, at least
three would be capable of causing death."
(1.7.70)
Why is revenge different than justice?
• "The question we have now to ask ourselves is
this," he said. "Is this murder the work of
some rival gang whom Cassetti had doublecrossed in the past, or is it an act of private
vengeance?" (1.8.85)
How does the language in this quote
reinforce the theme of Judgment vs.
Justice?
"Excellent," said Poirot. "We can open our Court
of Inquiry without more ado." (2.1.89)
How does this quote demonstrate the concept of justice instead
of vengeance?
"In fact, Colonel Arbuthnot, you prefer law and order to private
vengeance?" "Well, you can't go about having blood feuds and stabbing
each other like Corsicans or the Mafia," said the Colonel. "Say what you like,
trial by jury is a sound system." (2.8.156)
Write a paragraph answering the above
question and using the provided quote.
Remember you need a topic sentence, ICE
the quote, and write a conclusion. The
conclusion must reiterate (repeat but not word
for word) your opinion that you presented in
your topic sentence.
How is this an example of relying on
Judgment?
• "She is cold. She has not emotions. She would
not stab a man; she would sue him in the law
courts." (2.12.7)
How is this metaphor is expanded to
explain how judgment has replaced
justice?
Ratchett had escaped justice in America. There
was no question as to his guilt. I visualized a selfappointed jury of twelve people who
condemned him to death and were forced by
exigencies of the case to be their own
executioners. And immediately, on that
assumption, the whole case fell into beautiful
shining order." (3.9.307)
After reading the book:
A. When it comes to justice, should it be an eye
for an eye?
B. Why was it wrong for Poirot, at the beginning
of the novel, to refuse to help Ratchett solely
on the basis of Ratchett’s appearance?
C. Was Justice served when Dr. Constantine and
M. Bouc made the right decision when they
decided not to tell the truth to the police?