Comparison between Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie’s Creation

鄧淄予

【Abstract】this paper begins with a brief introduction to Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie. There are many differences between their works. The author demonstrates the differences from three aspects.

【Key words】reasoning； crime； heroes； plots； evolution； form

Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie are both great writers in Britain and even in the worlds literature history. Conan Doyle is regarded as “ Father of British Detective Fiction”， Agatha Christie is called “The Queen of Detective Fiction” . The two detectors in their works Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot are very impressive and still have many fans. Today we can watch the two detectors at work on cinema and television screens as well as on stage. Agathas success was fifty years later than Conan Doyles， and she is considered as the heir of Conan Doyle. But there are still many differences.

I. Forming heroes

There are big differences between Holmes and Poirots appearance， interests， character， status and value orientation. Holmes is a typical detector. In the popular series of stories， Holmes is described as “tall and manly”. He is cool and his eyes like gimlets. But he doesnt like dressing himself up. Holmes is interested in any useful information or knowledge . He is like a gentleman with good educations. Holmes is a common detector rooting in the lowest rung of London. He doesnt care the payments but the interests and justice.

Poirot is a bald old man. He is short， wit and kind. He is very proud of his particular about what he wears. Poirot loves everything in good order and has more human interest than Holmes. Poirot is more likely to be a noble detector setting foot in upper class. He is used to felling good about himself and cares more about his dignity as a detector and good life.

II. The arrangement of cases and the evolution of the stories

The subjects in Conan Doyles works are various， such as revenge ， monetary profits ， terrorism. Although most cases happen in London， they mirror a wide and deep social background of that period. Agathas creative background is wider than Conan Doyles. The cases in her works not only happen in Britain but also in the Middle East and some areas in Africa. Most subjects are about money.

III. The emotion of the writers reflected in their works

a. Conan Doyles works are not only for fun but full of humanism.

First， Dr. Watson is Holmes partner and friend. He knows Holmes well and is concerned with him， although Holmes always criticizes .However，Dr. Watson is Holmes most trusted friend.Second， what Holmes does is for his interest that is dealing justice neither for money nor for honor. He doesnt take credits but gives them to Scotland Yard.

b. Poirot is different. First， Hastings is Poirots good friend and he is with Poirot to solve many cases. However， he does not go through fire and water with Poirot. Second， its hard to hear that Poirot says what he does are for justices.What he said ，it seems that he solves cases just for proving his capable not for victims.

It is easy to identify the soul of two writers works. One is humanism； the other is good arrangement of plots.

Detective fictions are one of literary forms. The earliest writer of detective fictions is Allan Poe. In past years， detective fictions were not given high evaluations. But till Today， people around the word still love this form. Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie are heroes. Conan Doyle created the first golden age of detective fictions. Agatha is the representative of the second golden age. Although there are many differences between their works ， they are both popular in the world. Maybe the artistic value of their works is less than Charles Dickens or Thomas Hardy. But they have been well known for more than a hundred years. It is enough to prove their artistic life of detective fictions of Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie.

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