Murder on the Orient Express Characters

Study Notes

Main Characters of Murder on the Orient Express

Hercule Poirot: Retired Belgian police officer known for solving intricate mysteries; distinguished by his short stature and prominent curly mustache.
M. Bouc: Director of the wagon lits with a history of working with Poirot; invites Poirot to investigate a murder on the train.
Dr. Constantine: Aboard as the coroner; conducts the examination of the victim, Ratchet, aiding Poirot and M. Bouc.
Mary Debenham: Governess to Daisy Armstrong; arouses Poirot's suspicion due to a private conversation with Colonel Arbuthnot; connected to a scarlet kimono.
Mrs. Hubbard: A famous actress, real name Linda Arden; grandmother to Daisy Armstrong; claims the murderer is in her compartment; a knife found in her sponge bag heightens suspicion.
Colonel Arbuthnot: Close friend of Colonel Armstrong; shares a significant relationship with Debenham; identified by smoking a pipe, with evidence found linking him to the crime.
Princess Dragomiroff: An elderly Russian princess; the "H" handkerchief identified in Ratchet's room ties her to the case.
Hector MacQueen: Serves as Ratchet's secretary; his father was involved in the Armstrong legal case.
Mr. Ratchett: Real identity is Casseti; infamous for the kidnapping and murder of Daisy Armstrong; dies at the hands of all the passengers.
Countess Andrenyi: Young and beautiful sister of Sonia Armstrong; remains hidden due to her connection to the case; evidence of name smudging on her passport suggests concealment.
Count Andrenyi: Protective husband who defends his wife’s identity; takes her place regarding involvement in the murder.
Cyrus Hardman: An American detective; has a personal connection to the Armstrong case through his love for Daisy’s nursemaid who committed suicide.
Antonio Foscanelli: An Italian chauffeur; M. Bouc expresses suspicion towards him due to personal biases against Italians.
Gretta Ohlsson: Swedish nurse responsible for Daisy Armstrong; adds another layer of context to Daisy’s story.
Hildegarde Schmidt: Princess Dragomiroff’s maid; previously served as the cook for the Armstrong family; a wagon lit uniform was discovered in her compartment.
Edward Henry Masterman: Valet to Ratchett and formerly Colonel Armstrong’s personal servant; connects the past with the present intrigue.
Pierre Michel: Conductor of the Orient Express; father to Daisy’s deceased nursemaid; a button from his uniform was found in Ratchet’s compartment, implicating him in the mystery.

Key Themes

Murder aboard a train with multiple suspects.
Interconnected pasts of characters linked to the Armstrong family.
Exploration of justice through collective culpability.

Description

Test your knowledge of the key characters from Agatha Christie's classic novel, 'Murder on the Orient Express'. These flashcards cover the iconic figures such as Hercule Poirot and M. Bouc, essential for understanding the plot and dynamics of the story.