Review of Agatha Christie’s Book, The Body in The Library

Symbolism in The Body in the Library

Agatha Christie’s The Body in the Library is a classic murder mystery novel. While it is a fun and thrilling read, the novel actually does possess some deeper meanings. Through the use of symbolism, Christie reveals some interesting representations that are each a crucial element of the novel. These symbols include the white dress on the murdered body, the library, and the dancing; each of these has deeper meaning than just what is thought to be revealed on the surface.

When it is revealed that the murdered body found in the library is wearing “a backless evening dress of white spangled satin” (11), it seems a minute detail, but through symbolism, it actually gives away quite a bit. For almost the entirety of the novel, the body is thought to be that of Ruby Keene; it is not until the finale that Miss Marple reveals it is actually that of Pam Reeves. When the body is thought to be that of Ruby, the symbolism of the color white is unapparent. It is not until the body’s true identity is revealed that the symbolism of the white dress truly stands out. The color of the dress is representative of Pam’s innocence. Her own father says of her: “Pam was just a child. She was very young for her age. She liked games and all that. She wasn’t precocious in any way” (122). This description of Pam is very accurate, especially seeing as how she was so easily drawn into Josie and Mark’s plot.

Libraries are often thought to symbolize knowledge and learning and because of this, the library is an excellent symbol for Miss Marple. She, of course, has much knowledge about crimes, the world around her, and human nature. It is obvious throughout the novel that Miss Marple is much more knowledgeable than her male counterparts from the various police forces, and she uses this much to her advantage; it also eventually leads to her solving the crime. Another factor that pushes Miss Marple towards solving the crime is her desire to learn; which is also symbolic of a library. At the end of the novel, Miss Marple proves her vast knowledge and desire for learning when she says to Clithering and Melchett: “The truth is, you see, that most people – and I don’t exclude policemen – are far too trusting for this wicked world. They believe what is told them. I never do. I’m afraid I always like to prove a thing for myself” (198).

The last, and perhaps most obscure symbol, is the dancing that takes place throughout the novel. The dancing is symbolic of figuring out the crime; this is exhibited by the many dance partners and different rhythms to which they dance. In the case of the partnering, how each detective pairs up with another can be compared to how the dancers pair up. For instance, Ruby and Raymond are often partnered to dance as Miss Marple and Clithering are often paired for solving the crime. In another example, the dancers perform many different styles of dance, some fast and some slow. The detectives discover clues at varying rates; occasionally they will find several at a time, and sometimes they may only uncover one clue. The rhythms can also be representative of the pace at which the detectives can receive information from suspects and witnesses. For instance, Edwards must be coaxed into giving information while Florence cannot speak quickly enough. Simply put, solving a crime is like performing a dance.

In conclusion, the above three symbols from The Body in the Library are indicative of a novel that is much more than just a simple mystery, as most would assume this book is. When looked at a bit deeper, the novel shows that it is not just a fun, light read, but ultimately something more revealing of human nature. Through Miss Marple’s seemingly never-ending knowledge and common sense, readers are treated to a good look at how the world around them behaves, and through Agatha Christie’s use of symbolism readers are able to dig deeper into the novel and have a more rewarding reading experience.