And Then There Were None Guilt Analysis

Guilt can trap people in an emotional cage, causing fear, and hysteria to go into overdrive. In Agatha Christie's novel “And Then There Were None,” she describes characters where guilt has not only taken over their lives, but has destroyed it. An example if this is Vera Claythorne. When you deny and hide your guilt, it can change your perception of things you once loved, can make you become hysterical, and ultimately overwhelm you to the point of no return.

The sea, something Vera used to be very passionate about, quickly became something she despised. The way the water crawled up against the shore, “the sound of the sea murmuring against the rocks,” (44) everything. This is shown when Vera tells Emily of how she hates the sound of the sea. Vera quickly covers up her remark so she does not reveal her reasoning which would bring up hidden guilt. Later, when Vera is heading to her room she walks into a piece of seaweed which she immediately assumes is Cyril’s cold wet hand coming back to haunt her.“A cold, clammy hand touched her throat-a wet hand, smelling of the sea…” (217). Her guilt manifested something so simple into something so dark. After what happened with Cyril, even thinking about the sea brings up the terrible memories associated with it and hostile thoughts generated by the guilt made her belief it was her fault and that she
Once known to be a very sane and leveled headed girl, Vera always remained calm even in the worst of situations. Paranoia of being the next victim, along with guilt made her lose control and breakdown. “It was as though the sane well balanced girl had gone mad before their eyes,” (186). When Vera becomes hysterical, she keeps bringing up the poem and the bees. “Bees, hives, bees! Oh, don’t you understand? Haven’t you read that idiotic rhyme?” (186). Vera goes back to the poem because the paranoia manipulates her sense of