The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

The gossip motif in the novel works in conjunction with the theme of Ethics and the Law. Sheppard does not believe that Caroline’s gossip is a meaningful approach to discovering information. He regularly informs Caroline and Poirot that he does not credit the town’s rumors, even when they prove true. Poirot, on the other hand, appreciates the knowledge that gossip can bring. He uses methods with varying levels of ethics to discover the truth of his cases, as when he goes directly to Caroline for information. Since the novel is from Sheppard’s perspective, the reader is never present when Poirot talks to Caroline. By keeping Sheppard out of the scene, Agatha Christie allows Caroline to contribute knowledge without the seeming voice of reason interfering. Without Caroline’s knowledge, Poirot would not have come to the truth, which gives credibility to the information gossip can provide.

Hercule Poirot retires and pursues a hobby—growing the zucchini-like vegetable called marrow. However, Poirot finds in his retirement that “he yearns for the old busy days, and the old occupations that he thought himself so glad to leave” (19). He cannot be fully content idly growing vegetables because he misses the excitement of his career.