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Appointment With Death

GKCfan 08 Dec 08 at 7:50 a.m. GMT

*** MINOR SPOILERS *** I was just thinking about the ending of "Appointment With Death" and how everything turns out great for all of the innocent parties– they all pair up and have great marriages and kids and successful careers. I have no problem with this, except for what happens to Ginny. She winds up sane, a successful classical actress, and apparently she's romantically involved with Dr. Gerard, too. The problem I have with this is that she doesn't get to choose her own path. It's apparent to everyone that she needs professional psychiatric help, that's not a problem. But what bothers me is that Dr. Gerard picks her acting career for her, and then, after he's presumably influenced her and molded her and reshaped her, he starts dating her. It's like some version of "Pygmalion" where he turns Ginny into his dress-up doll. Ginny never had a choice to pick what she wanted out of life, even if acting did work for her. What do you think?

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6 replies

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Passion_For_Crime 13 Dec 08 at 6:40 a.m. GMT

couldn't you tell Ginny loved Dr. G in the book if you listen to her when she is going on about how he loves her she so ovesly loves him as well and in the end she sims to like acting.

HarleyBarley 11 Dec 08 at 2:53 a.m. GMT

For that part, I am not certain. During the five years elapsed between the chapters, Ginevra might have been able to learn to do so, or perhaps, as previously discussed, someone (in this case, Gerard) had to make the decisions for her. Psychologically, I believe she can resist (as when she stared when Mrs. Boynton told her to rest).

pghfan 10 Dec 08 at 4:29 p.m. GMT

Interesting points. I do enjoy considering the fate of the characters after the end of the book. It does seem likely that Ginny has taken well to her career, though one wonders whether someone who was so compliant with her previous authority would suddenly be able to resist Gerard's plans if she opposed them?

HarleyBarley 10 Dec 08 at 3:59 a.m. GMT

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I agree with you. It does seem rather odd, but when we observe from the other way, all Christie needed was to pair up everyone at the end and, well, Ginevra will suit Gerard much better than she will Poirot, neither can Gerard end up with Pierce. In a certain point of view, I couldn't have set a better romance.

GKCfan 09 Dec 08 at 8:42 a.m. GMT

Yes, I concede that's possible, but it seemed that Dr. Gerard was planning on putting himself in charge of Ginny's recovery. A romantic relationship between a doctor and a cured patient is technically ethically acceptable, but still, the influence Gerard would exert in the relationship seemed off-putting to me.

HarleyBarley 09 Dec 08 at 5:31 a.m. GMT

I think, it may be Jinny's choice to act and love Theodore after all. I mean, in the time past between chapters, she might have made her own decision. It's natural for one like her to love her hero, and she may realise she is a fantastic actress.