I am comparing Arkady Darrel in Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov with Tuppence in N or M by Agatha Christie.
Both eavesdropped. Arkady planned ahead to wrangle a sound receiver from her classmate. Tuppence was thinking on her feet by asking her friend to "call" her away by phone. Arkady listened comfortably in her bedroom by using technology while Tuppence placed her ear next to the door.
Arkady was a stowaway in Munn's space ship. She changed history by appealing to Lady Callia who was able to suggest things to change the Lord's mind. For an eavesdropper, Arkady did well with the knowledge not meant for her ears. She risked her life in going off with Munn. Were it not for Lady Callia, she might have ended up as the Lord's new wife. And she was all of fourteen and a half years old!
Tuppence actually arrived first in the place Tommy was assigned to go. She risk life and limb by choosing to go to the place of action. In the end, all is well that ends well. She enlisted Albert's help and it was Albert who saved Tommy's life from German agents.
Of course decent people do not eavesdrop private conversations. Yet what excitement would there be in any stories without such untoward activities?
No comments:
Post a Comment