A Reliable Narrator: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
A reliable narrator provides an account of events that should be believed while an unreliable narrator is one who has low or no credibility. There are various ways that a narrator can gain credibility. The rhetorical triangle (ethos, pathos, and logos) provide different ways that a speaker can persuade an audience to agree with their point of view. A speaker can utilize ethos to appeal his credibility and characters to audiences. Pathos appeals to emotions of readers while logos appeals to the logic of audiences. The narrator in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Dr. James Sheppard) has been regarded as an unreliable narrator by many scholars. However, the following paper argues that the narrator in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is reliable. By a critical analysis of the methods of persuasion, the essay concludes that Dr. Sheppard reveals the truth although using a long route.
The Truthful Assessments
An individual who has the ability to persuade others with their statements and character can be interpreted as reliable. A reliable narrator is able to build own credibility with the reader so as to capture their trust and ensure that they believe their statements and remarks. Dr. Sheppard’s bond with the audience includes his truthful assessments of other characters. Dr. Sheppard truthful analysis of each character and their possible motives for the murder of Roger does not raise any doubts about his character. When the detective queries about the surety of the time he spotted the stranger at Mr. Ackroyd’s gate, he replies ‘Yes, I replied. ‘I heard the church clock chime the hour.’” (Christie 75). In this scene, Sheppard is actually telling the truth. He met a stranger outside Fernly Park immediately after he committed the murder. Further, the doctor does not express strong opinions about the characters. In any text, a character works towards convincing the audience of their trustworthiness through an indication that he does not want to convince the readers of his opinions and views. The facts that Dr. Sheppard presents to the detective during the murder investigation helps him attain some level of credibility from the readers. Always talking the truth about other characters helps him disguise the truth about himself. He is able to hide his truth because no one including the detective will have a reason to doubt him. However, the comments on Dr. Sheppard’s work by the detective “A very meticulous and accurate account,’ he said kindly. ‘You have recorded all the facts faithfully and exactly though you have shown yourself becomingly reticent as to your own share in them’ (Christie 255) is an indication that Dr. Sheppard was in deed being reliable throughout the text.
Professionalism and Moral Authority
A character’s status, professionalism, and awareness can contribute to a representation of a reliable individual. Characters with a respected job and connections are able to establish a strong moral authority over characters. During his conversation with Miss Rusell, Dr. Sheppard retorts “I didn’t think it would either, but I protested in duty bound. After all, it couldn’t do any harm, and one must stick up for the tools of one’s trade” (Christie 12). In this statement Dr. Sheppard is talking about his professionalism. He notes that one has to understand for what they believe in even though it might not work for another individual. The narrator in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is a physician as well as serves as a helper to the detective Hercule Poirot. Physicians are supposed to be respected and trusted because of the societal constructions. The societal constructions will determine how a reader interprets a text. In The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, the profession of Dr. Sheppard creates an illusion of credibility and reliability as an individual. As a doctor, Sheppard has sound reasoning and moral authority. He is further thought to have good intentions towards the readers because he aims at finding his friend’s killers. Dr. Sheppard utilizes his professional position and knowledge to give reliable information to the audience, which makes him a reliable narrator. His position shields him from being discovered throughout the story.
A Professional and Ethical Narrator
At the beginning of the book, the narrator speaks from a comfortable location. His use of words signals freedom, mental strength, and ethical rightness. William Riggan provides a classification of unreliable narrators including; those that suffer from mental illnesses, characters who brag or exaggerate situations, liars, immature individuals, and those who do not take narrations seriously and constantly play with the truth. It is difficult to classify Dr. Sheppard in any of the above groups. He is mentally healthy, does not exaggerate situations, and is portrayed as being very mature. At the start of the novel, Dr. Sheppard states “As a professional man, I naturally aim at discretion” (Christie, 2). Sheppard tries to portray himself as a professional who does not participate in other people’s affairs. For this reason, Sheppard is able to appeal to the emotions of the readers as an intelligent and straightforward person. For audiences to believe in a speaker, the latter has to show that they are credible and professional.
A Truly Reliable Narrator
A reliable narrator is one who tells a story, and the reader takes that as a strict account of the fictitious truth. The rhetorical triangle (ethos, logos, and pathos) were utilized in this essay to show the level of credibility in the narrator of the story. As discussed Dr. Sheppard is a doctor, has a correct description of other characters in the story, and does not fall into any categories suggested by Riggan of unreliable narrators. Even though Dr. Sheppard omits some information, he does not lie about other characters or the various happenings of the murder. However, his truths are what eventually lead to the discovery of the information that he intentionally leaves out during the murder investigation. Therefore, he is a reliable narrator even though in a roundabout manner. In his own way, he helps the detective uncover the truth and the actual happenings of the murder.
Work cited
Christie, Agatha. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. New York: Berkley Books, 2000. Print.
