The Wand

This is Marple's wand, her dowsing stick, her mirror for the outside world. With this she can view the evidence of the senses neat and tidy. The excesses of grief, gory details of slaughter and improprieties of personal conduct can all be experienced at one remove.

With this periscope Marple surveys the evidence around her as if it were a cell of film (even the aspect ratio is correct). This magical device allows her to safely step inside the frame, to be part of the narrative, to inhabit the story. For that is what she most wants to do, and why she is so dear to us, despite her many flaws.

 

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