Agatha Christie: Inspiration For Hercule Poirot

In the TV adaptation of Agatha Christie's novel The Mysterious Affair at Styles, Hercule Poirot lectures a group of fellow Belgian refugees on English horticulture: specifically, the Scarlet Pimpernel. As this scene doesn't appear in the novel, this got me wondering if screenwriter Clive Exton saw any similarities between the two fictional characters. When Agatha Christie invented Hercule Poirot for his first novel, writer Baroness Emma Orczy's own creation, The Scarlet Pimpernel (SP), was flying high in the British public mindset. Her play of the same name had caused a sensation, which led her to write a novelization, and then a series of bestselling novels on her famous hero. In time, Agatha Christie's character of Hercule Poirot would overtake Orczy's creation, but I couldn't help but wonder, given his popularity at the time, if Christie's creation of Poirot might have been in any way inspired by that of Orczy.

While reading Baroness Emma Orczy's The Scarlet Pimpernel, I noticed the two novels share some intriguing similarities. Both occur during wartime, with SP set during the French Revolution, and Styles set during World War I. Both concern the fate of refugees, with SP rescuing the French aristocracy, and Mrs. Emily Inglethorp arranging for the housing of Belgian refugees in her village. Both are largely written from the point of view of someone who initially underestimates the hero: in Styles, the narrator is Hastings, who sees Poirot as intelligent, but can't help but feeling he'd make a better detective. In The Scarlet Pimpernel, Marguerite sees her husband as simple-minded, and wonders how she could have been so stupid to have married him. This is because both protagonists hide their intelligence like a cloak, and wish others to underestimate them. 

The third act of both novels concern a dramatic rescue. In The Scarlet Pimpernel, Marguerite sails across a storm-tossed sea to France, where she attempts to warn SP that a trap has been set for him, while he is attempting to rescue more of the French aristocracy. In Styles, Hercule Poirot races against time, taking a cab from London down to Styles Court, to search for the vital clue that would save an innocent man from a courtroom prosecutor's utterly-convincing arguments. In both cases, the fate the protagonists eventually save the innocent from is death: in SP, by the guillotine. In Styles, the hangman's noose.

Both heroes are particular about their appearance. In Styles, when Captain Hastings races to Poirot's home to tell him of Emily Inglethorp's murder, Poirot urges Hastings to calm down, to recount the important incidents of the last few days, while he dresses and combs his mustache. He then straightens Hasting's tie, and remarks on his friend's disheveled appearance, before he will allow his friend to accompany him back to Styles Court. This is hardly an aberration for Poirot, as he is always impeccably dressed, with his smart suits, hats, and walking stick, which makes him stand out in the TV series. In The Scarlet Pimpernel, SP's alter ego Sir Percy Blakeney is also renowned for his impeccable dress sense. In fact, he leads the London fashion scene, wearing new styles of clothing that others in society take note of, and begin wearing as a result. Both men form a focal point at parties, their unique appearance and magnetic personalities enhancing the appeal of any social do. Hercule Poirot may not toss out the verbal witticisms like Percy, but those who speak with him find his dialogue no less memorable.

I've no doubt that more similarities could be drawn between the two characters and novels, and if you've spotted any that I've overlooked, I'd love to hear from you. I'm also curious what you think of my analysis. Based on the similarities I've listed above, do you think Agatha Christie, at least in part, base Hercule Poirot on this other popular fictional hero? Or are all these attributes simply elements that make for an interesting character and a popular series of novels?