Switzerland

Switzerland appears in Murder on the Orient Express primarily as a destination for passengers and as a point of reference within the novel's European geography. The country is most directly associated with Greta Ohlsson, the Swedish missionary nurse, who is traveling to Lausanne to stay with her sister for a week or so before continuing to her home in Sweden. This detail, provided during her interview with Hercule Poirot, establishes Switzerland as a place of personal connection and respite for one of the passengers.

Switzerland as a Destination and Transit Point

Beyond Greta Ohlsson's journey, Switzerland is also a destination for M. Bouc, a director of the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons Lits. When he meets Poirot at the Tokatlian Hotel in Constantinople, Bouc announces that he is traveling as far as Lausanne, where he has affairs to attend to. This reinforces Switzerland's role as a significant European hub for business and travel, particularly for those connected to the international railway network. The country's position in the heart of Europe makes it a natural stop for passengers traveling between the East and Western Europe.

The Snow and the Train's Delay

The novel's central crisis—the train being trapped in a snowdrift—occurs in Jugo-Slavia, not Switzerland, but the weather conditions that cause the delay are part of a broader European winter. The conductor Pierre Michel mentions that the train has run into a snowdrift between Vincovci and Brod, and that he remembers once being snowed up for seven days. This reference to a prolonged snowbound situation, while not specifically Swiss, evokes the kind of severe winter conditions that can affect Alpine and Balkan regions alike. The snowdrift effectively creates a closed environment, trapping the passengers and the murderer together, a key element of the novel's locked-room mystery.

The Armstrong Case and International Connections

Switzerland is not directly mentioned in the context of the Armstrong kidnapping case, but the case itself has international dimensions that resonate with the novel's European setting. The Armstrong family had connections to America, England, and France, and the conspirators who carry out the murder of Ratchett (Cassetti) come from various countries, including Italy, Germany, Sweden, and England. The novel's resolution, in which Poirot proposes two solutions, ultimately reveals that the murder was carried out by a self-appointed jury of twelve people, all connected to the Armstrong tragedy. This international conspiracy underscores the novel's theme of justice transcending national boundaries, and Switzerland, as a neutral and cosmopolitan country, fits into this broader European framework.

Narrative Significance

Switzerland's role in the novel is functional rather than symbolic. It serves as a destination that helps define the characters' itineraries and motivations, and it contributes to the novel's realistic portrayal of European travel in the 1930s. The country's mention, along with other European locations like Paris, London, and Constantinople, grounds the story in a specific geographical and historical context. While Switzerland does not feature in the central action of the murder or its investigation, it is part of the novel's rich tapestry of international settings that reflect the interconnectedness of the characters and the global nature of the crime.