They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery. However, this can only go so far before being criticized as lacking originality; some might even say that it just creates a worse version of something that might have been praised as the best. However, it all depends on whether or not something is an identical copy of an original work or whether it is simply based on the main idea of ​​the original plot. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie is recognized worldwide as a great novel due to its sophisticated plot. Given this praise, many others have taken it upon themselves to emulate Christie's work with similar mystery novels. Ten by Gretchen McNeil is an example of such a novel. Use plot and character development to write a novel that appeals to contemporary teenagers. McNeil's story does not surpass Christie's at all. However, his twist on the story made for a captivating novel. Through imitation of plot, character development, and puzzle elements, McNeil has successfully written an inspired Christie-based novel that is equally suspenseful and captivating. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The biggest similarities between these two novels begin with the most important attribute: the plot. McNeil's novel is plotted identically to Christie's, in which ten characters are brought together through a chance event in which they later discover that they will each be killed as a means of revenge. They all meet on a remote island, accessible only via a boat that mysteriously never returns once it reaches its destination. However, there are some slight changes in McNeil's novel that adhere to the changes in the time period. First of all, Christie's novel was written in 1939, as can be seen based on how the story is set up. All of the characters are older and rely on their instincts and impulses as a means to try to survive. However, in McNeil's story, these minor details are somewhat changed. Its characters are all teenagers, which implies that these characters are not that mature and depend on some sort of guidance. Additionally, there is a small component that may not be easy to grasp, which is the mention of technology use. McNeil writes: “'The phones,' Kumiko said slowly as if speaking to a child, 'are out of order.'... The concept took root. What would they have done? No phones, no cell phones, no internet." (80-81) Considering that this novel was written in 2012, there is a big difference between the eras in which Christie's novel was written and McNeil's. The technology available today did not exist in the time Christie wrote this novel, which in itself adds an interesting element to the story because the characters have to find other means of trying to communicate with someone to get them off the island. In contrast, 2012 is an era in which technology has boomed, so it was an interesting detail for McNeil to integrate. If he hadn't included this little detail, perhaps it would have been harder for readers to understand how the teenagers could have left the island, since the technology is accessible and it wouldn't have made sense if they hadn't taken advantage of it. a similarly structured concept based on Christie's work is character development throughout the novel. Many (if not all) of the characters in McNeil's work were similar to those in Christie's. For example, readers meet Minnie Mouseat the start. She seems normal at first, but readers soon learn that there is something strange about her. McNeil writes, “Meg recognized the harshness in Minnie's voice. It usually signaled a rapid change in Minnie's mood, which happened all too often these days, especially when she stopped taking antidepressants. (2) It is easy to see that Minnie was an unstable character without her medications, thus proving that she has some sort of mental disorder (later shown to be bipolar disorder). This type of mental instability is shown in Vera. Further supporting this, Christie writes: “She cried out in a high, shrill voice, shaken by fits of wild laughter… They stared at her blankly. It was as if this healthy, balanced girl had gone mad before their eyes. (186) Although Vera's character appeared normal, readers were aware that any sign of vulnerability could bring out her madness. In a similar sense, both of these characters depict instability. Vera's unpredictability comes from her obsession with Hugo and how she was willing to do anything for him. As for Minnie, her instability is due to bipolar disorder, which is a serious medical illness. However, the authors choose different endings for these characters: Christie surprisingly had Vera killed by the only person left alive with her, but her own madness led her to suicide. In McNeil's case, this ending had to be changed because readers were already aware of Minnie's weakness, so making her the killer would take away the suspense since that would be the reader's first guess. However, McNeil's incorporation of this concept with the supreme assassin into his novel was more subtle, and therefore just as effective. While Christie successfully demonstrated how madness can lead to suicide in Vera's case, McNeil maintains the element of surprise but with a different approach. killer. He still emulated the idea of ​​madness, but in a different form. He continues to write: “Claire sent her diary with a note. Make them understand what they did, Tom. Everyone. So that's what I'm doing. Make you understand." (278) Although it is understandable that Tom wants to seek revenge for his sister's suicide, the way he handled the situation was distorted. Every time his sister was bullied or made fun of at school, he he ensured that those people paid for their actions, thus further demonstrating that his sense of protection went as far as madness. In this sense, Tom emulates Wargrave, who was Christie's main killer. Wargrave brazenly accepts his madness when he says: " I wanted, let me frankly admit, to commit murder myself... I must-I must-I must-commit murder!" (Christie 287). Both characters act out of revenge conducted with partial reasoning and a greater part of madness, but the way these authors create their characters and their development is different. McNeil does as well as Christie in surprising readers as to who the real culprit is with the incorporation of a mad brother trying to avenge the suicide. of his sister. However, the variability between the developments of these characters contributes to a more complex plot twist. Christie was very clever in how she incorporated different elements to complement the puzzle. He did this using a nursery rhyme, where he starts with ten soldiers and at the end no one is left standing. This was the most powerful element Christie incorporated because it kept readers in suspense as to who would be killed next and how the murder would follow the death described in the nursery. On the other hand, McNeil has not incorporated a detailed history to which.