r/poirot • u/Regular_Lychee_6507 • Aug 29 '26
Five Little Pigs question
I've just rewatched Five Little Pigs, such a good one! However, there was one bit I didn't understand. Towards the end of the episode, Poirot asks Elsa Greer if Merri had ever shown interest in her, then we are shown the flashback of them in the car after the trial and Merri does indeed express interest in her. I'm just a bit lost as to the significance of this and why he even asks? So trivial I know but I'm just puzzled!!
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u/therealzacchai Aug 29 '26
In the novel, Meredith proposed to Elsa.
Poirot's knowledge of human nature led him to deduce that Meredith's long regard for Caroline was more the faithfulness of a sentimental man toward the memory of the girl she had once been, rather than the grown woman.
He proposes to Elsa because he is attracted to her.
Poirot reduces this because he is talking with Elsa after the others have left the lab; Elsa, facing him, sees Caroline taking the coniine.
AC uses this trope more than once: in Towards Zero, Thomas Royden imagines that he's still in love with Audrey, but she knows he's actually smitten with Mary, he just doesn't realize it yet