Hercule Poirot

HERCULE POIROT

Not much is known about Hercule Poirot's background. He was born in Belgium at some point in the second half of the 19th century. After his studies, Poirot joined the Belgian police force. At some point before 1914, Poirot was promoted to head of the Belgian police force. During World War I, Belgium was occupied by German troops and Poirot was forced to leave his homeland and emigrate with many other Belgians to the United Kingdom. After emigrating, he began working as a private detective before becoming a consulting detective.

The name Hercule comes from the ancient hero Hercules (Hercules), but if the latter performed his feats thanks to incredible physical strength, Poirot - with the help of "small grey cells" of the brain.

Hercule Poirot is a Belgian, a short, full-bodied brunette. He wears a carefully groomed moustache, of which he is very proud. His eyes are green, giving the impression of a cat's.

Poirot has a very unconventional appearance: "…a small man muffled up to the ears of whom nothing was visible but a pink-tipped nose and the two points of an upward-curled moustache…", "What an egg-shaped head he had!", "A ridiculous-looking little man".

Kenneth Branagh as

Hercule Poirot

He has a manic passion for cleanliness and order. He is dapperly dressed regardless of the circumstances. He is characterised by a completely logical mind, although not without emotion. Extremely observant. He considers himself the best detective in the world and does not suffer from false modesty. Likes to be the centre of attention, inclined to theatrical effects in investigations.

He liked comfort, he liked central heating (he loved heat), he was very neat and pedantic, he took currant decoction regularly by the hour and in general he had strict eating habits: everything was cut in symmetrical pieces. He did not like English cuisine, smoked only his own thin cigarettes, liked symmetry in everything (he could correct something even in someone else's house so that it did not spoil his appearance), carefully watched his appearance and paid special attention to his moustache.

David Suchet as

Hercule Poirot

He never hurried and did not fuss, always thought everything through thoroughly, paid attention to the smallest detail, which was out of the "big picture", even if it was a trifle, which then served as a "key" to solve the crime.
Hercule Poirot's culinary habits are also characterised by refinement and precision. He loves the subtle delicacies of Belgian cuisine, especially appreciating its world-famous sweet table with incredible chocolate products and other sweets.

Hercule Poirot has phenomenal deductive and analytical skills, enabling him to solve the most intricate crimes. He is extremely observant and has a good memory, which allows him to keep an eye on things.

Peter Ustinov as

Hercule Poirot

In society Hercule Poirot behaves appropriately. He is polite, courteous, always well dressed, knows the rules of etiquette. People who see him for the first time, at first consider him a crank because of his appearance, but when they see him in action, they change their opinion and admire his talents.

In his way of speaking, Poirot cares about the feelings of the interlocutor, he is tactful and avoids pressure, trying to give the person a choice. His speech is imbued with gentleness, kindness, respect and politeness. He has a cordial manner of communication, sometimes even shows an apologetic tone. Can afford to laugh, showing his emotions and creating a favourable tone of communication.

ARTHUR HASTINGS

Hastings had met Poirot in Belgium several years before their meeting on July 16, 1916 at Styles Court, Essex, which is their first encounter in literature. The two remained friends right up to Poirot's death. Hastings, while being no great detective himself, serves Poirot in many ways.

Realism of the hero & conformity of the hero to the spirit of the time:

Hercule Poirot is well suited to his time, but there are some details that do not fit in. For example, his manner of dress has become outdated over the years: he wears a pocket watch, an old-fashioned gold-rimmed pince-nez, a stand-up collar, stating that "stand-up collars are the first sign that the grey cells are not all right"; also a bow tie and an elegant cane with a swan-shaped head. However, he does not give up his own style, as he does not feel the need to chase the times and conform to the current fashion, as he dresses as he feels comfortable and convenient.

Author's attitude towards the hero:

Those who meet Hercule Poirot for the first time see him as an unrivalled detective, a master of his craft. Those who see him for the first time, at first treat him as a strange man because of his extraordinary appearance, but quickly change their minds and also begin to admire him. Some people do not like his vanity, but this flaw does not detract from his merits. In general, everyone likes him, except those who have something to hide.