It is said that imitation is the highest form of flattery. However, it can only go so far before being criticized for its lack of originality; some might even argue that it just creates a worse version of something that could have been considered the best. However, it all depends on whether or not something is an identical copy of an original work or if 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 because of its sophisticated plot. Given this praise, many others set out to emulate Christie's work with similar detective novels. Ten by Gretchen McNeil is an example of such a novel. She uses plot and character development to write a novel that appeals to contemporary teenagers. McNeil's story in no way surpasses Christie's. Nonetheless, his twist on the story created a gripping novel. Through the imitation of plot, character development, and puzzle elements, McNeil managed to write an inspired novel based on Christie that is equally suspenseful and captivating. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay The biggest similarities between these two novels start with the most important attribute: the plot. McNeil's novel has an identical plot to Christie's, in which ten characters are united through a random event in which they later discover that they will each be killed in revenge. They all end up on a remote island, accessible only by a boat that mysteriously never returns once they all reach their destination. Nonetheless, there are some slight changes in McNeil's novel that adhere to the changing time periods. First of all, Christie's novel was written in 1939, which can be observed from the way the story is set up. All the characters are older and rely on their own instincts and impulses to try to survive. However, in McNeil's story, these minor details are changed somewhat. His characters are all teenagers, implying that they are not as mature and dependent on some sort of guidance. Additionally, there is a small element that might not be easy to understand, and that is the mention of the use of technology. McNeil writes: “'The phones,' Kumiko said slowly as if speaking to a child, 'are out'...The concept took hold. What were they going to do? No phone, no cell phone, no internet. » (80-81) Given that this novel was written in 2012, there is a major difference between the times Christie's novel was written and McNeil's. The technology available today did not exist at the time Christie wrote this novel, which in itself adds an interesting element to the story as the characters must find other ways to attempt to communicate with someone in order to make him leave the island. On the other hand, 2012 was a time when technology exploded, so it was an insightful detail for McNeil to take in. If she hadn't included this minor detail, it might have been more difficult for readers to understand how the teens would manage to leave the island since the technology is accessible and it wouldn't make sense if they didn't did not benefit from it. A similarly structured concept, based on Christie's work, is character development throughout the novel. Many (if not all) figures in McNeil's work resembled those at Christie's. Byexample, readers meet Minnie at the very beginning. She seems normal at first, but readers quickly discover that there is something wrong with her. McNeil writes: “Meg recognized the clarity of Minnie’s voice. This usually signaled a rapid change in Minnie's mood, which happened all too frequently these days, especially when she stopped taking her antidepressants. (2) It's easy to see that Minnie was an unstable character without her medication, thus showing that she suffers from some sort of mental disorder (which later turned out to be bipolar disorder). This type of mental instability is demonstrated in Vera. To further support this hypothesis, Christie writes: “She shouted in a high-pitched voice, shaken by bursts of wild laughter… They looked at her without understanding. It was as if the sane, level-headed girl had gone crazy before their eyes. (186) Although Vera's character seemed normal, readers were aware that any sign of vulnerability could bring out her madness. In the same sense, these two characters represent instability. Vera's unpredictability comes from her obsession with Hugo and the fact that she was willing to do anything for him. As for Minnie, her instability is due to her bipolar disorder, which is a serious illness. However, the authors choose different endings for these characters: Christie asked Vera to surprisingly kill the only person still 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 having her become the killer would remove suspense since it would be the reader's first guess. Nevertheless, McNeil's incorporation of this concept with the ultimate killer in his novel was more subtle, and therefore equally successful. While Christie successfully demonstrated how madness can lead to suicide in Vera's case, McNeil retains the element of surprise but with a different style. killer. It still imitates the idea of ​​madness, but in a different form. She continues to write: “Claire sent her diary with a note. Make them understand what they did, Tom. All. So that's what I do. Make you understand. (278) Although it is understandable that Tom would want revenge for his sister's suicide, the way he handled it was twisted. Whenever his sister was bullied or teased at school, he made sure those people paid for their actions, demonstrating that his sense of protectiveness extended to the point of madness. In this sense, Tom imitates Wargrave, who was Christie's main murderer. Wargrave openly accepts his madness when he says, "I wanted to – let me admit it frankly – commit murder myself… I must – I must – I must – commit murder!" (Christie 287). Both characters act out of revenge carried out with partial reasoning and majority madness, but the way these authors create their characters and their development differs. McNeil succeeds just as well as Christie in surprising readers as to the identity of the real culprit by incorporating a mad brother who seeks to avenge his sister's suicide. However, the variability between these characters' developments adds a more complex twist to the plot. Christie was very clever in how she incorporated different elements to complete the puzzle. She did this using a nursery rhyme, where it starts with ten soldiers and ultimately none are left standing at the end. This was the most powerful element that Christie incorporated, as it kept readers informed as to who would be killed next and how the murder would follow the death depicted in the manger. On the other hand,.