Edward Pierce's The Great Train Robbery

Why would a “charming, highborn gentleman” like Edward Pierce want to commit a crime so “startling and titillating” as the Great Train Robbery? (Crichton 7). When Pierce was asked at his trial about his motive for “planning and executing this dastardly and shocking crime,” he simply answered that he “wanted the money” (Crichton 357). Pierce’s true motivation was caused by a simple desire; instead, it was caused by his character flaws of greed and egotism. Michael Crichton captured Edward Pierce’s avarice in The Great Train Robbery by focusing on his overly self-confident, manipulative, and sly nature. Edward Pierce displayed his self-confidence by assuring Robert Agar that he would be able to successfully travel from each of the second-class train cars to reach the gold. Pierce enhanced his argument by stating he had climbed with a famous mountaineer named A.E. Coolidge and that “the ropes and tackle [are] up in the closet” (Crichton 260). In reality, Pierce had no experience with the activity and he “merely said that [he had experience] to reassure Agar” (Crichton 289). Pierce risked his life in order to triumph over obtaining the gold treasure. …show more content…
Even though Pierce is aware of his law breaking tendencies, he seemed “to take a degree of delight in his actions” (Crichton 353). When asked if he knew where his accomplices were located, Pierce responded with how he encountered Barlow when they “discussed his escape at Coldbath Fields” and how he “should prefer that it be a surprise (Crichton 354). His remarks were published in the Evening Standard (Crichton 354) and helped to establish his image with the general public and contribute to his obsession with