Sherlock Holmes Essay Example

Sherlock Holmes Paper We are not told much about the personality and background of Sherlock Holmes, but we can observe how he solves the crime in this story. We see how Holmes notices little details that we would not necessarily see, or regard as important. For example, he can tell that Helen Stoner travelled to see him by train because he noticed the ticket in her hand, and that she travelled from the station in a dog-cart because he could see the mud stains on her arm. He is very observant, and draws his conclusions from these observations. If you compare Sherlock Holmes to the police detectives in Lamb to the Slaughter you find several differences. Firstly, the detectives in Lamb to the Slaughter are much more police-trained than Holmes and immediately begin to search the house, and take photos, and question Mary, and find an alibi for her (the grocer). They follow all the rules, but dont use any imagination in solving the crime, unlike Sherlock Holmes. They were more technologically advanced than in Holmess time, but they still couldnt solve the crime. You get the impression that these officers were not hugely intelligent, but to be fair, they were at a disadvantage being personally involved. It would be very awkward to accuse your ex-colleagues wife of killing him. Plus, they had probably met Mary before and wouldnt think she was capable of murdering anyone, let alone her own husband who anyone could see she adored. We will write a custom essay sample on Sherlock Holmes specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Sherlock Holmes specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Sherlock Holmes specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The Speckled Band is narrated in the first person, from the point of view of Watson, Sherlock Holmess very good friend, and indeed the only other character close to Holmes that we are told about. This is a fairly good perspective to see the story from because Watson knows Holmes very well and can tell the reader a lot about him, and if he is acting strangely or has something on his mind. It is a bit biased because you can tell that Watson admires and looks up to Holmes, and that he wouldnt say anything too bad about him.  Sherlock Holmes is presented as a very intelligent, observant, witty and surprising man, but he is also a little reserved and you get the impression that he is a very private person. I have compared Sherlock Holmes with the detectives in Lamb to the Slaughter, and now I am going to compare Mary Maloney with the other murderer, Dr. Roylott. Dr. Roylott was a rich man who had married a woman called Mrs. Stoner, the mother of two girls called Helen and Julia. Their mother died and Dr. Roylott and the girls went back to his hometown, where his family had once been very rich, but were now poor. Mrs. Stoner had said that when the girls got married they had to be given a large sum of money, which Dr. Roylott no longer had. When Julia got engaged, Dr. Roylott thought of an extravagant plan to murder her. He killed her in cold blood, and was planning to do the same thing to Helen. Mary Maloney was totally the opposite of this as she and her husband were fairly middle class and normal, and she murdered him in a moment of passion and shock. She had not planned to kill her husband. A similarity between her and Dr. Roylott though, is that neither of them was punished by law for murdering someone. Dr. Roylott might have been, but he was killed, ironically, by the snake he had used to kill Julia Stoner, and Mary Maloney, as far as we know, got away with it by carefully planning for the police officers to eat the evidence. I also think the period that the stories were written in makes a significant difference. The Speckled Band was written in 1888 and is written in language appropriate for the time. For example, the sentences are much longer and detailed in The Speckled Band. The reason the sentences are shorter in Lamb to the Slaughter is that it is a more modern story for modern people, and as we watch a lot of films and television programs, we have shorter attention spans and have less time to read. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle uses slower and more elegant language than Roald Dahl, who gets straight to the point, and uses fairly simple language. I think also the fact that Sherlock Holmes was written in a time when people talked a lot less about their feelings has something to do with his reserved and solitary character, and that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote him this way.  Lamb to the Slaughter was written in 1954 and displays some characteristics specific to that time. The main one of these is the attitude of Mary Maloney. She is perfectly happy to stay at home and is willing to do anything for her husband. Her main ambition in life was probably just to be the best housewife and mother she could. This does not make her a bad person this was the accepted role of women in the 50s. The murder of her husband was probably partly to do with the fact that she would look bad if her husband left her, although this would be subconscious because she did not really know what she was doing when she killed him she was in shock. These two stories were written in different times, which makes them differ slightly, but there are also some similarities in them. One is that the murderer has a personal and family-related motive for the murder. They both involve an unusual murder in The Speckled Band the murder is very extravagant and well planned, and in Lamb to the Slaughter the victim was killed by a leg of lamb, which was later eaten by his ex-colleagues the police working on the case! Another similarity is that neither murderer was punished by law for committing the crime. I think that in both The Speckled Band and Lamb to the Slaughter, the reader is very much involved with the story.  Firstly, in The Speckled Band, the reader feels involved because Watson is speaking in first person and its like he is talking to you. Also the clues are drip-fed to the reader in a way that they build up and you have a chance to make your own theories as to what happened. We are more involved because when the reader begins to get confused, we find out Watson feels the same and he asks all the questions we want to ask Sherlock Holmes. Finding out that Watson is just as confused as we are makes us feel less dense! Sherlock Holmes Essay Example Sherlock Holmes Essay Arthur Conan Doyle was born on May 22, 1859, in Edinburgh, Scotland. As a young man he seemed destined for a career in medicine. In 1876 he attended the University of Edinburgh Medical School. There he met Joseph Bell, whose deductive powers and dramatic flair he would later embody in the character of Sherlock Holmes. In the early 1880s he served as a medical officer on an Arctic whaling ship and ship’s surgeon on a voyage to West Africa.By the summer of 1882, he had settled in the town of Southsea in the south of England. In 1885 he received his medical degree. Even after he was a well-established writer, he continued to pursue his medical education, becoming an eye specialist. His medical practice was unsuccessful, leaving him plenty of free time to write. His first story was The Mystery of Sarassa Valley, published in October 1879 in Chamber’s Journal. He had trouble finding a publisher for his first Sherlock Holmes novel, A Study in Scarlet, which eventually appeared in Beeton’s Christmas Annual for 1887.It and its successor, the novel The Sign of Four, published in 1890, were not popular at first. In 1891 Conan Doyle agreed to supply the new magazine the Strand with a series of Sherlock Holmes short stories. A Scandal in Bohemia appeared in the magazine’s July 1891 issue and was a popular sensation. We will write a custom essay sample on Sherlock Holmes specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Sherlock Holmes specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Sherlock Holmes specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer For the rest of his life Conan Doyle was pressured by publishers and the general public to write more stories about Sherlock Holmes. He tried to stop writing the stories a number of times. Then he tried killing Holmes off in The Final Problem, the last of his second run of Holmes stories for the Strand.He received hate mail for killing Holmes and was besieged by publishers offering him huge sums of money to write more about Holmes. An American publisher finally offered more money than Conan Doyle could resist, and he agree to write The Hound of the Baskervilles. Conan Doyle died on July 7, 1930, at Crowborough, Sussex. Summary For many years, the region around the Baskerville estate was poor and backward, but when Sir Charles Baskerville returns to claim his estate, the region again begins to prosper.By devoting his vast fortune-earned in business-to better the community, Sir Charles fills the long-empty role of leadership that is the duty of the Baskervilles. But into this otherwise happy and orderly society comes disorder in the form of two utterly evil men. One is a convicted mass murderer escaped from prison, who lurks about on the moors; the other is Seldon, a clever criminal, who is insidious enough to corrupt the faithful Baskerville servants into the service of evil.Even more unsettling is the terrible Hound of the Baskervilles. When the good Sir Charles Baskerville is murdered, an ancient curse on the family is revealed that now threatens Sir Henry, the new heir. For generations, the Baskerville family has been victimized by a giant, spectral hound that prowls the moors. The hound now seems to be loose again; it has claimed Sir Charles and appears ready to strike again. Is this a supernatural creature or merely part of someone’s devious plot to supplant the rightful heirs of Baskerville Hall?Sherlock Holmes is called upon to solve the mystery, and the intricate story builds to an extraordinary climax when the hound attacks: Fire burst from its open mouth, its eye glowed with a smoldering glare, its muzzle and hackles and de wlap were outlined in flickering flame. A fiend from hell seems loosed upon Sir Henry. Critical Appreciation of the Story Character Analysis Sherlock Holmes Holmes represents several things from his role as the great detective. He is the ever practical man, not even caring about the rotation of the Earth, since it does not affect the case.Amidst widespread belief in curses and the supernatural, Holmes is really the only one who never doubts the pursuit of a rational cause. In this capacity, Holmes represents the world of explanations, of order, logic, and science. Out of awe and appreciation for his skills as a detective, Holmes is also seen as a provider of security. Watson mentions several times that he wishes the detective were there, instead of back in London. Sir Henry also wants Holmes to be around, and so both men are relieved when Holmes is found nearby.He has a reputation of being able to handle difficult cases and prevent, or at least lessen, danger, with good reason. He is the one people turn to, as Dr. Mortimer did, when they do not know what else to do. Finally, Holmes represents goodness. He seeks and finds the truth, and brings justice in driving evil to its demise (Stapleton’s death). However, this underlying theme, so familiar in literature, of good victorious over bad, is not always clear cut because of the complexity of the characters and plot. One example of this is Holmes’s deception of Watson. Dr. WatsonThough Watson plays a part in the case, he is primarily significant as the narrator of the story. Since he is, like most readers, not a detective, he is able to relate information as the average person would likely see it. This is beneficial because it keeps the novel suspenseful, much more so than if we knew that Holmes suspected the Stapletons from the start. Watson demonstrates a much more sudden, emotion-based way of thought than Holmes. His reports include the psychological feel of the place and speculations on the char acter of various people that are more significant for the literary purpose than the case.He pursues Selden with Sir Henry despite the danger in trying to confront such a desperate man. He waits with his revolver for the stranger, and when it turns out to be Holmes who explains the situation to him, he is all set to accuse Stapleton in person. Even Watson’s surprise at some of Holmes’s deductions at the beginning of the book indicates this less rigid thinking. Mr. Jack Stapleton First of all, Stapleton represents the corrupting influence of money and power. He killed Sir Charles, attempted to do the same to Sir Henry, and likely committed several other crimes, all in the pursuit of an inheritance and quick money.Stapleton even had to leave South America because of stealing money. Along with that is the theme of dehumanization. In the face of material goods, Stapleton treats everyone from his wife to his victims with the same disregard. To illustrate the point, he comes to collect Miss Stapleton in a manner similar to his pursuit of insects. Even the hound, already a vicious creature, becomes even wilder in his hands. Perhaps the most complex and important part about Stapleton is the interplay within his character of crime and science (making him an interesting foil for Holmes, who is also a combination of those).On the one hand, he is a serious entomologist, but on the other hand, he uses what he gains from this to aid in his murders. Also, throughout the book, there are connections between the net Stapleton uses for his insects and the ones Holmes is using to catch him, as well as the one between his collections and the box of cases. As the antagonist, Stapleton is essential to the plot and outcome of the story. It is his crime that initially intrigues Holmes, and his continued skill at executing it, that holds the detective’s interest. The Baskerville familyThis old line provides the contrast to Holmes when it comes to belief in the super natural. They take the curse very seriously, to the point that previously Dr. Mortimer suggested Sir Charles get away from the moor for awhile and Sir Henry’s normally independent nature is tamed by Holmes’s warnings and the sound of the hound. Baskerville Hall itself fits in well with the rest of the moor, as still connected with the old ways of thought. Furthermore, there is the matter of family connections. Stapleton is remarkably similar in attitude and appearance to his father Rodger and the wicked Hugo.This suggests that while the property and money are passed down, certain other things are as well. The Hound of the Baskervilles is also in reference to these bad relatives. Dr. Mortimer, The Barrymores Dr. Mortimer is important in that he brings the case to Holmes and relays all the background facts. Though his character continues to appear intermittently, it is at the beginning that he has the greatest impact on the plot. Also, his cane, when deductions are made from it, provides a good introduction to Holmes’s methods. The Barrymores are similarly important characters in the plot.Selden, and their mysterious activities dealing with him, makes for a nicely misleading subplot, drawing Watson’s suspicions to them for awhile. Plot The Hound of the Baskervilles has a fairly complex, but very intense plot. The plot begins with the strange death of Sir Charles Baskerville. He was found dead on the famous yew alley of Baskerville Hall, but with no markings, and very little evidence on what caused the death. An old family legend about some of his ancestors, and a great black hound, makes the death even more strange even suggesting devilish and supernatural powers.Meanwhile, Holmes must decide whether it is still safe for Sir Charles heir, Sir Henry Baskerville, to go to Baskerville Hall at the moment; would he reach the same fate as Sir Charles? A strange letter and some small, unexplained disappearances follow, and someone seems to be very intrested in Henry Baskerville. When everything fails in London, Holmes sends his faithful assistant, Watson, with Sir Henry to gather as much information as possible, and though he finds little, he gets just enough little bits of information for Holmes to realize what caused the death, as well as the strange happenings ut maybe too late? The Hound of the Baskervilles starts out at a moderate pace, gets really mind absorbing near the middle the fact collecting phase and then finishes with great excitement at the Climax, when Holmes solves the case, with great action. Theme Theme is not a major element of The Hound of the Baskervilles. This novel is a mystery book, so most of the setup of the book revolves around the plot. There is no obvious main lesson or point this novel is trying to teach; its written for entertainment.Sherlock Holmes solves another mystery amazingly with many insignificant looking little clues to lead him to a conclusion, making the plot a major part i nstead of the theme. When finished reading the book, the theme is more like an afterthought. The authors primary purpose was to convey a very complex problem which Sherlock Holmes needs to solve, which the theme element become a secondary part in the novel. This is like most mystery books as well, with the theme not as relevant as the other parts and ideas in the story. Authors style In Hound of the Baskervilles writing style is direct.There is no figurative language except or the occasional simile due to the fact that Dr. Watson has a lot of ideas to get across. The style is also very suspenseful by dropping small hints toward the guilty one. The voice of Watson can be heard clearly in this novel. Despite the suspense on reflection, the organization and ideas all drive towards the climax and resolution. The word choice is pseudoelevated using some complex words but mostly moderate words. This allows the reader more energy to focus on the plot. This book writing style has the power to keep you reading from cover to cover. Sherlock Holmes Essay Example Sherlock Holmes Essay Conan Doyle did not really write about children at those ages, because he looked at it as a person from the upper class, which indeed he was. In the stories such as the sign of four and back street irregulars children are shown homeless and poor and would do anything to get money, yet they were written for the readers to laugh upon, due to the fact that it would be a comedy scene, therefore when children respect and obey the character Sherlock Holmes, this builds his character even more. But authors such as Charles dickens, who were from lower classes, wrote about childrens pain at work, their lifestyles and how the conditions were for the poor. His famous piece is Oliver Twist, it is about a young boy who starts to work at very young age and life concerns and conditions are well explained in that story. Through reading Sir Arthur Conan Doyles biographies and comparing it to the stories of Sherlock Holmes we realize that the story is based on true real life characters. Such as the fact that Conan Doyle was a doctor in the army of the Afghan war and Dr Watson was in the army of the Afghan war as well. Conan Doyle always looked up to his medicine professor Dr Joseph Bell, whom he said was a great man of science and his deductions are inarguable. Therefore this puts Sherlock Holmes right in place for Dr Joseph Bell, and on the other hand we have Dr Watson being the narrative of the story I thought I did he looked he walked using these quotations from the stories tells us that he was expressing himself through Dr Watson, he always refers to Sherlock Holmes as a thinking man his head was tilted backwards thinking of upcoming events while we were on the way to the ladies house. Holmes teaches Watson detective work and deductions just like how Bell would teach Doyle and Doyle would always look up to him. We will write a custom essay sample on Sherlock Holmes specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Sherlock Holmes specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Sherlock Holmes specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer A very important factor which the society really influenced him and he influenced the society was the publishing of his writing study in scarlet in 1888 December in a Christmas annual magazine. But then he carried on his stories in lippincotts monthly magazine in 1890 with the story of the sign of four as it says in the introduction of the book. Later on he officially let his writings publish in the monthly magazine of the strand in January 1891 with scandal in bohemia he earned very good money out of his writings (approximately 27 pounds a month) therefore this encouraged him to write more, and influenced him in his writings. Probably read by the most of the population or the people of the British Isles, due to many reasons such as the fact that its published in magazines therefore many people could afford to read it. Another reason why lots of people read this was that in those ages there were basically no other entertainment other than theatres, which not all could afford that. Remember that it was the gas lamp era and no electricity, or if there was electricity it was not widely used, therefore there were no TVs or such. So we get the point that we realize the society immensely loved and followed these stories. We can also see that by the fact that when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stopped writing in 1893 with the story of the final problem it made young men and women appeared in the streets in respectively, black armbands and veils. They were in the mourning, for the collapse of a dawn of justice and reasons in a rising tide of in competition and evil. This extract was taken from the introduction of the book explaining the information held to this story. Therefore after last story scandal in bohemia pressure built up so much on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle until he had to re establish his character in 1901, with the story of Empty House. This shows how the society affected him and made him write the stories again after 8 years, this later on affected writers in the same genre such as Agatha Christie who wrote about Hercule Poirot and Hastings and Colin Dexter who wrote about Inspector Mores and Sergeant Lewis which both stories were detective stories and had a lot of structures relevant to the stories of Sherlock Holmes.  Yet after 100 years past from these events we still read the books and you and I still talk about it and its consequences. Sherlock Holmes Essay Example Sherlock Holmes Paper This sense is further strengthened with the reference to Holmes as a predator and hawk-like who is propelled by his love of the chase. Holmes also shows a unique method of working, he will deliberate almost as if he is asleep before acting. This is shown in both stories. In The Red-Headed League he appears to fall asleep when in fact he is merely thinking deeply of the case of Jabez Wilson; I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep. when he suddenly sprang out of his chair with the gesture of a man who had made up his mind. This strange pattern of behaviour is shown again when they are in the theatre; his languid, dreamy eyes were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound as it was possible to conceive and once more in the cab his taciturn manner shows; Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive. This side of his character is also shown in The Speckled Band when driving down to Stoke Moran; My companion sat in front of the trap buried in the deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. His ability to withdraw within himself and to detach himself is reinforced with his preference for German music; it is introspective and I want to introspect. This behaviour is shown yet again in Silver Blaze in his movement from day-dreaming and absorbed in his own thoughts to suppressed excitement. This essence of his character is also a strong reference to Victorian morality in the duality of human nature. Conan Doyles stories convey the sense of a double life led by many middle class men, in particular. We will write a custom essay sample on Sherlock Holmes specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Sherlock Holmes specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Sherlock Holmes specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Conan Doyle conveys Holmes as possessing a character that changes from the languid, dreamy, gentle sense of his inertia to his predatory qualities; Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the relentless, keen-witted, ready criminal agent. The words swing of his nature and alternately further contribute to our impression of his dual nature. There is also a symbolic representation of a duality of human nature in the contrast between the shabby, faded, weedy side of the square and the fine stately side that backs the pawnbroker and represents commerce. The gap between rich and poor widened with the growth in industry during the Victorian era. The growth in wealth is shown in the metaphor of a tide and immense stream of increasing wealth. Dual nature is also clearly identified in Silver Blaze when Silas Brown is shown to have two personalities; never have I seen such a change as had been brought about in Silas Brown in that short time. In The Man with the Twisted Lip you will find the strongest representation of dual nature. At the beginning of the story Holmes disguises himself as a tall, thin old man so that not even Watson, his closest friend can recongise him. Conan Doyle describes the change in Holmes his form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull eyes had regained their fire. Doyles language in the paragraph conveys the duality of man and as the paragraph progresses, language marks Holmes transformation from very thin; very wrinkled, bent with age to his real self. Finally he regains his ingenious disguise to doddering, loose-lipped senility. But the strongest personification of the dual nature of man lies in Neville St. Clair who is the embodiment of Victorian double personality; one life by day and another by night. The first evidence of this lies in his two distinct writing styles of which he has a different style for when he wrote hurriedly. But the main reference to duality of nature appears near the end of the story when Holmes starts scrubbing off the beggar mans, Boones, face to reveal his true persona Neville St. Clair. The description of the face peeled off and exposing the refined man beneath shows the true extent of Victorian double nature. There is also a strong metaphor for the merging of the two sides of his character; the horrid scar which had seamed it across. In The Red-Headed League Holmess appearance is compared to that of a strange bird with a hawk like nose. This draws an image of an almost predatory figure in the readers mind. This image is further reinforced in The Red-Headed League with his quick firing of questions to Jabez Wilson. These questions reflect his razor sharp ability to extract information and also his quick-thinking mind. He is also described as a bird in The Man with the Twisted Lip when Conan Doyle draws attention to his strong set aquiline features. This description could also be in reference to the publication of Darwins On the Origin of the Species and the idea that human kind were descendants of animals, beasts. There is also a reminder of Darwins theory in The Speckled Band; I have heard, Mr Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold wickedness of the human heart. There was a huge fear in Victorian times that men possessed a bestial quality. This also conveys the Victorian double standard because Holmes works for the good of society, but possesses something that draws him towards evil. This is reinforced again in Silver Blaze when he is described as having menace in his eyes. In the Victorian age, a certain type of novel emerged from the largely romantic literary background, the Gothic novel, which was invented almost single-handedly by Horace Walpole who wrote The Castle of Otranto in 1764. It has been suggested, by the critic Ann B. Tracy, that the Gothic novel could be seen as a description of a fallen world. While Sherlock Holmes is certainly a hero in many senses, in that he solves crimes, repeatedly saves people from the forces of evil and restores moral values while he is at it, he could also certainly be seen as a Gothic hero. It is his strong power of perception that solves crimes, and it is his hunger for sensation that drives his crime-solving and his cocaine use. To succeed as a detective Holmes frequently must himself descend into Londons underworld, which further reinforces the theory of a fallen world. It could be said that in all of the Sherlock Holmes stories there is a Gothic element in the form of a mysterious, inexplicable situation. This could be definitely be seen in The Red-Headed League, but to really discover the more detailed elements that constitute the genre of a Gothic novel we can look no further than The Speckled Band, which is littered with references to a true Gothic novel. First of all there is the woman in distress, in this case taking the presence of Helen Stoner, who arrived in a considerable state of excitement. She is described as being in a pitiable state of agitation, her face all dawn and grey, with restless, frightened eyes, which certainly conforms to the Gothic element of women with highly wrought emotions. There is also a woman in high state of emotion present in Silver Blaze when Mrs. Strakers face was haggard, and stamped with the print of a recent horror. Also present in The Speckled Band which is an element of a Gothic story is the occurrence of a cruel, tyrannical male who threatens and harms a woman, which appears in the form of Dr Grimsby Roylott, whom Helen Stoner appears to be considerably afraid of when she tries to hide the marks on her arm; you have been cruelly used. Then there is the setting in a ruined building, Stoke Moran, which seems to be in a considerable state of disrepair; the building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone. windows were broken. a picture of ruin. There is also a sense of mystery and suspense as the question is posed whether or not Dr Roylott killed Helens sister. Also the fact that Helen Stoner has been effectively forced into living in her sisters room could be seen as a Gothic element, as could the eerie whistle which both the sisters heard in the dead of night. Conan Doyles literary masterpieces are been enjoyed by thousands for almost a century now and continue to capture the hearts of both young and old. So brilliant and absorbing are these stories that when Sherlock Holmes was killed in The Final Problem fans complained so forcefully that Conan Doyle was compelled to resurrect him again. Holmes fans even refer to the time in between his death and revivification as the Great Hiatus. The Guinness World Records has consistently listed him as the most portrayed movie character with over 70 actors playing the part in over 200 films. A rare manuscript of one of Sir Arthur Conan Doyles final Sherlock Holmes stories has recently been expected to fetch a whopping i250,000 at auction. Overall there have been 56 short stories and 4 novels, written over a decade. These accounts are littered with references to Victorian England and can help people today to understand what life was like in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Kate Manson 10S Page 1 of 5 Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Arthur Conan Doyle section. Sherlock Holmes Essay Example Sherlock Holmes Paper At the time the Sherlock Holmes stories were written there was a large influx of crime, which was becoming uncontrollable, as the small police force did not have enough resources or men to cope with the sudden increase in crime. This started a new popularity in detective crime stories throughout London and Britain. The stories often involve a sense of the weaknesses of the police. In different stories, we see many police all working on the same crime as Holmes and yet none seem to get anywhere near as close to an answer as Sherlock does. In The Man with the Twisted Lip we see instances of Holmes showing greater intelligence than the police. Inspector Bradstreet says to Holmes, I wish I knew how to reach your results. This shows us that even the police, the people that the public are meant to have faith in are astounded at Holmes intelligence. His mind is one of incredible thinking and he impresses everyone who has heard of his crime solving feats.  We often see certain stereotypes being used, as in The Twisted Lip the villain has a scarred lip. This is stereotypical as villains usually do have some sort of distinctive feature. We will write a custom essay sample on Sherlock Holmes specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Sherlock Holmes specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Sherlock Holmes specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer In The Man With The Twisted Lip Watson uses two important words when describing Sherlock: definite and mastery. These give an insight into his character and indicate a lot about what makes him so popular even now. In a city of uncertainty, crime and mystery Holmes has confidence in himself and has a way of closing each case successfully.  One of the main reasons for the enduring popularity of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyles detective is the fact that Doctor Watson narrates them all. This keeps us in suspense, as Dr. Watson is also wondering how Sherlock Holmes is gathering key information from such little things, as are we, as the reader. Also, with seeing the stories through the eyes of Watson, seeing the same clues as Holmes, we are kept wondering as to how Holmes is going to solve this crime. We as the reader also want to see how the story ends. Holmes often shows signs of having an idea about what happened but never shares with Watson, therefore, never allowing the reader to know how the story ends and therefore keeping the mystery and wonder in the story. The fact that we never know what Holmes is thinking keeps us in suspense. We are given the same clues and we know the same information we cant solve the mystery like Holmes. However, using these clues we can try and come to our own conclusions as to how the story will end. This can often be fun as we try and see whether or not we were right. This is another reason why these stories are so popular.  In all the stories we see a good versus evil plot. This battle between what is right and what is wrong make a story interesting. If there is a hero there is a villain. If something is hidden during the story it will be revealed at the end. We discover that, Boone is actually Neville St. Clair in disguise. No-one has been murdered in what we thought was a murder mystery. There has not even been any major crime. In The Man with the Twisted Lip Watson goes to sleep while Holmes stays up all night working out the answer. The ignorance of Watson and clear thinking of Holmes is contrasted with the drug addiction and confusion of those in the opium den. These oppositions create a good story, as it is needed if a story is going to be interesting. Although everyone knows Holmes is the cleverest of the pair and that Watson is his sidekick so to speak they each have a mutual understanding and respect for each other. The reader is also, in a way, part of this relationship as we are as clueless as poor Watson is in these stories and therefore have the same respect for Holmes crime solving capabilities. This is also the case since we see the stories through the eyes of Watson that helps relate to him and to feel as annoyingly clueless as he does. At the point towards the end of the story when Holmes finally reveals how the mysteries were solved, it is revealed to us how each clue played a part in solving the crime and we are dazzled by Holmes powers of deduction. Yet, we have had all the same clues, but neither Watson nor we could work this out. In these situations it helps to have Watson as the narrator as we are as clueless as him, if Holmes was the narrator then the stories would all be over very quickly due to the fact he solves them so fast. With Conan Doyle making Watson the narrator, it allows the story to develop through not only Watsons eyes, but also our own. This builds up the suspense and tension of the story in such a way that readers become enthralled and dont want to put the book down until the story is finished. Holmes relationship with Watson is a very interesting one. Watson is the complete partner for Holmes in many respects. I say this because Watson is so trusting in Holmes. As we see in The Speckled Band Watson follows Holmes blindly into a potentially dangerous situation. We see Watson sit in the total darkness of a room where a murder and attempted murder had previously occurred. These could have been anything but such is Watsons trust in Holmes he puts his life in his hands. This shows complete respect and trust for Holmes making him a very useful sidekick. This adds interest to the readers as they start to think, what if Watson wrongly puts his life in Holmes hands and pays the ultimate price. The main reason for the enduring popularity of the Sherlock Holmes stories is the fact that we are constantly being kept in suspense as to where the story is going, what Holmes is thinking and how he can possibly solve the case. Eventually, what is clear to him becomes clear to us. As he says in The Blue Carbuncle, My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other people do not know. We know that he always solves the crime as this is classic realism yet we do not know how he comes to his conclusions until he explains. Sir Arthur Conan Doyles stories are popular because they make the reader think, this is a rare quality I have not found in books I have read and this is why I like these stories, because you keep thinking about them once you have put the book down. Sherlock Holmes Essay Example Sherlock Holmes Paper What features of Arthur Conan Doyles stories make them typical of the detective Genre? Detective fiction stories are loved by many, the crime; mystery and problem solving appeal to readers, bringing them back for more. Most detective fictions stories begin by setting a scene, then a problem is introduced, then we can see how the detective solves the case. Clues are found by the detective as he begins to solve the case. We can often follow the trails of clues to lead us to the culprit but, there is always a red- herring to hoodwink us at some point. For example in The Beryl Coronet Francis Prospers wooden leg is a very crafty red herring. When the detective has put the pieces of the puzzle together, he draws a final verdict and reveals the villain. Arthur Conan Doyles stories always seem to follow this tradition making them typical of the detective genre, and because the plot is predictable to a certain extent it is easier for the reader to engage with the plot. The famous Sherlock Holmes stories were for most people the first of their kind, during the era when flickering gas lamps lit Baker Street. This was where Sherlock Holmes lived; he is the greatest ever fictional detective and was dreamed up by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Holmes was immensely popular with the people of the Victorian era; because he never left a stone unturned, when a villain like Jack the Ripper was loose on the streets of London, this gave people the reassurance they needed to feel secure. He was seen as a ray of light, in places like the slums of London where crime was rife, when villains like Jack the Ripper were free to roam the streets because of the inefficient methods used by the police, meaning that villains were not caught soon enough. Although Sherlock Holmes has much strength which makes him a perfect role model for a fine detective, he also has an addiction to opium. This is probably his only flaw, in a way it makes him more real and human meaning that he would be easier to relate to and have faith in. Despite the fact that a number of detective stories were written well into the nineteenth century by other authors such as Edgar Allen Poe and Wilkie Collins, only a few are still read and studied today, Arthur Conan Doyles stories are an example of Victorian literature which is still popular today. We will write a custom essay sample on Sherlock Holmes specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Sherlock Holmes specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Sherlock Holmes specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer One of the reasons why Arthur Conan Doyles stories were so sought after is because of the use of forensic science and also Holmes never leaves a mystery unsolved; this made the people of the Victorian era warm to the character, believing that he could solve any case. The use of forensic science was new to Doyles audience, and gave them immense hope in Sherlock Holmes, so that when Doyle killed off the detective in 1893, there was a public outcry and Doyle received death threats warning him to keep the detective alive. Sherlock Holmes wasnt alone in his adventures though, he was accompanied by his ex-army officer sidekick, Dr. Watson, who had complete faith in his associate. Conan Doyle targeted his stories at the wealthy and the well educated because of the sophisticated language used. Horse drawn carriages were the means of transport used by the wealthy in the Sherlock Holmes stories, sometimes even by Holmes to arrive at the scene of the crime, which would always be a mansion or a grand estate. The grandeur of the homes of the wealthy added a sense of mystery and suspense, it also enabled Doyles target audience to empathise with the characters in his stories. In the Speckled Band Dr Roylott owns a grand estate called Stoke Moran, The building was of grey and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab. The description of stoke Moran emphasizes the magnitude of it, here Cannon Doyle uses a simile to create an image of a crab he compares its two wings, to the claws of a crab, it also tells us what type of person Dr. Roylott is and that he is not very friendly and welcoming. The detailed descriptions used are a kind of delaying tactic and creates suspense, this is a typical feature used in all detective literature.