Sherlock_Holmes

With close reference to at least two Sherlock Holmes stories, explain how Arthur Conan Doyle creates and maintains interest in the form of a short story' Arthur Conan Doyle employs various methods to capture reader attention and build up tension within the frame work of a short story. The two stories which I have studied are “The Red-Headed League” and “The Speckled Band”. The Sherlock Holmes Stories are amazing tales of mysterious and sinister cases with questions needing to be solved and answered. These are to be solved by two friends/associates of the detective business - Dr Watson and Sherlock Holmes. Each plot deals with different characters and events, but there are many patterns and clues to be seen in each. These occur and can be seen right from the beginning to the end. “The Red-Headed League” and “The Speckled Band” both start with a person coming forward with a crime that needs an expert’s intervention. It could be about a death, a robbery or a complete mystery etc. However Arthur Conan Doyle very cleverly writes each story with Dr Watson as the narrator. This in itself adds interest to the reading of each tale. Mainly because we know that Sherlock Holmes, the central main character, holds vital information and that extra knowledge that we read about. He is also an extremely deep thinker and carefully thinks out everything possible. This brings me to the conclusion that if Sherlock Holmes was narrating instead of Dr Watson interest, suspense, tension and excitement in each story would most likely be lost. He would in turn be giving important information and the answer away too quickly. The delay and long wait before the answer at the end keeps you intrigued. This is one of Arthur Conan Doyle’s excellent methods for keeping the reader interested in the form of a short story. In the beginning of the Red-Headed League we read that Sherlock Holmes is in deep conversation “with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman, with fiery red hair”. This man is named Mr. Jabez Wilson. Immediately we obtain insight into this gentleman’s appearance. This is quite common with the Sherlock Holmes stories. Holmes would look the man/woman up and down, then go on and describe or deduce some information about this person. The same happens in the “Speckled Band”. Holmes is by the side of Dr Watson’s bed ready and raring to go and a meet a client. Once met he sees spattered mud on her clothes, and a train ticket in Miss Helen Stoner’s left glove. Once again he deduces information about her. His powers of deduction seem to astound or at least impress the reader. The client then goes on introducing herself and continuing with the story. Holmes sits and listens attentively. When the clients’ story or tale is over, in these two cases about a death of a sister and a stealing of some money, the story continues. Holmes is always giving orders and instructions to people, even his associate Watson. This lets us know that Sherlock Holmes is in charge and in power. He always knows what’s going on or going to happen on each of his adventures. However we never (except for right at the very end) find this out because Watson is the narrator, and like us is never let in to Holmes’s great understanding and outstanding knowledge. After instructions and orders from Holmes the story continues, and it is from here that the Detectives (Holmes and Watson) must go on in solving the mystery that awaits them. In The Red-Headed League and The Speckled Band a climax is built. This is where Arthur Conan Doyle really makes his mark. It often starts to build with Holmes saying something such as “These are deep waters” or “This is a dark and sinister business”, which creates anticipation in the reader but also lets the reader know that there is a distinct element of danger. It also includes Watson in that in each of these two stories Watson on both occasions, just before the climax is instructed to take his revolver along with him. This automatically lets us know that something bad, dangerous or exciting is about to happen. But at the same time is quite probable as this is one of the many signals that it is time to go, or time to prepare for the catching of a villain/thief or the solving of a mystery. At this time we are still pondering of what is going to happen. In the Red-Headed league they sit in the dark with the revolver, in the place that something (money) is about to be stolen. In the Speckled Band they once again sit in the dark with the revolver, but before had told the client Miss Helen Stoner to go and stay somewhere else. This is definitely the creating of anticipation, anxiety and suspicion for the reader. Next it is obvious that the climax is coming soon. The Speckled Band. “Then suddenly another sound became audible – a very gentle, soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping continuously from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes sprang from the bed, struck a match and lashed furiously at the bell pull”. This is simply action but is so sudden from the sitting in the dark that it excites you and in the process urges you to read on. In The Red-Headed League: Holmes and Watson again are sitting in the dark with a revolver between them. Slowly the stone turns over on one side. Holmes whips out the revolver and shouts at the floor catching the two robbers. In both of these incidents the tension is built, the climax occurs and the mystery is solved. This use of language between the two stories is very different when compared. This may be because of the way the customer is, the mood of Holmes or the type of villain being dealt with. Plus Arthur Conan Doyle must fluctuate language for keeping his original methods of writing. Some of the Sherlock Holmes stories are predictable and quite easy to work out, whereas some are extremely complicated and unpredictable. Reading detective stories like this can be hard to work out the case and the plot before Holmes reaches it in the climax. For example in “The Speckled Band” there were so many clues and such a simple answer one of which you could work out, but the title somewhat throws you in a different direction. At the end of each tale either Holmes or Watson gives a full explanation of the Mystery how it came together and how it ended. Holmes has an astute sense of observation and imagination, in turn he answers the unanswered questions, he enlightens everyone about it, and he solves the Mystery. In many of these Sherlock Holmes stories many similarities start to show, such as the villain, the motive and the crime scene, which after detecting and noticing, enables you to go on and work the story out, maybe even finding out the end. Arthur Conan Doyle packs each story with so much detail about every little thing, utilizing so many different methods to keep interest and suspense in the form of a short story. And although he uses the same framework, he introduces original and fascinating ideas into each story.