The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes Essay Research — страница 2

what he sees and hears, but cannot guess what Holmes is thinking or why he takes certain actions. Each story begins with an introduction to the problem, then an explanation of its elements, then describes how Holmes goes about solving it. Usually they end with Holmes explaining each step in his methods to Watson. Though they are mysteries, not all the stories involve a crime. Many of the cases are about unusual events or people, such as the second one in the book, The Red-Headed League , about a man who gets tricked by a plot to distract him while work to break into a bank is undertaken. Another, The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle , begins with a lost hat and Christmas goose and becomes a search for a jewel thief. Holmes is most interested by such uncommon crimes. There are

twelve stories included in the book, though the order seems to be somewhat random, so they are only generally in chronological order. I liked this book because it is interesting to read about how Sherlock Holmes solves problems, and because Watson is there to make sure every step of Holmes’ work is explained. Even though the stories are unusual, they are realistic and clever. The best part of the book is the interaction between Holmes and Watson, however, not necessarily the cases themselves, and the character of Holmes, who is very complex. In some stories the plot seems to wander a little bit, with characters providing more background details than seems necessary, but this helps to make them more believable. I would recommend this book to someone who enjoys mysteries, or just

likes puzzles, but there is a lot to enjoy in it besides the mystery aspect. The dialouge is always interesting because of how differently Holmes and Watson see the world. I think most readers would identify more with Watson but be more curious about Holmes. The writer makes England in the 1800s very vivid, so those interested in historical settings would also like this book. Another interesting character that appears in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is Helen Stoner, in The Adventure of the Speckled Band. She first appears dressed in black and veiled, in Holmes’ sitting room. She is very distressed, and when Holmes asks her what makes her shiver, assuming it is the cold, she answers, “It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror.” (Doyle, p. 120) She goes on to explain the

history of her stepfather, who has turned violent, angry, getting into brawls and engaging in various strange behaviors, and how her twin sister died one night two years before, after talking of hearing odd whistling in the night. Watson describes her, when she lifts her veil, as being haggard, only around thirty but looking much older with stress and fear. She is startled by Holmes’ ability to deduce things from her appearance, but tells her frightening story carefully, paying attention to details. She is a little melodramatic, though what she has been through is certainly serious, but it fits in with the general tone of the stories. Though she is afraid of him, she attempts to cover up for her stepfather – Holmes notices bruises left by him on her wrist, which she attempts

to excuse by saying “He is a hard man, and perhaps he hardly knows his own strength.” (Doyle, p. 124). Miss Stoner shows herself to be, even in her fear, concerned with etiquette. She is always proper, and speaks precisely, not often straying from her point. She has a good memory for details, and is able to relate exact conversations she had. Watson and Holmes don’t discuss her much, though it is clear they feel sorry for her predicament, dealing with an abusive and possibly murderous stepfather and having lost her twin sister. Even the often cold Holmes remarks that she has been “cruelly used” when he sees the bruises, and Watson and Holmes agree that it is a sinister situation. When Miss Stoner’s stepfather shows up after she has left, Holmes just puts off his

questions, ignoring them, committed to helping the woman. The story ends with the death of the stepfather, and after that mention of Miss Stoner is left to a quick summary. Watson explains that she was brought to the care of her aunt, indicating that even after the death of her tormentor she did not recover completely. However, despite her terror and panic, she comes across as having strength, so the reader might imagine she eventually picks up the pieces of her life. Helen Stoner is a good example of a character in Adventures, realistic and interesting in a way that has the reader rooting for Holmes’ victory over her problems. Holmes nearly always succeeds in solving his cases, allowing the reader to feel that someone can bring order to a chaotic and sometimes evil society.