The Analysis of the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Essay Example

Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Introduction Doyle’s ‘Adventures of Sherlock Holmes’ has been written in a unique manner to the extent that drawing attention is magical. Doyle uses a number of devices to make the stories interesting are easy to understand. In his writings, he uses devices such as narrating, conflict, plot and character to derive meaning from the stories. With particular interest in the adventures such as red headed league, speckled band, blue carbuncle, and the engineers thumb, Doyle, use three devices which include plot, narrative and character to help the reader understand the stories. Components such as plot, character and narrator make understanding of the stories quite easy. While a number of publications do not have all the components, others employ all for the purpose of drawing meaning. Doyle uses plot, narrative and character to help simplify the stories and ensure clear understanding of the stories (Doyle, 3). In the ‘Adventure of Red Headed League’, Doyle uses plot, narrator and character to help open up the story to the reader for a better consumption (Doyle, 45). With respect to plot, the sequence of events from one issue to another helps the reader to connect the dots and relate the content of the story. This is what brings an understanding to the reader. For instance, Holmes and Watson are vastly mentioned in the adventure. In the plot, the lines reveal multiple sides of Holmes while being silent on Watson. The plot of the story is choreographed in such a way that Holmes is portrayed as all knowing and tries to jargon through a number of issues. Through this, Doyle makes the story to be understood through the interactions between Watson and Holmes. Holmes as in the story has a character that is questionable (Doyle, 65). Throughout the story, the reader is left pondering on how Holmes is to behave in the next coming lines. Flipping over the pages is eminent as the reader’s attention is drawn to the events. The plot of the story makes it possible to understand the wellbeing of the individuals in the adventure to the extent that it becomes easy to understand the essence of everyone’s role and background. Consequently, in the Red-Headed League, there are events that are characteristics of the use of a plot (Doyle, 80). Mr. Holmes in the story is met by a man disturbed man whose descriptions in the definition of a joke. His concern is to get to the bottom of the messages going about claiming that he is a joker. From this point, his search for the truth makes him to move from one step to the other with Holmes being on his side. It is the sequence of events in this part of the story that defines the use of plot. In the ‘Adventure of the Red-Headed League’, Doyle satisfies the use of plot, character and narrator in this to help in concise understanding of the story (Doyle, 98). The use of character is vastly evident. The major characters here are Watson and Holmes. The understanding of the stories is best understood by the input of the characters in the story. In fact, without the characters like Watson and Holmes, the understanding of the movie becomes a mirage. Holmes is a character that is portrayed as being beyond the human stature. Seen has been superman of the story based on the activities he engages in that put him directly in the limelight as a person who has so much to offer. At one point he is thinking seriously about something and the next time he is engaged Watson in some heated arguments. Doyle portrays Watson, as the narrator in the story is Watson. From Watson’s perspective of the events of the adventure, the reader is able to understand the story (Doyle, 100). Much of the story is understood from the perspective of Watson trying to tell the story in his own version based on the experiences he has had with Holmes. The Use narrator in this story has passed the test with respect to literary works. The use of the narrator is best understood from the point of view of what happens in the story. Narrators in any story, bring the reader up to speed with the respective events that take place in the story. The narrator for example, tells a story of Holmes as being interested in the rule of law when that is not one of his agendas. He notes “Im being reasonable to the society by handing in criminals to the police” (Doyle, 122). This is only a stepping-stone to what Holmes wants to achieve. His agenda is enhancing his intellectual capacity that is a mystery to him. Throughout the story, the development of the story is dependent on the use of plot; character and narrator as a means of making the reader understand the content of the story. Without the use of such literary techniques, the story becomes difficult to understand. In the ‘adventure of speckled band’ Doyle once again uses the three devices to make the reader digest the content of the stories with ease and comfort. The plot of the story is done in such a way that the story develops into a curved structure (Doyle, 245). This means that the story opens with some issues that do not suggest any conflict whatsoever. As the story develops, a crisis is ensuing and the story roles to the conclusion, a solution is reached. The plot of the story gives the reader the picture of what happens in the story. Doyle notes, “The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high central portion, and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, thrown out on each side. In one of the wings, the windows were partly broken, and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly caved in, a picture of ruin” (Doyle 276). This is able to tell the reader what the gest of the matter was with respect to plot development. In this story, the narrator is Holmes best friend. This time Watson is kept at bay, as he is part of the story being told to the audience. The use of a narrator in this perspective is enhanced in the sense that Holmes does not tell his own story neither does Watson. Character use in the story is to a large extent enhanced (Doyle, 300). A number of people are mentioned in the story. A young woman seeks the knowledge of Holmes to give an interpretation of some basic issues of law. To this extent, there are certain characteristics of the characters that become known to the readers. Holmes is portrayed as a genius character that attracts the attention of a number of people only the purpose of helping achieve an objective. Consequently, the other characters seem to be dependent on the prowess on Holmes to get some understanding concerning some issues. The use of character in this perspective helps the reader understand certain aspects of the story that would otherwise have no meaning without the input of the characters. Doyle choreographs the plot in this adventure to the extent that the story picks from a low note. This can be understood from the point where low mode characterizes the beginning of the story (Doyle, 332). The development of the plot in the story is such that there is a calm mood at the start when Watson visits Holmes just after Christmas to wish him happy festive seasons even though the timing seems to be a little bit late. Holmes is ones again portrayed as one who knows all and is aware of people’s behavior that frightens the people around him. As the story nears to a close after Ryder’s escape, Holmes is rather disgusted by the turn of events and seems to have a soft spot over some issues. This is understood from his perspective when he notes, “after all, its not his job to do what the police cant. Ryder will be so frightened by this brush with the law that hell never go wrong again. And, anyway, there isnt enough of a case against Horner to send him to jail” (Doyle, 332). Understanding the disgust and disappointment in Holmes s best drawn from the lines. The story concludes in a manner that suggests that Holmes has some sense of relief and he notes, “I just want to let this one go – lets eat dinner” (Doyle, 343) While the plot starts with a rather slow mood, the tension is evident at the climax. The use of character in the story is well advanced especially to the extent to which a number of characters are introduced. Holmes through his actions makes it possible for the rest of the characters to be introduced in the story. Mr. Holmes, Watson and Ryder are some of the characters mentioned in the story each playing a significant part in the development of the story. The narrator in this story is Watson. Throughout the events, Watson is present and at the end, Holmes explains his actions to Watson. This in essence means that the only person capable of telling the events of the story as they are is Watson. Doyle satisfies the use of plot, character and narrator in this adventure and it makes the story interesting and easy to understand. In “the adventure of blue carbuncle’ Doyle continues to keep the writer up to speed with the use of plot, character and narrator (Doyle, 376). These devices help to a large extent understand a rather technical story. Doyle develops the story from the point when a patient is introduced named Hatherley. Watson goes to the rescue of the man who is seemingly in deep pain. The person who brings the patient speeds off immediately after dropping the patient. While it is apparent that the patient has a number of issues, Dr. Watson prefers not to handle the case but rather transfers the patient to Holmes. The plot of the story is advanced in such a way that there is a sequence of events from one issue to another. The characters in the story are the usual figures that are Watson and Holmes with Hatherley and Stark being the other new entries on the characters. In this context, the use of plot, character and narrator has been used vastly in the story and more meaning is drawn through the use of the literary devices (Doyle, 376). One gets a deeper understanding of the issues in the story because of the precise and concise use of the three aspects of story development. Conclusion Doyle uses the three devices to make the reader digest the content of the stories with ease and comfort. Stories are written following a specific format. Based on the outline of the respective stories, one is able to get an understanding of what the story is all about. Doyle uses critical elements that are to be considered while writing a story are the plot, characters and the narrator. To this extent, it is critical to note that in the ‘Adventures of Sherlock Holmes’, elements such as plot, character and narrator have been effectively employed. The four adventures that include red headed league, speckled band, blue carbuncle, and the engineers thumb, Doyle uses plot, character and narrator to help the readers understanding the stories in a wider perspective. Works Cited: Doyle, Conan A. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Middleton Classics, 2010. Press. Doyle, Conan. “The Adventure of the Speckled Band.” The Oxford Book of Gothic Tales. Ed. Baldick, Chris. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009: 264-295. Print. Read More