Importance of Setting to the Hound of the Baskervilles - Essay Example

? Importance of Setting to the Hound of the Baskervilles A novel’s setting is a crucial aspect, since it forms the foundation uponwhich the plot is developed. The setting also plays a significant role in creating the sensation or atmosphere that is intended by the author. In Arthur Doyle’s “The Hound of the Baskervilles”, the atmosphere is characterized by attributes which conform to those of a detective at work. The novel, therefore, has a mystic and scary sensation, which is intended to build the reader’s tension and excitement thus making this literary work intriguing. Establishment of an appropriate atmosphere is vital in creating a convincing story; as illustrated by Doyle’s novel’s three settings including London’s Baker Street, Dartmoor or the Moor and Baskerville Hall. From the brief description above, it is clear that place and time are crucial elements in creating a novel’s atmosphere and overall setting. Based on this knowledge, Doyle’s novel, “The Hound of the Baskervilles”, is set during the later part of the nineteenth century, between the mid 1980s to early 1990s. This is a period during which criminals or public offenders are punished through hanging. The main character works entirely within the setting of a detective, which has elements like crime, problem, plot, victim and a suspect. Nevertheless, gothic settings are still present in the novel and cannot be ignored (Andrews, 2011). The novel’s gothic elements are made evident in “The Hound of the Baskervilles” by elements like depression, supernatural characteristics, mystery, prophesies from ancient times, death and criminals. This gothic setting is highly crucial when establishing a gloomy feeling and scary atmosphere. For example, the hound is considered to be a supernatural being and it is used in many parts of the novel to scare the reader until it is eventually revealed that its mystery can be explained logically. In terms of place, the first setting occurs in London where Sherlock, the detective, lives with his partner, Watson. The characters’ home, located along Baker Street, is upper-class and they live a glamorous and sophisticated life. This affluent livelihood is shown by the people with whom the pair interacts, such as Dr. Mortimer and Sir Henry. In their discussion, the group mentions that there are millions of people in the great city. This shows the reader that there is a high population density in London and calling the city great gives the impression that it is a grand urban center undergoing rapid civilization. However, irrespective of the sensation of power and development that the characters perceive of London, there is a sense of negativities like an unsettling feeling of rising chaos and unforeseen threats. For instance, Sir Henry’s pair of boots gets stolen for a second time. The threatening sensation increases when one boot is found in his hotel room, yet it had been extensively inspected earlier (Andrews, 2011). The boots’ incident shows the possibility that someone is stalking Sir Henry. The setting, therefore, shows how changes in a given place may not necessarily have a positive outcome. All the same, the setting in London is important since it is here that Watson and Sherlock Holmes are comfortable. It is also in London that the characters have friends and carry out their day to day business affairs. The setting on London’s Baker Street is also significant because it establishes a feeling of normality irrespective of mysterious occurrences. All the same, when the pair moves to the moors’ wilderness they realize that it is not easy to make reasonable observations; a setting that seeks to increase their yearning for normal surroundings and activities. Author Arthur Doyle intentionally draws the contrast between the two principal settings, that is, London and Dartmoor. For instance, London is a busy but relatively orderly and organized urban setting, while Dartmoor is strikingly isolated and primarily adopts the rural way of life. In literature, isolated settings represent the ultimate symbol of Gothic attributes. In this novel, the most outstanding supernatural element associated with the isolation is the hound. The latter, referred to as the “Hound of the Baskervilles” represents a mystical figure. The legendary ghostly hound is said to be after Baskerville’s family. Therefore, this setting introduces the feeling of fear and strangeness. Further, the Dartmoor setting, and particularly Grimpen Mire builds up the eerie feeling, linked to strange and frightening events. This setting also gives Doyle’s mystery novel an oppressive sensation, which often comes up when forces beyond human control are thought to prevail in an environment. Doyle uses the Dartmoor setting to show the reader that Holmes, a highly rational character, is involved in supernatural occurrences. Apparently, according to the Moor’s folklore, Grimpen Mire is a deadly force that waits to take control of the lives of innocent travelers and expel them to a world of doom and suffering. By showing Dartmoor as an extremely dangerous setting, Doyle successfully increases the readers’ suspense, since one cannot help but wonder if Holmes and Watson will leave the place safely and having successfully and rationally solved the case. The Dartmoor setting further increases the sense of events’ uncertainty. For example, Sherlock Holmes does not have the chance to consult with his police force contacts, even though Lestrade, a Detective Inspector, appears when the novel reaches its climax. Additionally, Holmes cannot ask for help from the Baker Street urchins to whom he is used. Using the Dartmoor setting, therefore, makes it possible for the author to show that the renowned detective is not working in the comfort of his usual environment. This makes the readers wonder if, Holmes with just unrefined intelligence, and the burden of supernatural elements, has the ability to solve the case with as much expertise as he does in other cases. Doyle writes that the Moor has a “Grey melancholy mound, which has an odd uneven top that is dim and unclear from far, like an unlikely scenery in dreams” (Doyle, 1994, p. 88). This quote shows that the Dartmoor setting is highly gloomy. Further, the word “melancholy” calls attention to the depressing mood of the Moor providing an appropriate foundation for a murder mystery novel. The reference made by Watson “the grim suggestiveness of the barren waste, the chilling wind’ and the darkling sky” (Doyle, 1994, p. 92).The setting depicts a scene referring for something dangerous that might take place or about to happen. Additionally the utilization of pathetic is a preparation for the audience or reader to expect death or a supernatural occurrence. Despite the fact that the region around Baskerville Hall has a negative d have the deeper picture about the area. This description, gives the audience a gloomy impression on the vicinity itself. This is seen in the description: “Over the green squares of the fields and the low curve of a wood there rose in the distance a grey, melancholy hill, with a strange jagged summit, dim and vague in the distance, like some fantastic landscape in a dream” (Doyle, 1994, p. 88). The utilization of terms such as “grey”, as well as, “melancholy”, assists in creating a sad, bitter and depressing feeling around the Baskerville Hall. This shows the conflict between natural and human forces being depicted in the area. Moreover, there is use of juxtaposition which is extremely effective in the setting, since the green squares sounds pleasant and beautiful, but this view gets degenerated by inclusion of the jagged summit that is described as, “melancholy”, “vague” and “grey”. This shows the big difference between the moor and London settings. This also shows a big difference between the two areas in terms of civilization. Additionally, Conan depicts Dartmoor as an extremely uninviting and cold when contrasted to the green fields. “The gorgeous green fields, which have thick hedges behind us and in moor they were open and cold” (Doyle, 1994, p. 88). The excerpt seems to show the audience that Dartmoor area is mysterious and dangerous in addition to a increasingly tense and dramatic setting. This area is also described in a sinister manner giving the region more negative aspects. This is seen in the exact where it says that “Everything seemed grey, wild and hard. There were big and rough stones which stood on the tough ground. The hilltops also looked sharp which looked like cruel teeth adjacent to the sky” (Doyle, 1994, p. 124). This reveals the tense setting in moor which has been described by use of similes in order to show the similarity of the area to a crude thing. For instance, the hilltops looked like sharp cruel teeth which show that moor has an evil and vicious side. This also suggested that Sir Henry could die because of the vicious teeth of the hound. In the same way, the moor setting is described by the author in diverse ways. For example, the noises is associated a sense of tension: “A long and low moan, inexpressibly sad, could sweep over moor” (Doyle, 1994, p. 156). This is a sign to the audience that the setting in the Baskerville Hall region was tense and grim. This has a big effect to individuals’ as to gives a buildup on the area where murder will happen as well as make the audience intrigued and scared. Nevertheless, Sir Henry, who is Baskerville Hall’s heir, is trying to have a positive notion about the place and makes sure that, has done the best to make the place more habitable. Therefore, he makes sure that the place has electricity to cover up the chilling notion of the property. Nevertheless, the sinister setting has prevailing propensity. On the other hand, this is the one point where the hall gets a positive description instead of dark and sad. This is because in the whole novel Baskerville Hal’s setting l is more often than not described as a dull and fearful place with a domineering light. “A dull light shines via the weighty windows. Additionally, black smoke always from one of one of the high chimneys of the main structures” (Doyle, 1994, p. 94) The author uses terms like “heavy” and “black” in order to offer the audience an impression goodness and light has been trapped I the hall. Baskerville has an impressing effect to Sir Henry who is eager to get to the place but it proves to be one of the hardest and miserable places to live. The hall’s setting is described as sinister and mute because the author displays a sadistic imagery use. “a dull light shone through heavy mullioned windows” (Doyle, 1994, p. 94). The use of the word, “mullioned” induces that the light is imposed via the dullness shown on the windows. The author further enhances the gothic tension by using a red herring. This is shown by Barrymore the butler who is described as having a, “square black beard and pale distinguished” (Doyle, 1994, p. 96). As a Sir Henry’s follower it gives an extremely disturbing picture of the setting and it alters the reader’s perception. After the first strike by the hound strikes at the Baskerville Hall, the setting is described differently. The hound is describes as “The black, huge, burning hound that was silently and quickly running after Sir Henry (Doyle, 1994, p. 250).” The hound’s representation is extremely efficient in the excerpt because the moor is surrounded by wilderness. Therefore, there is a big divergence that exists between humans and nature. This is because of the stunted nature of the trees which have been planted by humans. The setting demonstrates to the audience that humans and nature can never work together. The moor residence is in the same way described as negative and pessimistic the author. This is when he describes it as “A bleak moorland house” (Doyle, 1994, p. 116). The terms used in the extract show that Moore has little habitants and further emphasizes that it is a desolated and isolated area. In conclusion, the setting in the novel is well shown from the beginning, climax till the end. This is because the author made sure that the time and place have been considered and described accordingly. This helps the reader to understand the plot better because there is need to involve the audience more in understanding potentially supernatural mystery portrayed in the place. The author is successful in creating a believable and captivating setting in order to give a notion that the hounds were supernatural. The Baskerville Hall setting showed that people needed to fear the place and also associate it with supernatural beings and occurrences. This was depicted by use of different buildings and also the lack of enough light in the area. This settings gives the novel a mysterious and thrilling atmosphere. Bibliography Andrews, K. 2011. Literary analysis: The role of setting in The Hound of the Baskervilles, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. [Online]. Available at < http://www.helium.com/items/2127545-literary-analysis-the-role-of-setting-in-the-hound-of-the-baskervilles-by-sir-arthur-conan-doyle > [Accessed 6 May 2013]. Doyle, A. C. 1994. The Hound of the Baskervilles. East 2nd Street Mineola, NY: Dover Publications. Read More