The Speckled Band Essay Example

The Speckled Band Essay Example The Speckled Band Essay The Speckled Band Essay Read ‘The Speckled Band’ by A. Conan. Doyle and ‘The Monkey’s Paw’ by W. W. Jacobs. Discuss how the authors create tension and discuss the devices Used to mislead the reader.  Ã¢â‚¬ËœThe Speckled Band’ by A. Conan. Doyle and ‘The Monkey’s Paw’ by W. W. Jacobs are two very different stories; ‘The Speckled Band’ follows the ‘murder mystery’ line whereas ‘The Monkey’s Paw’ is based more around horror genre. This means that they will create tension and mislead the reader in completely different ways. In this essay I am going to explore how the two authors do this, and compare their methods for doing so. Arthur Conan Doyle creates tension in many ways. At the beginning of ‘The Speckled Band’, he creates tension by showing the effects of this dreadful crime on the characters. We are told Sherlock is usually a ‘late riser’, however, because of this new case, his routine was broken because at a quarter-past seven, Watson awakes to find Sherlock Holmes, fully dressed, standing by the side of his bed. Helen Stoner, the client who sought Holmes’ services as a detective, when speaking to Sherlock and Watson, was shivering, not from the cold as one would first assume, but from fear. The way she says â€Å"It is not cold which makes me shiver. It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror,† creates tension because she first says what does not make her shiver as if holding off telling them, and then, using short sentences, she repeats the two words, ‘it is’. These two events evoke tension because these events are directly linked to this one case whic h at this point, we still do not know about. He also has a sense of humour, as shown in the Speckled Band when he says to the villain, Dr Roylott, Your conversation is most entertaining. When you go out, close the door, for there is a decided draught. Sherlock is also a serious and hard-working man. He is a detective because he enjoys his work, not because he needs the money. This shows he is dedicated to his job but is also laid-back. Victorians needed stability because of all the crimes, the class system, and people in severe poverty. I think that Conan Doyle was trying to send some sort of message to the public who had suffered crimes in that, someone is always there to help. Dr Watsons role in the stories is to inform the reader exactly what is going on from his notes. Hes a close friend of Sherlock. He has the ability to perceive and describe details There was a gleam in his eyes and a suppressed excitement in his manner which convinced me, and he is reliable, patient and tolerant. He is less imaginative than Holmes and less practical. His inability to deduce makes Holmes more unique and talented. Crime in the nineteenth century was rampant throughout London, because of the under classes poverty and sickness, crime was their only option in order to survive. The most common crime was stealing. The London Metropolitan Police system was created in 1829. In Conan Doyles stories, the police dont play a major part in solving the crimes as Sherlock is shown to be a superior detective. His minute examinations of the crime scenes can be likened to our modern day forensic scientists. I think this shows that he is more reliable than any police forces in those days, as most of them were dismissed due to drunkenness. In The Man with the Twisted Lip, the police force praise Sherlock on his hard work, I am sure Mr Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for having cleared this matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your results. Most of Conan Doyles stories were set in London, and the atmosphere was dark and mysterious. Most of the clue finding journeys were at night time and early morning. I think this shows that Sherlock and Watson were dedicated to their job and to helping other people.