Oh yeah and I still don't know what or who the sign of the four is.
In this chapter, we see that Holmes gets very impatient when a case develops no further. He was waiting all day for a response from his Baker Street Division of the Detective Police Force. This is what Watson noticed, he noticed that Holmes would zone out and wander around the house looking for answers:
"He would hardly reply to my questions and busied himself all the evening in an abtruse chemical analysis which involved much heating of retorts and distilling of vapours, ending at lastt in a smell which fairly drove me out of the apartment. Up to the small hours of the morning I could hear the clinking of his test-tubes which told me that he was still engaged in his malodorous experiment," (130).
Holmes finally decides that he'll go out and look for answers on his own. He had placed an ad that gave a reward to anyone who knew information about Mordecai Smith who owned a boat called tthe Aurora and helped transport the man with the wooden leg somewhere.
In addition, Holmes is a sexist. He doesn't trust women. Watson was going to visit Miss Morstan and tell her of their new discoveries, but Holmes replies, "I would not tell them too much. Women are never to be entirely trusted-not the best of them." So maybe this is why he's never had a steady relationship with a woman?
In this chapter we also see that Watson begins to re-evaluate his colleague. He believes Holmes might be wrong this time. He says:
"Could there be, I wondered, some radical flaw in my companion's reasoning? Might he not be suffering from some huge self-deception? Was it not possible that his nimble and speculative mind had built up this wild theory upon faulty premises? I had never known him to be wrong, and yet the keenest reasoner may occasionally deceived. He was likely, I thought, to fall into error through the over-refinement of his logic-his preference for a subtle and bizarre explanation when a plainer and more commonplace one lay ready to his hand. Yet, on the other hand, I had myself seen the evidence, and I had heard the reasons for his deductions. When I looked back on the long chain of curious cirumstances, many of them trivial in themselves but all tending in the same direction, I could not disguise from myself that even if Holmes's explanation were incorrect the true theory must be equally outré and startling," (132).
I guess Watson is starting to maybe doubt Holmes's accuracy now since the last case was solved almost instantly once Holmes had the right evidence.
Furthermore, more of Holmes's character is revealed. He does like to joke around because he was disguised as a grumpy and old sailor and he visited Watson while Holmes was out. Athelney Jones of Scotland Yard visited Watson and they kept the sailor in the house because the sailor had demanded that he see Holmes at once. Watson and Jones chat while the sailor sat a few feet away from them and then he took off the disguise and Watson and Jones were stunned and surprised. Holmes invites Jones to dinner and it shows that instead of always directing orders and being impatient, he can be humble and hospitable. Holmes says that Watson has "never yet recognized my merits as a housekeeper," (134).
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Chapters 8
So Holmes and Watson continue following Toby as he traces the scent of the man with the wooden leg. Holmes and Watson prepared their weapons in case they had to come face to face with any opposition. This shows that even Holmes is not afraid to use force. So I guess he has that competitive edge maybe from his early boxing days. I'd actually like to find out more about his boxing career, if I can. Then, Toby leads them to an intersection and "began to run backward and forward with one ear cocked and the other drooping, the very picture of canine indecision. Then he waddled round in circles, looking up to us from time to time, as if to ask for sympathy in his embarassment."
As usual, Holmes shows his impatience by replying, "What the deuce is the matter with the dog?" growled Holmes. "They surely would not take a cab or go off in a balloon." I just thought this part was funny because it wasn't the dog's fault if it smells something else that is more appealing than what Holmes was after. Furthermore, Toby chooses one path and leads them to a barrel covered in creosote, which was on the hankerchief that Holmes had Toby smell. They had to back track and follow the other path. *Creosote is a tarlike substance used in chimneys.
As usual, Holmes goes to his Baker Street Division of the detective police force and Holmes has already figured out who was the accomplice who helped the man with the wooden leg. He's found out that it is a person of South American descent, from the Andaman Islands. They're supposed to be monsterlike and use poisoned arrows as their main weapons.
What I don't get is why Holmes can figure this all out even with his specialized deductive reasoning. He only needs a few facts and he has the mystery all solved. Plus he is a drug addict, so it doesn't make much sense. He shouldn't be getting smarter, he should be losing tons of brain cells and becoming less intelligent. If Holmes was a real person, I'd wouldn't like him. I don't know how Watson can stand his personality type.
As usual, Holmes shows his impatience by replying, "What the deuce is the matter with the dog?" growled Holmes. "They surely would not take a cab or go off in a balloon." I just thought this part was funny because it wasn't the dog's fault if it smells something else that is more appealing than what Holmes was after. Furthermore, Toby chooses one path and leads them to a barrel covered in creosote, which was on the hankerchief that Holmes had Toby smell. They had to back track and follow the other path. *Creosote is a tarlike substance used in chimneys.
As usual, Holmes goes to his Baker Street Division of the detective police force and Holmes has already figured out who was the accomplice who helped the man with the wooden leg. He's found out that it is a person of South American descent, from the Andaman Islands. They're supposed to be monsterlike and use poisoned arrows as their main weapons.
What I don't get is why Holmes can figure this all out even with his specialized deductive reasoning. He only needs a few facts and he has the mystery all solved. Plus he is a drug addict, so it doesn't make much sense. He shouldn't be getting smarter, he should be losing tons of brain cells and becoming less intelligent. If Holmes was a real person, I'd wouldn't like him. I don't know how Watson can stand his personality type.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Another murder
Chapters 4-7
So, Miss Morstan, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson visit the mysterious man named, Thaddeus Sholto. His father was Major Sholto and Thaddeus and his twin brother have found a treasure left behind by their father. It was supposed to be split amongst Major Sholto and Captain Morstan, but Morstan died because of the dispute over the treasure. I think he collapsed of a heart attack and fell and cut his head on the treasure chest. Thaddeus was forced to hide his body and him and his brother saw someone observing them outside the window(i think). Yeah, this part was confusing. So, Thaddeus take the visitors to see his brother. When they get there, Thaddeus's brother was already dead. He got poisoned. There was a letter on his chest with the phrase, "Sign of Four," written on it. Miss Morstan was supposed to claim her share of the treasure, but the treasure was stolen after Thaddeus's brother was murdered.
Holmes used to be a boxer, which really surprised me. He fought against the guard at the door of Thaddeus's brother's estate. Is there where he gets his attitude from? Maybe he was a champion or something?
At the scene of the murder, Holmes gets to work. He apparently already solved the mystery by looking around. He answered, "it clears every instant. I only require a few missing links to have an entirely connected case." There's that conceited attitude of his. He gets to work immediately and notices that there is a footprint at the window. He concludes that there were two people involved. One was a child and another was a man with a wooden leg. The child got in through the roof and help the old man into the house. I would like to comment on the relationship between Watson and Holmes here. Despite Holmes being the person that he is, he still has the highest respect for Dr. Watson. Having shown Watson how he draws inferences, in this case, Holmes urges Watson to use the deductive reasoning strategy. I feel that Watson has become the student and Holmes is the teacher. Holmes guides Watson along and tries to make Watson analyze a bit of the situation. For example, Holmes says, "How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth? We know that he did not come through the door, the window, or the chimney. We also know that he could not have been concealed in the room, as there is no concealment possible. When, then, did he come?" (111). In addition, Holmes also relies on Watson for his medical knowledge. He asked Watson about the thorn that killed Thaddeus's brother.
Holmes even gets down and dirty and climbs onto the roof to retrace the murderer's steps. He finds that the man with the wooden leg stepped into a chemical because the room was a lab, basically. Holmes calls upon the dog, Toby, to trace the scent. So Holmes needs help sometimes.
Also, Watson seems to have fallen for Miss Morstan because he held her hand when they found out that Thaddeus was killed and he even escorted her home.
So, Miss Morstan, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson visit the mysterious man named, Thaddeus Sholto. His father was Major Sholto and Thaddeus and his twin brother have found a treasure left behind by their father. It was supposed to be split amongst Major Sholto and Captain Morstan, but Morstan died because of the dispute over the treasure. I think he collapsed of a heart attack and fell and cut his head on the treasure chest. Thaddeus was forced to hide his body and him and his brother saw someone observing them outside the window(i think). Yeah, this part was confusing. So, Thaddeus take the visitors to see his brother. When they get there, Thaddeus's brother was already dead. He got poisoned. There was a letter on his chest with the phrase, "Sign of Four," written on it. Miss Morstan was supposed to claim her share of the treasure, but the treasure was stolen after Thaddeus's brother was murdered.
Holmes used to be a boxer, which really surprised me. He fought against the guard at the door of Thaddeus's brother's estate. Is there where he gets his attitude from? Maybe he was a champion or something?
At the scene of the murder, Holmes gets to work. He apparently already solved the mystery by looking around. He answered, "it clears every instant. I only require a few missing links to have an entirely connected case." There's that conceited attitude of his. He gets to work immediately and notices that there is a footprint at the window. He concludes that there were two people involved. One was a child and another was a man with a wooden leg. The child got in through the roof and help the old man into the house. I would like to comment on the relationship between Watson and Holmes here. Despite Holmes being the person that he is, he still has the highest respect for Dr. Watson. Having shown Watson how he draws inferences, in this case, Holmes urges Watson to use the deductive reasoning strategy. I feel that Watson has become the student and Holmes is the teacher. Holmes guides Watson along and tries to make Watson analyze a bit of the situation. For example, Holmes says, "How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth? We know that he did not come through the door, the window, or the chimney. We also know that he could not have been concealed in the room, as there is no concealment possible. When, then, did he come?" (111). In addition, Holmes also relies on Watson for his medical knowledge. He asked Watson about the thorn that killed Thaddeus's brother.
Holmes even gets down and dirty and climbs onto the roof to retrace the murderer's steps. He finds that the man with the wooden leg stepped into a chemical because the room was a lab, basically. Holmes calls upon the dog, Toby, to trace the scent. So Holmes needs help sometimes.
Also, Watson seems to have fallen for Miss Morstan because he held her hand when they found out that Thaddeus was killed and he even escorted her home.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
The Sign of Four
Thanks Saanchi!
So...the 2nd book starts off with Holmes showing us that he is a crack addict. His wrist and forearm were "all dotted and scarred with innumberable puncture-marks," (89). Holmes finds it "so transcendently stimulating and clarifying to the mind that its secondary action is a matter of small moment," (89). Holmes is a thinker. When he is given a problem to solve, he is in his "own proper atmosphere," (90). He uses cocaine to basically keep his brain sharp. Holmes "cannot live without brainwork," (93). Holmes explains his reason for using cocaine in the following passage:
"My mind rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram, or the most intricate analysis, and I am in my own proper atmosphere. I can dispense then with artificial stimulants. But I abhor the dull routine of existence. I crave for mental exaltation. That is why I have chosen my own particular profession, or rather created it, for I am the only one in the world," (90).
The story begins when a young lady named Miss Morstan comes to Holmes's and Watson's house. She wants them to escort her because she received a letter from a mysterious person who told her to go to the Lyceum Theatre. Her father went to fight in India and when he came back to visit Miss Morstan, he disappeared. She knows that her father's only friend is Major Sholto. Sholto also died.
Indeed Holmes is very work-oriented. Dr. Watson was the only one who noticed how attractive Miss Morstan was. Holmes didn't care at all. Holmes simply replies that he didn't observe. And apparently Holmes has had an affair with a woman before whose case he had to solve. She was hanged for poisoning three little children for their insurance money. As Watson says, Holmes is "really are[an] automaton-a calculating machine," (96).
Holmes, Watson and Miss Morstan head to the theatre and board a cab to a house where they are brought to see someone, a sahib.
So...the 2nd book starts off with Holmes showing us that he is a crack addict. His wrist and forearm were "all dotted and scarred with innumberable puncture-marks," (89). Holmes finds it "so transcendently stimulating and clarifying to the mind that its secondary action is a matter of small moment," (89). Holmes is a thinker. When he is given a problem to solve, he is in his "own proper atmosphere," (90). He uses cocaine to basically keep his brain sharp. Holmes "cannot live without brainwork," (93). Holmes explains his reason for using cocaine in the following passage:
"My mind rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram, or the most intricate analysis, and I am in my own proper atmosphere. I can dispense then with artificial stimulants. But I abhor the dull routine of existence. I crave for mental exaltation. That is why I have chosen my own particular profession, or rather created it, for I am the only one in the world," (90).
The story begins when a young lady named Miss Morstan comes to Holmes's and Watson's house. She wants them to escort her because she received a letter from a mysterious person who told her to go to the Lyceum Theatre. Her father went to fight in India and when he came back to visit Miss Morstan, he disappeared. She knows that her father's only friend is Major Sholto. Sholto also died.
Indeed Holmes is very work-oriented. Dr. Watson was the only one who noticed how attractive Miss Morstan was. Holmes didn't care at all. Holmes simply replies that he didn't observe. And apparently Holmes has had an affair with a woman before whose case he had to solve. She was hanged for poisoning three little children for their insurance money. As Watson says, Holmes is "really are[an] automaton-a calculating machine," (96).
Holmes, Watson and Miss Morstan head to the theatre and board a cab to a house where they are brought to see someone, a sahib.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Finally Finished!
Part 2: Chapters 5-7
John Ferrier and Lucy Ferrier were eventually captured. John was shot by Stangerson and Lucy was forced to marry Drebber. Jefferson Hope took this into stride as he vowed to seek vengeance. When Hope was taken to prison, he told the detectives his account of the story. Hope tracked down Stangerson and Drebber to London and killed them. Before he was even tried, he died of an aortic aneurism.
What I found interesting was that despite Holmes having solved the case, he still didn't know who the person was that came to retrieve the ring. Hope didn't tell him because he didn't want to be a snitch. Despite Holmes's deductive reasoning, he couldn't figure out this little detail. Holmes was very cocky in saying that "the proof of its intrinsic simplicity is, that without any help save a few very ordinary deductions I was able to lay my hand upon the criminal within three days." Holmes explains his method for deductive reasoning clearly in the last chapter. He notes that you have "to be able to reason backward."
The passage will probably clarify any confusion:
"Most people, if you describe a train of events to them, will tell you what the result would be. They can put those events together in their minds, and argue from them that something will come to pass. There are few people, however, who, if you told them a result, would be able to evolve from their own inner consciousness what the steps were which led up to that result. This power is what I mean when I talk of reasoning backward, or analytically." - Holmes
He then goes on and describes how he solved the case. Holmes basically examines every detail of the crime scene and makes inferences and asks questions. This is basically what we all do everyday. But Holmes has the ability to go beyond this and make his own scenarios. At first, he examined the footsteps and found that there were two men involved. Then he entered the house and realized that there wasn't a robbery. He figured it might involve politics or a woman. When he saw the ring, he immediately knew that it was over a woman. He basicaly calls the police in Cleveland and inquires the marriage of Drebber. The police told Holmes that Drebber had asked for "protection of the law" against Jefferson Hope. Holmes had found his murderer. So he has his Arab squad pursue the streets of London looking for Hope and when they find Hope, they arrest him.
Even though, Holmes solves the case, the article in the newspaper gives Holmes barely any recognition. The article states, "The man was apprehended, it appears, in the rooms of a certain Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who has himself, as an amateur, shown some talent in the detective line and who, with such instructors[Lestrade and Gregson], may hope in time to attain to some degree of their skill." This is ironic because Holmes's intuition definitely surpasses that of Lestrade's and Gregon's.
The story is told in the point of view of Dr. Watson, who is Holmes's roommate. And no, Holmes doesn't show any real emotion towards anything. He's like Stevens, all he cares about is work. But I suppose if he were to fall in love....then things could get interesting. Now off to my next Sherlock Holmes book.
John Ferrier and Lucy Ferrier were eventually captured. John was shot by Stangerson and Lucy was forced to marry Drebber. Jefferson Hope took this into stride as he vowed to seek vengeance. When Hope was taken to prison, he told the detectives his account of the story. Hope tracked down Stangerson and Drebber to London and killed them. Before he was even tried, he died of an aortic aneurism.
What I found interesting was that despite Holmes having solved the case, he still didn't know who the person was that came to retrieve the ring. Hope didn't tell him because he didn't want to be a snitch. Despite Holmes's deductive reasoning, he couldn't figure out this little detail. Holmes was very cocky in saying that "the proof of its intrinsic simplicity is, that without any help save a few very ordinary deductions I was able to lay my hand upon the criminal within three days." Holmes explains his method for deductive reasoning clearly in the last chapter. He notes that you have "to be able to reason backward."
The passage will probably clarify any confusion:
"Most people, if you describe a train of events to them, will tell you what the result would be. They can put those events together in their minds, and argue from them that something will come to pass. There are few people, however, who, if you told them a result, would be able to evolve from their own inner consciousness what the steps were which led up to that result. This power is what I mean when I talk of reasoning backward, or analytically." - Holmes
He then goes on and describes how he solved the case. Holmes basically examines every detail of the crime scene and makes inferences and asks questions. This is basically what we all do everyday. But Holmes has the ability to go beyond this and make his own scenarios. At first, he examined the footsteps and found that there were two men involved. Then he entered the house and realized that there wasn't a robbery. He figured it might involve politics or a woman. When he saw the ring, he immediately knew that it was over a woman. He basicaly calls the police in Cleveland and inquires the marriage of Drebber. The police told Holmes that Drebber had asked for "protection of the law" against Jefferson Hope. Holmes had found his murderer. So he has his Arab squad pursue the streets of London looking for Hope and when they find Hope, they arrest him.
Even though, Holmes solves the case, the article in the newspaper gives Holmes barely any recognition. The article states, "The man was apprehended, it appears, in the rooms of a certain Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who has himself, as an amateur, shown some talent in the detective line and who, with such instructors[Lestrade and Gregson], may hope in time to attain to some degree of their skill." This is ironic because Holmes's intuition definitely surpasses that of Lestrade's and Gregon's.
The story is told in the point of view of Dr. Watson, who is Holmes's roommate. And no, Holmes doesn't show any real emotion towards anything. He's like Stevens, all he cares about is work. But I suppose if he were to fall in love....then things could get interesting. Now off to my next Sherlock Holmes book.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Mystery Solved?
Part 1 Chaper 7:
Yeah, so Holmes was very laid back in the last chapter while he was listening to Lestrade's and Gregson's conclusions. Holmes has Lestrade offer his conclusion. Lestrade finds a case of pills in Joseph Stangerson's hotel room at the time of his death. Holmes cries out, "The last link, my case is complete." So apparently, Holmes wanted to seem very calm and relaxed until the other detectives revealed their errors, and then bam, he tells them that he's solved the case. I'm beginning to view Holmes as a perfectionist. He wants to be the person who solves the mystery and only him.
Holmes tests the pills by cutting one in half and feeding it to the servant's dog. The following passage will reveal more about Holmes:
"Holmes had taken out his watch, and as minute foloowed minute without result, an expression of the utmost chagrin and disappointment appeared upon his features. He gnawed his lip, drummed his fingers upon the table, and showed every other symptom of acute impatience. So great was his emotion that I felt sincerely sorry for him, while the two detectives smiled derisively, by no means displeased at this check which he had met. "It can't be a coincidence," he cried, at last springing from his chair and pacing wildly up and down the room; "it is impossible that it should be a mere coincidence. The very pills which I suspected in the case of Drebber are actually found after the death of Stangerson. And yet they are inert. What can it mean? Surely my whole chain of reasoning cannot have been false. It is impossible!" (49).
Holmes is very impatient and he just doesn't like to be proved wrong. He's definitely a perfectionist. In this passage, he seems almost bipolar because he is crazily questioning his own thought process and almost punishing himself for being wrong. Holmes even knows who the assassin is already. He doesn't reveal the name to Lestrade and Gregson when they ask him, but he tells them that they have to take it step by step in arresting him.
The murderer was Jefferson Hope and he was the cab driver, I think, because Holmes had Hope bring up a cab and asked Hope to transport his bags. Then he arrests Hope.
Part 2 Chapters 1-4
These chapters don't include Sherlock Holmes. I think they're explaining why Hope murders Enoch Drebber and Joseph Staggerson. For example, John Ferrier and his adopted daughter, Lucy Ferrier, were about to die in the desert when a caravan of wagons rescued them. The leader of the Mormons, Brigham Young demanded that Ferrier adopt their beliefs in return for their rescue. Lucy grows up and falls in love with a christian man, name Jefferson Hope. Young finds out and demands that Ferrier have his daughter choose young Drebber or Stangerson as the husband for Lucy. Hope comes back and helps them get out of the land of the saints.
Yeah, so Holmes was very laid back in the last chapter while he was listening to Lestrade's and Gregson's conclusions. Holmes has Lestrade offer his conclusion. Lestrade finds a case of pills in Joseph Stangerson's hotel room at the time of his death. Holmes cries out, "The last link, my case is complete." So apparently, Holmes wanted to seem very calm and relaxed until the other detectives revealed their errors, and then bam, he tells them that he's solved the case. I'm beginning to view Holmes as a perfectionist. He wants to be the person who solves the mystery and only him.
Holmes tests the pills by cutting one in half and feeding it to the servant's dog. The following passage will reveal more about Holmes:
"Holmes had taken out his watch, and as minute foloowed minute without result, an expression of the utmost chagrin and disappointment appeared upon his features. He gnawed his lip, drummed his fingers upon the table, and showed every other symptom of acute impatience. So great was his emotion that I felt sincerely sorry for him, while the two detectives smiled derisively, by no means displeased at this check which he had met. "It can't be a coincidence," he cried, at last springing from his chair and pacing wildly up and down the room; "it is impossible that it should be a mere coincidence. The very pills which I suspected in the case of Drebber are actually found after the death of Stangerson. And yet they are inert. What can it mean? Surely my whole chain of reasoning cannot have been false. It is impossible!" (49).
Holmes is very impatient and he just doesn't like to be proved wrong. He's definitely a perfectionist. In this passage, he seems almost bipolar because he is crazily questioning his own thought process and almost punishing himself for being wrong. Holmes even knows who the assassin is already. He doesn't reveal the name to Lestrade and Gregson when they ask him, but he tells them that they have to take it step by step in arresting him.
The murderer was Jefferson Hope and he was the cab driver, I think, because Holmes had Hope bring up a cab and asked Hope to transport his bags. Then he arrests Hope.
Part 2 Chapters 1-4
These chapters don't include Sherlock Holmes. I think they're explaining why Hope murders Enoch Drebber and Joseph Staggerson. For example, John Ferrier and his adopted daughter, Lucy Ferrier, were about to die in the desert when a caravan of wagons rescued them. The leader of the Mormons, Brigham Young demanded that Ferrier adopt their beliefs in return for their rescue. Lucy grows up and falls in love with a christian man, name Jefferson Hope. Young finds out and demands that Ferrier have his daughter choose young Drebber or Stangerson as the husband for Lucy. Hope comes back and helps them get out of the land of the saints.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Part 1 Chapter 6
Holmes didn't ask the cab driver what happened. He was observing from a distance and didn't want to be seen. I agree, I also think that the cab driver was staged. But then again the cab is a horse carriage and the driver sits in the front, outside of the carriage. So he probably didn't notice anything and it was probably noisy because of the horses' walk.
Part 1 Chapter 6
So Tobias Gregson visits Holmes and tells him that he's solved the case. He's arrested someone named, Arthur Charpentier. Gregson tells Holmes that the person who was murdered, Enoch J. Drebber, was renting a room at the Charpentiers' house. Arthur supposedly chased down Drebber because Drebber wanted his sister to runaway with him. Arthur didn't like it and beat him somewhere in the stomach with a stick, which according to Gregson killed him immediately "without leaving any mark." He drags the body into the Brixton house and Gregson believes the ring and the blood are just traps for the police.
What I continued to notice the fierce competition between the detectives. Gregson mocks Holmes for not inquiring more about the hat that was left behind at the scene. Gregson visited the person who made the hat and found the address to the Charpentiers' house. Being the smart man he is, Holmes had already noticed the hat, but didn't visit the maker. In his conversaton with Gregson, Holmes seemed to be pretty laid back having found out that Gregson solved the case. Holmes probably knew something was wrong with Gregson's theory. In addition, Gregson makes fun of Lestrade because he believed Lestrade "had started off upon the wrong scent." However, Lestrade shows up and presents his findings. He tried to search for a secretary, Joseph Stangerson, who was also involved in the crime, but he finds out that he was murdered at six o'clock in the morning. So the case isn't solved! But Holmes didn't apply his incredible method of deduction this time around. The chapter ends with the cliffhanger.
More on Holmes's character: He takes advantage of other people, especially children. He had his own little group called the Baker Street division of the detective police force. The members were "the dirtiest and most ragged street Arabs," and they were children too. Apparently, Holmes believes that these children are "sharp as needles" who "go everywhere and hear everything." I think this group may play a big part in solving this mystery.
Part 1 Chapter 6
So Tobias Gregson visits Holmes and tells him that he's solved the case. He's arrested someone named, Arthur Charpentier. Gregson tells Holmes that the person who was murdered, Enoch J. Drebber, was renting a room at the Charpentiers' house. Arthur supposedly chased down Drebber because Drebber wanted his sister to runaway with him. Arthur didn't like it and beat him somewhere in the stomach with a stick, which according to Gregson killed him immediately "without leaving any mark." He drags the body into the Brixton house and Gregson believes the ring and the blood are just traps for the police.
What I continued to notice the fierce competition between the detectives. Gregson mocks Holmes for not inquiring more about the hat that was left behind at the scene. Gregson visited the person who made the hat and found the address to the Charpentiers' house. Being the smart man he is, Holmes had already noticed the hat, but didn't visit the maker. In his conversaton with Gregson, Holmes seemed to be pretty laid back having found out that Gregson solved the case. Holmes probably knew something was wrong with Gregson's theory. In addition, Gregson makes fun of Lestrade because he believed Lestrade "had started off upon the wrong scent." However, Lestrade shows up and presents his findings. He tried to search for a secretary, Joseph Stangerson, who was also involved in the crime, but he finds out that he was murdered at six o'clock in the morning. So the case isn't solved! But Holmes didn't apply his incredible method of deduction this time around. The chapter ends with the cliffhanger.
More on Holmes's character: He takes advantage of other people, especially children. He had his own little group called the Baker Street division of the detective police force. The members were "the dirtiest and most ragged street Arabs," and they were children too. Apparently, Holmes believes that these children are "sharp as needles" who "go everywhere and hear everything." I think this group may play a big part in solving this mystery.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
A Study in Scarlet - The first of many Sherlock Holmes stories
So yeah, I've neglected this blog til now. Sorry to the person who's going to read this (don't know who you are yet).
Anyways, the first book I'm going to read is A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This book is the first of the Sherlock Holmes series. Since I'm doing a study of the character of Sherlock Holmes, what better way than to start with the very first novel.
What I know about the mystery so far:A man has been murdered. Supposedly poisoned and one of the murderers leave behind a wedding ring and there is the word "rache" written in blood on the wall (rache meaning revenge in German).
Anyways, the first book I'm going to read is A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This book is the first of the Sherlock Holmes series. Since I'm doing a study of the character of Sherlock Holmes, what better way than to start with the very first novel.
What I know about the mystery so far:A man has been murdered. Supposedly poisoned and one of the murderers leave behind a wedding ring and there is the word "rache" written in blood on the wall (rache meaning revenge in German).
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