The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle is about the famous detective Sherlock Holmes who tries to solve the mystery of a hound that curses the Baskerville family. The story begins with Holmes with his partner Dr. John Watson, who meets a doctor and physician named Dr. James Mortimer, who tells them about a curse and the Baskerville family. After Sir Charles died from the hound, they fear the next in line, Sir Henry Baskerville. After meeting Sir Henry, Watson goes with him up to Dartmoor, where Baskerville Hall is. There he meets Mr. and Mrs. Stapleton, Mr. and Mrs. Barrymore, Mr. Frankland and his daughter Laura Lyons, and a convict named Selden. Then Holmes mysteriously appears and tells Watson about the reality of the hound, who was first believed to be supernatural. He is convinced that Stapleton owns the hound and that he was the one who killed Sir Charles and was attempting to kill Sir Henry. After using Sir Henry as bait and killing the hound, Stapleton also drowns in the moor near his house while trying to escape.
The difference between natural and supernatural occurrences can be hard to tell and require a lot of effort to figure out. But, with the power of science and logic, it becomes easier to tell and everything eventually gets sorted out in the end. In the book, the beginning slightly reveals a bit about the hound, which showed that it seems like it is a supernatural thing and not real or logical, because its just a legend and it could be fake or untrue. But, when Holmes actually figures out some parts of it, everything was just put together like a puzzle. Since the hound was owned by Stapleton, it is actually a regular dog, and the only difference is its appearance and characteristics. The power of science and reasoning is also the key to figuring out mysteries, especially like what Sherlock Holmes does, like his deduction and thinking. Although objects or occurrences may seem supernatural or magical in the beginning, things in life are usually normal and have no power or magic in them. Logic is basically the key to solving everything. Common sense is what makes things logical, where it becomes easy to distinguish natural things and supernatural ones. Natural and supernatural objects and incidents can be hard to distinguish, but the key point always lies in logical reasoning.
Criminals and their actions have different levels and causes, but what makes them all similar is the negativity there always is, which displays human nature. Most times, they are greedy, selfish, and evil. In the book, there are two main criminals who do bad things. Stapleton turned into a bad person when he wanted inheritance and money, which reflects on his greediness. There is also twisted love, which is when the culprit used someone else to achieve something. Stapleton used Laura Lyons, who loved him to lure Sir Charles, whom she doesn’t really like. Stapleton also used his wife to seduce Sir Henry and kill him. It can also be strange, but sometimes evilness passes down from generation. In the beginning, Sir Hugo Baskerville was a mean person and his evilness could have been passed on to Stapleton since he is also a member of the Baskerville family. Criminals are always bad people, spreading bad vibes. Most times, criminals and their actions reflects on human nature, which is being greedy most times, getting as much as one wishes, and not caring for others. It also connects to evilness, which can be passed down. Evilness is not something one naturally has, it’s something one gets from things that one does. Human nature is the most accurate description and reflection of what one does and what causes one to do so.
Women in stories are typically ignored, but some of them do great things and cause big influences on the story. Most women in stories are protagonists that help with the development of the stories. In the Hound of the Baskervilles, there was Laura Lyons and Mrs. Stapleton, Beryl. Stapleton used Laura Lyons to seduce and kill Sir Charles, which would have never happened if she hadn’t agreed or liked him. Beryl was also a key figure when Stapleton tried to kill Sir Henry. Once she refused, Stapleton couldn’t get to Sir Henry as easily. If she did help her husband, the story would have ended much quicker and in a much more violent and strange way, in which one of the main protagonists dies and the antagonist survives. They fool the male characters and prove that they are as good as them. Women in some stories may be physically weaker, but it doesn’t mean that they are mentally and intellectually weaker. They can outsmart others, have their own mind, and do as they wish. Women in stories can be ignored and looked down on as a minor character, they can still have great influences on the story just as much as the men do.
Natural and supernatural objects and occurrences, criminals and human nature, and strong women are all important aspects of stories. The difference between natural and supernaturals can be very confusing, but it eventually always gets solved by logical reasoning. In the beginning of the story, the hound seemed like a supernatural creature. But, it turns out that it’s actually a natural hound that got turned into a scary-looking and acting beast. Criminals are always the villains in the story, and they do bad things from bad traits, which come from human nature. Stapleton was greedy, like how most people naturally want good things for themselves, along with twisted love. Evilness could have also been passed down from Sir Hugo Baskerville who was a mean person, to Stapleton who was also from the Baskerville family. Women can be seen as minors, but they still play major roles. When Stapleton asks Laura to seduce and lure Sir Charles, she accepted since she likes Stapleton and not Sir Charles, and also when Stapleton asks Beryl to seduce Sir Henry. She also stood up against him and was tortured. If she had helped Stapleton, he would have killed Sir Henry.
Comments