Coursework-The Speckled Band How does Conan Doyle present Dr. Grimesby Roylott as a typical Victorian Villain.

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Tim Baker                16th February 2004

Coursework-The Speckled Band

How does Conan Doyle present Dr. Grimesby Roylott as a typical Victorian Villain.

        Having now read this book I feel I am now able to complete this essay about Roylott.  The main constituents of a typical classic murder mystery invariably consist of a body, a motive, a weapon, a suspect, an alibi and a detective.  Conan Doyle’s,The Speckled Band demonstrates all those typical characteristics.

        I am now going to briefly summarise the story and identify each of the ingredients of the murder mystery, The Speckled Band,  to help the reader understand the elements of the story. I will then analyse how Conan Doyle presents Dr. Roylett as a typical Victorian villain.

The story begins with Holmes and Watson in conversation.  They are reminiscing about their past cases over the last eight years and talk about the mysterious death of a Miss Julia Stoner.  This case commences when Holmes wakes Watson up very early in the morning.  This is because they have a client, a young lady, Helen Stoner.  She is about to be married and is scared because her sister, Julia was due to be married and just before her marriage day, she died. It was an awful shock to all the family.  The coroner said she was unable to find any satisfactory cause of death but Helen thought Julia had died of fear and nervous shock. Consequently Helen Stoner sought the help of Holmes. Helen then tells us a little bit about the history of her family. Helen and Julia are twins who have lost their mother and are living with their stepfather Dr Grimesby Roylott.  Roylott stopped working when the twin’s mother died.  We then hear about the night when Julia Stoner died.  We know that Roylott had retired to his room early but had not gone to sleep.  Julia had said to Helen that she had heard a strange whistling but she thought it was the gypsies.  There was then a huge squeal at which point Helen rushed into Julia’s bedroom.  She found her dead on the floor with her face contorted with anguish and terror. Holmes and Watson asked Helen if they could visit Stoke Moron, the house where Julia died. Suddenly Roylott bursts in and threatens Holmes. It is now obvious that Roylott has followed Helen, to Baker Street, the residence of Holmes.

 Holmes and Watson caught a train to Leatherhead as they made their way to Stoke Moron.  Roylott has gone out for the day so they are free to examine the house.  Holmes inspects the house in his usual manner, thoroughly looking for any clues. He scrutinises the scene and objects with fine detail, unlike Watson who is less careful and less observant.  Holmes obtains the necessary clues, such as  an air vent not leading outside and the bed being chained to the floor. Holmes informs Watson and Helen Stoner of his plan.  

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Holmes and Watson waited for night to fall and following a cue from Helen Stoner, made there way into Julia’s bedroom.  They then sat and watched the ventilator until they saw a light. They then made sure nothing could come through the ventilator into the room and that anything that did try to get in would return from where it came from. The plan was perfectly executed and Roylott had been killed!

It was apparent to Holmes that Roylott had killed Julia and would try to kill Helen with a venomous snake by putting the snake through the ventilator.  Roylett’s ...

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