Discuss Conan Doyle's presentation of the villains

Doyle uses very threatening language whenever Roylott is around, this is to add to the villainous character that he upholds. Doyle's use of descriptive language also helps the reader to gather a picture of Roylott, as he gives a very shady and distinctive description.                                                                                              Julia Stoner was the first victim that was killed in Dr Roylott’s house. This case was never solved. Helen Stoner was the around the age of 30, but looked older; she wore a black dress, which was heavily veiled that cased an air of mystery. She had premature grey hair from stress and shock of the death of her sister. She speaks in a low tone of voice and always worried, she had no money but will be getting some when she marries her fiancé as she mentions this to Sherlock Holmes, and she also mentions that her fiancé has tried to solve the mystery of her sister’s murder, but did not succeed. She has flowery (elaborate) language, she is very shocked. To prove that Helen was scared it says in the book: 'I could not sleep at night'                                                                                                          The second possible villain in ‘The Speckled band’ are the gipsies. At the time of Julia's death she proclaimed, "Oh my God Helen! It was the Band’ The Speckled Band!"                                                                                                                         The band of gipsies that lived in the plantation about the house wore spotted handkerchiefs over their heads and Helen supposed that this was the reason for Julia's proclamation. All the possibilities will be going through the mind of the reader. The animals kept by the sisters' stepfather will also play a part in that suspicion.                                                                                                           The detective and his assistant. The detective must be of the utmost intelligence and should be polite and attentive with the ability to deduce the most defined detail from a most simple observation. The perfect depiction of this is Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock Holmes is the most famous detective in English literature, even today.                                                                                                            His assistant, Dr. Watson, also has these characteristics, but no matter the extent of his willingness to understand, he cannot match Holmes intelligence and ability. "I fancy that I may have deduced a little more, I imagine you saw all that I did." This is Holmes putting Watson in his place. Watson is merely his assistant. This is also securing the readers perspective on Sherlock Holmes.                                All through the Speckled Band Sherlock Holmes displays his distinct ability to decipher the exact meaning of a situation. At the same time that Holmes is doing this, the reader becomes more and more confused about the situation in hand. This is where Conan Doyle's first person narrative becomes crucial to the story. He uses Dr. Watson as a translator of Holmes' genius. Watson helps the readers understand exactly what's going on and, in a way, puts their minds at ease. This is typical of Arthur Conan Doyle. He creates a psychological battle in the minds of the reader. He uses Holmes to create a trouble with interpretation of sequences past and to come and then simplifies it through Watson.                                  Sherlock Holmes suspects Grimsby Roylott, treats Helen Stoner kindly, spots all the clues, recognises red herrings, takes personal risks and solves the crime. He does this by spotting all the clues "My attention was speedily drawn…to this ventilator and to the ropes which hung down to the bed. The discovery that this was a dummy and that the bed was clamped to the floor, instantly gave rise to suspicion that the rope was there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me". Initially I had an idea that Doctor Roylott had something to do with the murder, but after, when Holmes revealed it couldn't be him I had a suspicion that it was an animal because he was known for keeping wild animals.