In the story of “Silver Blaze” there are several aspects typical of detective genre. For instance, John Straker was found dead holding Fitzroy Simpson’s cravat. Immediately, the reader presumes that there must have been a struggle between the two men. Also, it was known that Simpson owned “a heavy stick with a knob to it”. This gives the police the impression that Simpson is the murderer and he is the suspected kidnapper of Silver Blaze. The cravat turns out to be a “red herring” which is something that draws attention away from other would-be suspects. Without the police realising the nature of this “clue”, a policeman reveals, “I really think we have enough [proof] to go before a jury”. Holmes feels this is not necessarily the case and is not convinced that the evidence is conclusive.
Other conventions are also included in “Silver Blaze” such as the detective having a loyal and devoted sidekick. Dr Watson is constantly in awe of his friend’s detection skills and trusts him without question. Holmes himself is a typical detective in the sense that he controls the situation at all times, giving off only a selected amount of information, “I follow my own methods, and tell as much or as little as I choose.” He does not rush into things but checks out his hunches and theories before sharing them with others. Rather than jump to conclusions, he pieces together the jigsaw bit by bit until he is able to see the whole picture and then enjoys presenting the whole story to others.
The motive for the crime in “Silver Blaze” is financial, a very common one in detective stories. In this story, John Straker is leading a double life and needs money to maintain his lifestyle; he bets against Silver Blaze and tries to harm him so he goes lame. When he is first found, the reader has sympathy with him, as he has stayed loyal to the owner of the stables since his days as a jockey racing in Colonel Ross’s colours. However, when the reader discovers the truth about what happened there is a feeling that Straker got what he deserved and there is no sadness.
Another typical ingredient of this genre is the unravelling at the end of the story where the mystery is solved and everything is clear. All loose ends are tied up and all the characters and the reader are given a step-by-step explanation of the events leading up to the crime and the motives of all who are involved.
Clues are cleverly placed throughout the story. Firstly, the knife seems to suggest that Straker was genuinely searching for a prowler on the night he was killed. However, Holmes recognises that the knife he chose to go after the stranger was an odd choice of weapon. It was fine enough to perform surgery and could easily have been used to harm the horse.
The powder opium in the stable boys curried mutton was the another clue. Fitzroy Simpson would not have known about the meal of the evening therefore this rules him out of the drugging. Someone who lives with Colonel Ross would have known about the meal of curried mutton, so therefore they would know they could disguise the taste of the opium in it.
Untypical conventions of “Silver Blaze” are that the horse, Silver Blaze, is not only the victim by being kidnapped and attempted to be made lame, but is also the murderer of John Straker. There is a sort of irony in that everyone is looking for a human murderer when the actual killer is under their nose and although perhaps guilty of manslaughter, not a murderer at all.
Fitzroy Simpson is made to look guilty as his cravat was found in John Straker’s hands. Also he owned a Penang lawyer, which could have been used as the murder weapon. He had obviously been out in the storm as his clothes from the night before were soaking wet
Conan Doyle, in my opinion, did not have Simpson as the murderer as it would have been too obvious as he was at the stables earlier in the night of the murder. So, by him not being the killer, it adds a sense of mystery, as he is the main suspect.
Another character that could have been the murderer is Silas Brown. If Silas Brown were the murderer there would be a clear motive. Desborough, Silas’ horse, is second favourite and, like any other horse owner, he wants it to win.
The story is told in the view of Watson, as this creates suspense as you do not find out the information and relevance of clues at the same time as Holmes does.
My favourite part of the story is the summing up told by Holmes as all the different parts of the story are brought together with relevance to make sense. My least favourite part of the story was that there is not enough depth into the knowledge of some of the characters such as Colonel Ross and Silas Brown.
