Victorians were aware of these places, but tried to ignore them claiming that they had been set up by foreigners.
We have evidence of this as Watson says “As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe for me and a supply of the drug.”
In this particular story the author tries to describe the different districts of the city In more detail for his readers.
Everything that was negative and wrong with London for example: the use of drugs, thieving, murder, poverty and squalor are all associated with the East- End.
In support of this Watson says “An Opium Den in the further east of the city”. “…Among the dregs of the docks …”
Sherlock Holmes states about this place “We should be rich men if we had a thousand pounds for every poor devil who has been done to death in that Den.”
On the other hand we see (the life) in the suburbs or outskirts of London, we see a different quality of life enjoyed by Neville St Claire family.
Watson says “He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very nicely, and lived generally in good style.”
A villa was a new modern house in the Victorian times, built by rich, or middle merchant class rather than the aristocracy who were still living in their now decayed mansions or manor houses as in the case of the Roylott family in “The Speckled Band”.
The story also highlights the Victorian attitude towards foreigners. They are clearly associated with the Opium Den in the east London, as it was in this part of the city that most immigrants settled.
We have already noted that Watson refers to a Malay attendant who he describes as sallow as compared to the white Victorians.
This time Sherlock Holmes himself speaks of the person who runs the Opium Den as the “Rascally Lascar”.
Again Holmes refers to this person in charge of the Den as “This Lascar scoundrel… aided by a Dane.” Again these are foreigners seen in a bad light.
Sherlock Holmes continues to describe these people involved in the drugs game and the suspected murder of Neville St Clair “And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately implicated in the matter. The lascar was known to be a man of the vilest antecedents.”
These views of the foreigners as evil people would have fitted easily into the Victorian view of the world, as they needed to control and change the world through the empire.
There is a clear contrast between the rich villas of the St Clair Family in the suburbs of London compared to the vile alleys of east London. The area around the Opium Den and east London is described as sombre, dark, badly lit place which reflects on its poverty.
In contrast we find that the home of the St Clair family is described as well lit, bright and inviting.
Watson States “As we entered a well –lit dining –room , upon the table of which a cold supper had been laid out.”
Further impression of the richness of St Clair family is underlined by the writer when he says “As we approached the door flew open, and a little blonde women stood in the opening, clad in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy pink chiffon at her neck and wrist.”
High quality clothing of the Victorian period would often be referred to, with French name for example “Mousseline de Soie” and “Chiffon.”
In east London on the other hand the writer writes about the squalid beggar which reflects on the way people are dressed and the poverty of some people. The writer makes it known to us that begging was common in the city. The writer refers to these beggars in the language used in that time. Evidence for this is “The common crowd of Mendicants.”
In “The Speckled Band” we see that women have been badly treated. The case in point being the murder of Juliet Stoner and the attempted murder of Helen Stoner before Holmes intervenes to stop their aristocratic step father from carrying out his evil against Helen.
In this story “The Man With The Twisted Lip”, women have a much better profile, but are still in the some degree victims of their husband’s behaviour.
This is firstly true of Kate Whitney whose husband is an addict to Opium and as a result is making her life a misery.
At the Beginning of this story Mrs Whitney comes and appeals to Watson and his wife for help. We have evidence when she says “Oh, I’m in such trouble!” she cried. “I do so want a little help.”
We further find her inability to deal with a situation of her husband’s addiction. “I didn’t know what to do, so I came straight to you.” This shows to some extent the vulnerability to handle situations in what was mainly a man's world.
Yet in contrast we see Watson’s wife seems in control of the situation and even of her husband.
We see in the following quotations that it is Watson’s wife who seems in control in handling Kate Whitney’s case.
“Now, you must have some wine and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or should you rather that I sent James off to bed?”.
This also shows what kind of character Watson is. His wife feels comfortable in making these remarks which are out of character with the Victorian period.
The other woman who is depicted in this story is Mrs St Clair whose husband disappears in suspicious circumstances and who even Holmes thinks he may be dead.
Yet we see she is a quite confident woman who does not give up easily. She is not afraid to ask Sherlock Holmes directly if her husbands dead or not. She says “I should very much like to ask you one or twp plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain answer.”
Further evidence of the strength of her character is underlined when she says “Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given to fainting, I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion.”
At this stage she had received a letter from her husband who may have given her hope and courage. Never the less she comes across as a strong willed self confident and clear minded person.
In conclusion the story deals with the poverty of lower classes in the east-end. They further highlight the Opium Dens and drug taking which was introduced to London by immigrants. It gives a glimpse of the new emerging rich in the suburbs.
We also see in this story a different aspect of Watson’s life being depicted.
We find Watson’s circumstances have changed. Now he is a married man carrying out his own practise in medicine and involving himself like Holmes in solving problems.
