The reason why this story (Speckled Band) was so popular and had a wide audience during the Victorian period is at the time there wasn’t any other source of entertainment such as television and radio, so Victorian people tended to read these stories instead, a lot of people can relate to the story, specially women and additionally the story is melodramatic – something’s intended to produce strong, excited feeling such as the female characters are often in danger and speak of the ‘terror’ they feeling, lashing rain and wind. Reader regard such stories as Locked room mystery and they tend solve the crime before hand.
Helen Stoner’s character is very vulnerable because her stepfather tries to murder her for her wealth. Dr Roylott planed to kill his two stepdaughters in order to rescue his business. He successfully kills Helen Stoner’s sister. But now Dr Roylott is trying to kill Helen Stoner. Then she is persuaded to move to the room where her sister was died; now she feels very exposed to danger and goes to town to see Holmes. Helen Stoner is a typical Victorian woman because when she went to town to see Holmes she dressed in black and heavily veiled. When she saw Holmes, she told him how fear full she is of Dr Roylott. Holmes said, “ I observe that you are shivering.” “It is not cold which makes me shiver,” said the woman in a low voice, changing her seat as requested. “What then?” Holmes asked. “ It is fear, Mr Holmes. It is terror.”
Sherlock Holmes as a detective plays a very important role; his character is very charismatic, mysterious. The Victorian era saw a hue growth in scientific theories, Holmes uses the science of observation and deduction to solve his cases. He is seen as the Victorian new man’ who uses his brains and scientific methods to solve the crime. Holmes lives at a real address Baker Street, and the stories are written as real cases, and narrated by Dr Watson which makes his character very real to reader. He is also courteous and often helpful to women, such as, Helen Stoner. Whilst he help people within Victorian society, he doesn’t like other people very much and is often a loner.
Doctor Roylott one of the main character of the story, who is a violent, melodramatic villain and morally bad person. He is physically described as very strong man. He who keeps some exotic Indian animal at home and make a successful attempt to kill one of his own stepdaughter for her family wealth to rescue his own business and also when doctor Roylott was in India he established a large practice. “In a fit of anger, however, caused by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he beat his native butler to death, and narrowly escaped a capital sentence”. Dr Roylott follows Mrs Stoner when she went to seek help from Sherlock Holmes. He suddenly bursts into Sherlock Holmes office and say “Which of you is Holmes?” “My name, sir but you have the advantage of me,” said Sherlock Holmes. “ I am Dr Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran.” “Indeed, Doctor,” said Holmes blandly. “Pray take a seat.” “ I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I have traced her. What has she been saying to you?” “It is a little cold for the time of year,” said Holmes. “What has she been saying to you?” screamed Dr Roylott furiously. “But I have heard that the crocuses promise well,” continued Holmes. “Ha! You put me off, do you?” said Dr Roylott, taking a step forward, shaking his hunting crop. “I know you, you scoundrel! I have heard of you before. You are Holmes the meddler.” Holmes smiled. “Holmes the busybody.” “Holmes the Scotland Yard jack in office.” Holmes chuckled heartily. “ Your conversation is most entertaining,” “when you go out close the door, for there is a decided draught”. “ I will go when I have had my say. Don’t you dare to meddle with me affairs? I know that Miss Stoner has been here- I traced her! I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here.”
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle uses many literary devices to convey an impression of suspense and many are placed throughout the story to ensure that the reader is always guessing as to what happen. The primary device that Doyle uses is a combination of melodrama and academic writing. Conan Doyle’s hero Sherlock Holmes was popular in Victorian society because at the moment there weren’t a lot of entertaining sources such as TV, cinema, also people could relate to themselves and another factor that his stories were so popular is that the reader could solve the crime.
