What do the stories studied tell us about Victorian English society and lifestyles?

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What do the stories studied tell us about Victorian English society and lifestyles?

Introduction

Over the last few weeks I have read and studied three stories from the Sherlock Holmes series written by Author Conan Doyle, I studied, ‘the red headed league’, ‘the speckled band’, and ‘the man with the twisted lip’. I have focused on six;

  • The sort of life that was led by Holmes and Watson

  • The different lifestyles of people they encounter

  • The place of servants

  • The role of women

  • The nature of law and order/role of police force

  • Systems of transport and communications.

   

   

   The author, Arthur Conan Doyle, was born on the 22 of May 1859 in Edinburgh. He came from a family of ten children, three of which died in their childhood. His father was an alcoholic and also suffered from epileptic fits, he was put into an institution before his death in 1893. Arthur’s parents were Irish; he attended Hotter Preparatory School, and had a very high academic ability. He studied medicine in Edinburgh; Watsonencouraged. He continued writing Sherlock Holme novels including the sign of four, which was published later on in 1889. Sherlock Holmes is still a very popular series today; the legend has carried on throughout the years.

    Doyle became married in 1885 to Louise Hawkins, who was seldom in good health. She died in 1906 having suffered from tuberculoses for many a year. The next year Doyle married a new woman called Jean Lick.

    The final series of Sherlock Holmes was published in the Strand in October 1921.

The lifestyles led by Holmes and Watson

 

Holmes and Watson have a very close relationship, although very professional, Holmes always treated Watson as a close friend. Watson considers Holmes to be a very close friend as is shown on page 1 ‘I called upon my friend’ but although a close friendship is present; there is an obvious state of hierarchy shown this reflects the professional side of the relationship. Holmes is constantly telling Watson what to do and say; yet he always wants him to be involved and kept informed about the cases. It is very much a father son relationship, Holmes links everything together for Watson but this helps to inform us of what is happening in the book. In ‘the speckled band’ on page 49, Holmes wakes Watson up early in the morning so as to include him in the investigation. On page 49 also it is shown that Watson enjoys following Holmes around and being involved in cases, ‘I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his professional investigations’. On this page Watson also shows resentrment towards Holmes for breaking his habits, this makes the relationship between them seem more non – professional.

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   Holmes’ character is very addicted to work and is clearly wealthy, this can be told by him wanting his expenses paid for only, not his service. He also can afford professional clothing and a moderately sized house, the fact that he is wealthy and an upper class gentleman is reinforced by him being a cocaine addict, cocaine was a drug generally taken by upper class people. Watson is also shown to be a wealthy character in the book, he works in a doctors which is generally not very busy, this maybe because it could be a private surgery ...

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