Dr Roylott in the speckled band is presented as a mad man with a passion for animals. He is loud and abusive, “What has she been saying to you? Screamed the old man furiously”. He is also private, “Don’t you dare to meddle with my affairs”. He also has an Indian past, “When Dr Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs Stoner.”. He also had a passion for Indian animals, “He had a passion for Indian animals”.
The plot in the speckled band is very good because it makes you think ahead of what you think is going to happen. The descriptions of what is in the room miss lead you, “Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants”.
The description of Dr Roylott’s house is brief but still allows you to get a clear picture in your mind.
The period detail in the speckled band makes you actually think that you are in Victorian London. The fact that they use horse and carriage gives you a higher sensation of the period. The description of the buildings also makes you have a higher sense of the period in which it is set.
The creation of atmosphere in the speckled band adds to the success of this story because of the threat and menace coming from Dr Roylott.
Sherlock Holmes the red-headed league is presented as a mysterious, calm and collected person. He likes to be left alone and smoke his pipe to help him solve his crimes, “I beg that you won’t speak to me for fifty minutes” and again, “He curled himself up in his chair, with his knees drawn up to his hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird.”
Dr Watson the red-headed league is slightly confused with why Holmes asked him to come. Watson shares Holmes‘s liking for the bizarre and hence the reason why he accepted the case, “I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum routine of everyday life.”. Holmes uses Watson for a second opinion, “Perhaps, Mr Wilson, you would have the great kindness to recommence your narrative.”
John Clay is a clever opponent with a devious plan, “Your red-headed idea was very new and effective”.
The plot the red-headed league is very cleverly put together and confuses you at first but in the end you finally see what happened and think to your self, how could I have missed that.
The description of how the pawnbroker connects to the bank is done very well.
The period detail in the red-headed league is shown very well because of the descriptions of the pawnbroker shop and the bank.
The creation of atmosphere in the red-headed league adds to the success of this story because of the menace and intelligence of John Clay.
Sherlock Holmes in the final problem is very mysterious and secretive from the start when he breaks into Dr Watson’s house and then tires to avoid the subject why he is there. He is also nervous, “Something about his pale, worn face told me that his nerves were at their highest tension”. He was also anxious to be on his way, “allow me to leave your house presently by scrambling over your back garden wall”. Sherlock Holmes also appears nervous about something but Watson isn’t sure what, “You are afraid of something?”, “of air-guns”.
Dr Watson in the final problem is simply confused with the situation and listens intently to what he has to say. They know each other very well so they know if something is wrong, “I think you know me enough, Watson, to understand that I am no means a nervous man.”.
Professor Moriarty is Sherlock Holmes’s arch enemy. Every case Sherlock Holmes does he senses him, “Again and again in cases of the most varying sorts – forgery cases, robberies, murders – I have felt the presence of this force.”. Sherlock Holmes describes him as the master mind of most of the crimes committed in London, “He is the organizer of half that is evil and of nearly all that is undetected in this great city.”. Sherlock Holmes also describes him as a man wanting to take over the world, “He is the Napoleon of crime”. Sherlock Holmes goes on to describe how he turned to evil, “A criminal strain ran through his blood, which instead of being modified, was increased and rendered infinitely more dangerous by his extraordinary mental powers.”. To Sherlock Holmes capturing him would be the top of his career, “If I could free society of him, I should feel that my own career had reached its summit.”. Sherlock Holmes is willing to die for the public if it means killing Moriarty, “I would, in the interests of the public, cheerfully accept the latter.”.
The plot in the final problem is very clever in how it is put together because you never expect Sherlock Holmes to die at the end.
The settings at the Reichenbach falls are vivid, alive and atmospheric.
The period detail in the final problem is shown when they travel by train because it is the fastest means of transport available at the time.
The creation of atmosphere in the final problem adds to the success of this story because of the tension, threat and extreme menace coming form professor Moriarty.
In conclusion I think Conan Doyle is a successful writer of short stories because his characterisation is near perfect and the way he can stop people from putting the book down is done very well.
