Wisteria Lodge: A Bloody Shame

[ennui-enigma.livejournal.com]

Canon: The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge (WIST)
Title: A Bloody Shame
Author: ennui_enigma
Rating: G
Warnings: none
A/N: I think Watson was a bit unfair in his descriptions of the talented cook and his religion in this tale. Holmes’ “facts” learned at the British museum were not all correct either.


He was called a primitive savage and hideous mulatto. His relic’s an "unclean god". They found a white fowl torn apart, pail of blood, and pile of charred goat bones. Eckermann was not an expert on Voodoo. Cultural bias and negative stereotyping combined with half-truths changed a pious, religious rite into a superstitious, bloody fetish. Now that’s grotesque and horrible.

Comments

[hisietari.livejournal.com]

And quite Victorian, I'm afraid, significant in European societies and their colonialism of the time. When in loss of an excuse for resource theft...

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Excellent. And what we don't understand we fear.

[debriswoman]

Very well put. A necessary rebuke regarding prejudice and misrepresentation, and a reminder of a particular narrowminded world view.

[methylviolet10b]

As wonderful as the canon stories can be, the attitude of the times - particularly the racism and sexism - can be very hard to take. Nicely done.

[ennui-enigma.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately. Having some experience in Africa as well, I can say that there are still a lot of misinformed, condescending attitudes by European/Western society on the native religions of the continent. Very few Africans will talk about their traditional beliefs and rituals b/c they don't trust the reaction of foreigners (and rightly so, I'm afraid).

[ennui-enigma.livejournal.com]

very true!

[ennui-enigma.livejournal.com]

Thanks! There is too much variety in the world to confine ourselves to stereotypes and narrow worldviews.

[ennui-enigma.livejournal.com]

Appreciate your comments. I like to believe that if ACD had been privy to better information on foreigners and their religions, he'd have allowed Holmes and Watson a more open-minded viewpoint. The tale does serve as a reminder of the prevailing attitudes of his era though. And just so it's clear, I do enjoy the story and think it is well written with a nice blend of suspense and humor :)

[spacemutineer.livejournal.com]

Spot on. You do a grand job of cutting through the Victorian racism at work here.

[ennui-enigma.livejournal.com]

Aw! Thanks. Your comment made my day! *smiles*

60 for 60, week 59: Wisteria Lodge

[livejournal.livejournal.com]

User spacemutineer referenced to your post from 60 for 60, week 59: Wisteria Lodge (http://dispatch-box.livejournal.com/189402.html) saying: [...] by A Bloody Shame [...]

[hisietari.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, definitely, and in every single one of today's societies, I'm afraid. Rising, I'm even more afraid.

[ennui-enigma.livejournal.com]

Sadly, you are right.