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sherlock602014-01-19 10:07 am
scfrankles.livejournal.com) wrote in sherlock602014-01-19 10:07 am
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Canon Discussion: The 'Gloria Scott'
This week we’re looking at The 'Gloria Scott'. As usual I’ve typed up a few thoughts to get the discussion underway.
Right, let’s start with the big problem. Trevor, Sr (as Armitage) was transported in 1855. Hudson turns up again about 30 years later: 'Hudson it is, sir,' said the seaman. 'Why, it's thirty year and more since I saw you last.’ (We also have Trevor, Sr’s written statement: The case might have been dealt leniently with, but the laws were more harshly administered thirty years ago…) So, Holmes was an undergraduate in 1885. However, he is 60 in 1914: He was a tall, gaunt man of sixty. (His Last Bow). And more to the point – he met Watson round about 1881! So, um… (Shall we just move on and pretend this all never happened?)
I had often endeavoured to elicit from my companion what had first turned his mind in the direction of criminal research, but had never caught him before in a communicative humour. I wonder what has brought on the “communicative humour”? I don’t think it can be to show off – Holmes doesn’t really do much in this story. Its interest lies mainly in the fact this is where his decision to become a consulting detective dates from.
He was a hearty, full-blooded fellow, full of spirits and energy, the very opposite to me in most respects, but we had some subjects in common, and it was a bond of union when I found that he was as friendless as I. I’ve always been curious about the fact young Trevor has no friends – he sounds like an extrovert. You would expect him to have lots of friends. Anyway, I’ve finally given the situation some thought. Holmes, I think, is naturally detached and solitary, and doesn’t need people but is able to make friends if he wants to. (Though we have “bond of union… as friendless as I.” Is Holmes feeling a little lonely?) Maybe Trevor wants to have friends but just doesn’t understand people and social behaviour. He goes bounding in and ends up annoying his peers. (Perhaps an analogy can be drawn with his dog.)
"There had been a daughter, I heard, but she had died of diphtheria while on a visit to Birmingham.” Such a sad little reference. Stepping back from The Game for a moment, I do realise the daughter’s there as a red herring. (Or a “hen-pheasant”.) And she can’t be given a name because that would put too much emphasis on her. Still, I wish we could have known a little more about her. Dying while on a visit suggests she was an adult but that’s not certain.
"And that recommendation, with the exaggerated estimate of my ability with which he prefaced it, was, if you will believe me, Watson, the very first thing which ever made me feel that a profession might be made out of what had up to that time been the merest hobby.” So Holmes hadn’t been planning on becoming a detective. It does perhaps explain his later behaviour – when he retires. He seems perfectly happy to leave his old profession behind and study bees. Perhaps it is being able to use his powers of observation that is most important to him – it doesn’t matter in what sphere.
Old Trevor’s past obviously weighs heavily on his mind – we have his reaction to Holmes’ innocent deduction – and he has a weak heart. But it seems odd that he is immediately so terrified of and submissive to Hudson. After all, Hudson is a guilty man too. Though Hudson was a sailor not a convict, and most witnesses to his past misdeeds are dead. He hasn’t changed his name, which suggests he believes he is in no great danger of prosecution. It would be Trevor and Beddoes’ word against his about what actually happened on the Gloria Scott. Still I would have expected him to have to put a little more pressure on Trevor, Sr.
The good fellow was heart-broken at it, and went out to the Terai tea planting, where I hear that he is doing well. Does this suggest that Holmes and Trevor, Jr are still in contact by letter? After all, the poor young man had no family and no other friends in England. How else would Holmes know “he is doing well”? I don’t think what happened would have ended Holmes and Trevor’s friendship – Victor Trevor seems to have viewed Holmes as a supportive friend throughout. You’ve got to feel sorry for poor Trevor – he lost his mother and sister, then his father and his father’s good name. It’s nice to hear that his life improved afterwards.
Next Sunday, 26th January, we’ll be having a further look at Holmes’ past with The Musgrave Ritual. Hope to see you then.
Right, let’s start with the big problem. Trevor, Sr (as Armitage) was transported in 1855. Hudson turns up again about 30 years later: 'Hudson it is, sir,' said the seaman. 'Why, it's thirty year and more since I saw you last.’ (We also have Trevor, Sr’s written statement: The case might have been dealt leniently with, but the laws were more harshly administered thirty years ago…) So, Holmes was an undergraduate in 1885. However, he is 60 in 1914: He was a tall, gaunt man of sixty. (His Last Bow). And more to the point – he met Watson round about 1881! So, um… (Shall we just move on and pretend this all never happened?)
I had often endeavoured to elicit from my companion what had first turned his mind in the direction of criminal research, but had never caught him before in a communicative humour. I wonder what has brought on the “communicative humour”? I don’t think it can be to show off – Holmes doesn’t really do much in this story. Its interest lies mainly in the fact this is where his decision to become a consulting detective dates from.
He was a hearty, full-blooded fellow, full of spirits and energy, the very opposite to me in most respects, but we had some subjects in common, and it was a bond of union when I found that he was as friendless as I. I’ve always been curious about the fact young Trevor has no friends – he sounds like an extrovert. You would expect him to have lots of friends. Anyway, I’ve finally given the situation some thought. Holmes, I think, is naturally detached and solitary, and doesn’t need people but is able to make friends if he wants to. (Though we have “bond of union… as friendless as I.” Is Holmes feeling a little lonely?) Maybe Trevor wants to have friends but just doesn’t understand people and social behaviour. He goes bounding in and ends up annoying his peers. (Perhaps an analogy can be drawn with his dog.)
"There had been a daughter, I heard, but she had died of diphtheria while on a visit to Birmingham.” Such a sad little reference. Stepping back from The Game for a moment, I do realise the daughter’s there as a red herring. (Or a “hen-pheasant”.) And she can’t be given a name because that would put too much emphasis on her. Still, I wish we could have known a little more about her. Dying while on a visit suggests she was an adult but that’s not certain.
"And that recommendation, with the exaggerated estimate of my ability with which he prefaced it, was, if you will believe me, Watson, the very first thing which ever made me feel that a profession might be made out of what had up to that time been the merest hobby.” So Holmes hadn’t been planning on becoming a detective. It does perhaps explain his later behaviour – when he retires. He seems perfectly happy to leave his old profession behind and study bees. Perhaps it is being able to use his powers of observation that is most important to him – it doesn’t matter in what sphere.
Old Trevor’s past obviously weighs heavily on his mind – we have his reaction to Holmes’ innocent deduction – and he has a weak heart. But it seems odd that he is immediately so terrified of and submissive to Hudson. After all, Hudson is a guilty man too. Though Hudson was a sailor not a convict, and most witnesses to his past misdeeds are dead. He hasn’t changed his name, which suggests he believes he is in no great danger of prosecution. It would be Trevor and Beddoes’ word against his about what actually happened on the Gloria Scott. Still I would have expected him to have to put a little more pressure on Trevor, Sr.
The good fellow was heart-broken at it, and went out to the Terai tea planting, where I hear that he is doing well. Does this suggest that Holmes and Trevor, Jr are still in contact by letter? After all, the poor young man had no family and no other friends in England. How else would Holmes know “he is doing well”? I don’t think what happened would have ended Holmes and Trevor’s friendship – Victor Trevor seems to have viewed Holmes as a supportive friend throughout. You’ve got to feel sorry for poor Trevor – he lost his mother and sister, then his father and his father’s good name. It’s nice to hear that his life improved afterwards.
Next Sunday, 26th January, we’ll be having a further look at Holmes’ past with The Musgrave Ritual. Hope to see you then.
no subject
I always imagine that the daughter (called, of course, Violet) had gone to spend some time with an aunt, but as a child.
And do not worry, I have brought Victor Trevor home ;)
no subject
Violet and Victor - that sounds right, doesn't it? And your theory sounds right too - I gather diphtheria is a disease mainly found in children.
And thank you for bringing Victor Trevor home again ^_^
no subject
I never even noticed the dates, and I'm certainly persuaded by your idea of why Victor Trevor hadn't friends enough.
I'm sorry, I don't understand the daughter being a red herring?
no subject
Well, it may just be me ^^" But when you look at the coded message: Head-keeper Hudson, we believe, has been now told to receive all orders for fly-paper and for preservation of your hen-pheasant's life, doesn't it seem possible that ACD was hoping you'd jump to the conclusion that "hen-pheasant" referred to the daughter? That she wasn't dead, was being held against her will and was in grave danger? Perhaps it was just me ^^ There just doesn't seem to be any dramatic reason for Trevor having a late sister - she doesn't have any part to play in the plot. That's why I thought ACD had put her in as a red herring.
no subject
I did think Doyle gave too much information about the sister. A sister who died, maybe. But the going to Birmingham, or even the diptheria. I think you may very well be right.
Thank you for sharing!