Canon Discussion: A Case of Identity
Jul. 20th, 2014 08:29 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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sherlock60This week we’re having a look at A Case of Identity. And as always, I’ve typed up a few thoughts to get the discussion started.
“…in your position of unofficial adviser and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout three continents… Oh, yes—Watson travelled three continents checking out the girls; Holmes assists those with perplexing cases. I assume Holmes is solving cases outside Europe remotely though. Or perhaps it’s just Watson’s figure of speech.
"This is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged in clearing up some small points in connection with it.” It seems odd that Holmes would be involved in what appears to be a straightforward domestic case of abuse. What do you think the “small points” might have been?
"It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of my little problems."
In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing which presents any features of interest.
"I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had given him up for dead.” Any thoughts on any of these cases?
“Mr. Hosmer Angel." It’s such a curious choice of pseudonym—it almost yells out: ‘This isn’t my real name!’ I always wonder if I’m missing some deeper meaning or joke.
”Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder of him than I was.” It’s discomforting that Miss Sutherland’s mother takes part in the deception. I wonder what was going through her mind, and what she felt towards her daughter. They seem to have fallen out somewhat over the mother’s new marriage but surely that wouldn’t be enough for a woman to treat her daughter in this way.
"That fellow will rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and ends on a gallows.” Any ideas on what Windibank gets up to in the future?
“If the young lady has a brother or a friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat myself to--" Well, I can’t really approve of Holmes threatening to attack Windibank but it’s rather touching that Holmes becomes so angry on Miss Sutherland’s behalf. I just wish though he’d done something more positive to get her out of her unpleasant situation.
“Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it to affect your life." "If I tell her she will not believe me.” It has to be said that it’s an unsatisfying ending. Windibank gets away with it completely. Not only does he not get punished, but he gets the result he planned for: Miss Sutherland is going to wait for Hosmer Angel, and not find someone else and move out. Holmes comes up with this excuse that Miss Sutherland won’t believe him but surely he’s under an obligation to tell her anyway. She’s his client—she hired him to find out what had happened.
Next Sunday, 27th July, we’ll be having a look at The Five Orange Pips. Hope you can join us then.
“…in your position of unofficial adviser and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout three continents… Oh, yes—Watson travelled three continents checking out the girls; Holmes assists those with perplexing cases. I assume Holmes is solving cases outside Europe remotely though. Or perhaps it’s just Watson’s figure of speech.
"This is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged in clearing up some small points in connection with it.” It seems odd that Holmes would be involved in what appears to be a straightforward domestic case of abuse. What do you think the “small points” might have been?
"It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of my little problems."
In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing which presents any features of interest.
"I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had given him up for dead.” Any thoughts on any of these cases?
“Mr. Hosmer Angel." It’s such a curious choice of pseudonym—it almost yells out: ‘This isn’t my real name!’ I always wonder if I’m missing some deeper meaning or joke.
”Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder of him than I was.” It’s discomforting that Miss Sutherland’s mother takes part in the deception. I wonder what was going through her mind, and what she felt towards her daughter. They seem to have fallen out somewhat over the mother’s new marriage but surely that wouldn’t be enough for a woman to treat her daughter in this way.
"That fellow will rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and ends on a gallows.” Any ideas on what Windibank gets up to in the future?
“If the young lady has a brother or a friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat myself to--" Well, I can’t really approve of Holmes threatening to attack Windibank but it’s rather touching that Holmes becomes so angry on Miss Sutherland’s behalf. I just wish though he’d done something more positive to get her out of her unpleasant situation.
“Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it to affect your life." "If I tell her she will not believe me.” It has to be said that it’s an unsatisfying ending. Windibank gets away with it completely. Not only does he not get punished, but he gets the result he planned for: Miss Sutherland is going to wait for Hosmer Angel, and not find someone else and move out. Holmes comes up with this excuse that Miss Sutherland won’t believe him but surely he’s under an obligation to tell her anyway. She’s his client—she hired him to find out what had happened.
Next Sunday, 27th July, we’ll be having a look at The Five Orange Pips. Hope you can join us then.
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no subject
Date: 2014-07-20 03:56 pm (UTC)And why doesn't Miss Sutherland contact Holmes again to ask if he's made any progress? Unless she has her own suspicions, which will be confirmed if Holmes doesn't contact her.
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Date: 2014-07-20 09:15 pm (UTC)And I think you're right that the mother wants to hold on to the money, and wants Miss Sutherland to carry on helping around the house. But it just feels so unpleasant for a mother to be so selfish with regards to her own child.
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Date: 2014-07-21 07:38 am (UTC)