Canon Discussion: The Valley of Fear, Part 2

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

This week we’re having a look at part 2 of The Valley of Fear. As always, I’ve typed up a few thoughts to get the discussion started.

I have to say that I don’t particularly enjoy the second half of VALL. It is so relentlessly depressing—the violence and the murders seem horribly realistic. It’s a look at humanity at its worst. I suppose I prefer a bit of escapism in the Holmes stories, though part 2 is very well done.

Part 2

Chap. 2

He was no backward suitor. On the second day he told her that he loved her, and from then onward he repeated the same story with an absolute disregard of what she might say to discourage him. It seems rather unprofessional for “McMurdo” to be courting Ettie in these circumstances. And Edwards is definitely a professional in all other areas—he never tells Ettie the truth about himself while he’s undercover. Was the courtship perhaps at first part of his assumed persona, and then the affection became real? And I wonder how Ettie felt when she found out the truth. She must have experienced some relief but how did she feel about being misled? It’s an odd situation—the man she fell in love with is not exactly the man she ends up marrying.

The man was popular; for he had a rough, jovial disposition which formed a mask, covering a great deal which lay behind it. This description of McGinty made me think of how Watson sometimes describes Holmes as having a cold mask. It’s strange but it’s never occurred to me before—the point of a mask is that it’s only a cover. Watson is always aware that Holmes is not truly a cold man.


Chap. 4

“…and it would be my little Fred that would be screaming for his father.” It’s probably just a coincidence but it is intriguing that “Porlock” uses the same first name as Morris’ son.


Epilogue

Jack has been lost overboard in gale off St. Helena. No one knows how accident occurred. A previous 60 suggests that Douglas has faked his own death, Holmes having planned it. I really hope that’s what happened. I suppose Moriarty’s note might simply be him mocking Holmes for “fate” beating him in the end.


I must just give the link back to spacemutineer’s original discussion post for part 2 of VALL. She gives some information about the real story behind the Scowrers and also makes a fascinating connection between Edwards’ undercover work, and Holmes’ eventual undercover work in LAST.

Next Sunday, 19th October, we’ll be having a look at The Red Circle. Hope you can join us then.

Comments

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

If I got the posting right, you will get my take on the ending later.

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

Read and commented on! ^^ (And crikey - beyond the call of duty, arranging posting for today ^^" Thank you ^_^)

[laurose8.livejournal.com]

I hope so, too! Moriarty might even have had a good idea what happened, but felt that was enough to save face.

Aside, I do like Douglas turning out to be a Holmes fan. I wonder if The Study in Scarlet gave him the idea of writing down his own adventure.

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

I suppose the faked death might be enough to convince Moriarty's future clients that Moriarty always succeeds. But my thoughts are that Moriarty would never let it go if he suspected Douglas still to be alive. It would be a matter of pride to him that the murder was carried out.

It is rather charming that Douglas is a fan - and I think he's possibly even more of a Watson fan ^^ It seems to be Watson and his writing that he's most interested in - getting the doctor to tell his story in his own words. ("Tell it your own way.")

[spacemutineer.livejournal.com]

Just dropping by to say hi to all you lovely 60-word Sherlockians! Sorry I kind of dropped off the face of the earth -- I'm actually attempting to write my first novel, and that (plus the never-ending craziness that is real life) has kept me very busy. But in the meantime, I've been lurking when I can and reading fabulous 60s and great discussion of canon. Such good stuff!

I'm just delighted this little community is so vibrant and creative and still moving right along. Long live sherlock60!

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

(Quick, the landlady's here - cover up the bullet holes in the wall! And do something about that experiment! No, I don't know where the fire extinguisher is...) Ahem. (^^)

Thank you for dropping by - I'm touched that you're still keeping half an eye on the old place. And thanks for letting thesmallhobbit and myself carry on - the comm has come to mean a great deal to me. I'm so pleased that we're getting a fair amount of interest and participation, and that the comm is continuing to be a proper community, if a small one.

And I wish you the very best of luck with your novel!(And with real life ^^")