Canon Discussion: The Three Gables
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sherlock60This week we’re having a look at The Three Gables. As always, I’ve typed up a few thoughts to get the discussion started.
“I won’t ask you to sit down, for I don’t like the smell of you, but aren’t you Steve Dixie, the bruiser?” The racism directed at Dixie is cringeworthy now. And I just don’t know how to fit Holmes’ behaviour into my personal interpretation of him—a man who looks past external appearances and personal qualities to see the truth, being an out-and-out racist? I just can’t make sense of it.
I suppose though there’s another possibility of where the racism is coming from. Watson is the one who actually wrote the story and relates Holmes’ behaviour to us. Could he be muddying the truth a little? Perhaps Dixie came round and Watson and Holmes weren’t so calm and collected, and Dixie wasn’t so easy to put off—perhaps there was an awkward struggle, and years later Watson is trying to soothe his injured pride by belittling Dixie in this way. (Must admit I’m not sure if I’ve read this theory somewhere or come up with it on my own.) But then I don’t like this version of events either. I don’t want the good doctor to be so petty.
In the end, of course, the blame has to be laid at ACD’s door. I realise he was a man of his time but I just don’t understand how we got from YELL to 3GAB.
She entered with ungainly struggle like some huge awkward chicken, torn, squawking, out of its coop. The comic business with Susan also strikes me as somewhat bizarre. (I don’t whether it’s because we’ve just looked at MAZA but the scene feels like a bit of knockabout comedy done as comic relief in a play in order to get a huge (and cheap) laugh from the audience.) Holmes’ behaviour is slightly “off” all the way through. The story reads as though he’s having a breakdown.
“It can only mean,” said I, “that the object, whatever it may be, has only just come into the house.” Though the story has many faults, I have to say that the puzzle at its heart is very appealing to me. It is a rather neat and satisfying explanation as to why someone would want to buy up all Mrs. Maberley’s possessions. (Though I suppose if you look at it too closely, it does become a bit ridiculous.)
“I will come to-morrow and hear your report.” Once again Holmes delays his own involvement in order to allow the plot to unfold in an unfortunate manner. (DANC comes to mind: “We must leave at once to warn the Cubitts—they are in immediate, terrible danger! Oh, isn’t there a train? Right, we’ll warn them in the morning then.”) Holmes already believes Mrs. Maberley to be potentially in danger before he sees her son’s belongings. Why doesn’t he wait and ask her to go through the things there and then? It’s a delicate situation but Holmes needn’t stand over Mrs. Maberley while she does so—just stay in the house until she reports to him whether or not there’s anything of interest.
Holmes discreetly helped Langdale to knowledge, and on occasion was helped in turn. This is an odd relationship, isn’t it? Holmes helping a professional scandalmonger? This previous discussion post offers an excellent potential explanation though: …is this the way he extracts punishment from people he otherwise cannot touch for justice, no matter how much they deserve it?
…a bustling, rubicund inspector, who greeted Holmes as an old friend. Is it perhaps a bit odd that this inspector is never given a name? What could be the reason for that?
“Before he could get away I sprang up and seized him.” Mrs. Maberley—what a woman! She’s lost her husband, and then her son in tragic circumstances. But she keeps going—even wanting to travel round the world on her own. When she realises what an odd offer has been made on her home she has the strength of character to turn down the money, rather than meekly agreeing to those terms. And then when she’s burgled she fights back as well as she’s able, presenting a dignified face to Holmes the next day even though she’s been assaulted and chloroformed.
“Now, Mr. Holmes, granting that I was too hard on Douglas—and, God knows, I am sorry for it!—what else could I do with my whole future at stake?" I do have some sympathy for Mrs. Klein. I don’t think she was ever dishonest and gave any indication that she had serious feelings for Maberley. And he was perfectly prepared to be her lover before grandly offering her marriage. He can’t have been so innocent as not to understand the rules of the affair. Mrs. Klein certainly shouldn’t have had him beaten up but: “Because I had given he seemed to think that I still must give, and to him only.” Nowadays we’d call that being a stalker and the police would be involved. However, though she doesn’t have to take responsibility for his broken heart, I do wonder if he developed pneumonia as a result of his physical injuries—she might actually be guilty of his manslaughter.
“I think you will sign me a cheque for that, and I will see that it comes to Mrs. Maberley.” But will Mrs. Maberley accept it? Surely she will query where the money has come from?
Next Sunday, 30th November, we’ll be heading to Lamberley to investigate The Sussex Vampire. Hope you can join us then. (Bring garlic and a packed lunch.)
“I won’t ask you to sit down, for I don’t like the smell of you, but aren’t you Steve Dixie, the bruiser?” The racism directed at Dixie is cringeworthy now. And I just don’t know how to fit Holmes’ behaviour into my personal interpretation of him—a man who looks past external appearances and personal qualities to see the truth, being an out-and-out racist? I just can’t make sense of it.
I suppose though there’s another possibility of where the racism is coming from. Watson is the one who actually wrote the story and relates Holmes’ behaviour to us. Could he be muddying the truth a little? Perhaps Dixie came round and Watson and Holmes weren’t so calm and collected, and Dixie wasn’t so easy to put off—perhaps there was an awkward struggle, and years later Watson is trying to soothe his injured pride by belittling Dixie in this way. (Must admit I’m not sure if I’ve read this theory somewhere or come up with it on my own.) But then I don’t like this version of events either. I don’t want the good doctor to be so petty.
In the end, of course, the blame has to be laid at ACD’s door. I realise he was a man of his time but I just don’t understand how we got from YELL to 3GAB.
She entered with ungainly struggle like some huge awkward chicken, torn, squawking, out of its coop. The comic business with Susan also strikes me as somewhat bizarre. (I don’t whether it’s because we’ve just looked at MAZA but the scene feels like a bit of knockabout comedy done as comic relief in a play in order to get a huge (and cheap) laugh from the audience.) Holmes’ behaviour is slightly “off” all the way through. The story reads as though he’s having a breakdown.
“It can only mean,” said I, “that the object, whatever it may be, has only just come into the house.” Though the story has many faults, I have to say that the puzzle at its heart is very appealing to me. It is a rather neat and satisfying explanation as to why someone would want to buy up all Mrs. Maberley’s possessions. (Though I suppose if you look at it too closely, it does become a bit ridiculous.)
“I will come to-morrow and hear your report.” Once again Holmes delays his own involvement in order to allow the plot to unfold in an unfortunate manner. (DANC comes to mind: “We must leave at once to warn the Cubitts—they are in immediate, terrible danger! Oh, isn’t there a train? Right, we’ll warn them in the morning then.”) Holmes already believes Mrs. Maberley to be potentially in danger before he sees her son’s belongings. Why doesn’t he wait and ask her to go through the things there and then? It’s a delicate situation but Holmes needn’t stand over Mrs. Maberley while she does so—just stay in the house until she reports to him whether or not there’s anything of interest.
Holmes discreetly helped Langdale to knowledge, and on occasion was helped in turn. This is an odd relationship, isn’t it? Holmes helping a professional scandalmonger? This previous discussion post offers an excellent potential explanation though: …is this the way he extracts punishment from people he otherwise cannot touch for justice, no matter how much they deserve it?
…a bustling, rubicund inspector, who greeted Holmes as an old friend. Is it perhaps a bit odd that this inspector is never given a name? What could be the reason for that?
“Before he could get away I sprang up and seized him.” Mrs. Maberley—what a woman! She’s lost her husband, and then her son in tragic circumstances. But she keeps going—even wanting to travel round the world on her own. When she realises what an odd offer has been made on her home she has the strength of character to turn down the money, rather than meekly agreeing to those terms. And then when she’s burgled she fights back as well as she’s able, presenting a dignified face to Holmes the next day even though she’s been assaulted and chloroformed.
“Now, Mr. Holmes, granting that I was too hard on Douglas—and, God knows, I am sorry for it!—what else could I do with my whole future at stake?" I do have some sympathy for Mrs. Klein. I don’t think she was ever dishonest and gave any indication that she had serious feelings for Maberley. And he was perfectly prepared to be her lover before grandly offering her marriage. He can’t have been so innocent as not to understand the rules of the affair. Mrs. Klein certainly shouldn’t have had him beaten up but: “Because I had given he seemed to think that I still must give, and to him only.” Nowadays we’d call that being a stalker and the police would be involved. However, though she doesn’t have to take responsibility for his broken heart, I do wonder if he developed pneumonia as a result of his physical injuries—she might actually be guilty of his manslaughter.
“I think you will sign me a cheque for that, and I will see that it comes to Mrs. Maberley.” But will Mrs. Maberley accept it? Surely she will query where the money has come from?
Next Sunday, 30th November, we’ll be heading to Lamberley to investigate The Sussex Vampire. Hope you can join us then. (Bring garlic and a packed lunch.)
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Racism-I cringed, too.
Date: 2014-11-23 11:49 am (UTC)I do, wonder, though, how much I need to recuperate Holmes and Watson on this point. For men of their time, they were not racist (or sexist or classist); they were just entitled and took a lot for granted. They're flawed, and, for me, sanitizing flaws can be dangerous because it erases inequity and indirectly reinforces the notion that everything is even now (which I'm not sure is true). I think it's better to do what you've done, which is to read, cringe, and call it out.
... although for full disclosure, I also cringe at historically inaccurate depictions of enlightened views (like the opening to "Forever").
And I also cringe at many other things Holmes says because he's not very much about being kind and fuzzy and warm-hearted. I could imagine him telling any number of people they smell bad, since he rarely minces words anyway.
Re: Racism-I cringed, too.
Date: 2014-11-23 04:27 pm (UTC)Re: Racism-I cringed, too.
Date: 2014-11-23 04:46 pm (UTC)Re: Racism-I cringed, too.
Date: 2014-11-23 05:26 pm (UTC)It's just this broad racism in 3GAB that leaves me cringing and puzzled. Holmes never pulls his punches when talking about people, but here he seems to be writing Dixie off on account of his ancestry, not because of what he's like as an individual. There's always the unspoken "You're black and you smell." It's just so out of character for Holmes.
Also, I absolutely agree with you about not simply editing out old-fashioned views. It makes characters two-dimensional and is patronising to the audience. People are complicated - someone can essentially be a sympathetic person but have views that make us uncomfortable now.
Re: Racism-I cringed, too.
Date: 2014-11-23 06:02 pm (UTC)Actually, the between wars period seems, to me, just as bad for racism and other snobbery as the Victorians.
no subject
Date: 2014-11-23 08:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-11-23 08:32 pm (UTC)But I do have some sympathy with Mrs. Klein with regard to her relationship with Douglas Maberley. Yes, I agree that she was happy to be with Maberley only until someone better came along - but I don't think she made any secret of this. I think she would have always made it clear that it was just an affair. Maberley is portrayed as an innocent little victim, preyed upon by a scheming woman. But he was a grown man who should have known what he was getting into. I'm definitely not saying he deserved to be beaten up (and I suspect that assault is what led to his death) but he should have walked away when Mrs. Klein ended the affair, instead of insisting the relationship continue.
Re: Racism-I cringed, too.
Date: 2014-11-23 08:54 pm (UTC)Between the wars periods are often bad for that sort of thing--and for homophobia and trying to force women to be more domestic. Shortage of breeders and the need for babies to repopulate and all that.
Re: Racism-I cringed, too.
Date: 2014-11-23 09:04 pm (UTC)Let's try this: Holmes is usually pretty blind to social things (like basic manners), so perhaps Steve Dixie does, in fact, smell bad. Maybe he skimps on his laundry, or he is wearing too much cheap perfume or maybe he's all sweaty from racing about threatening people. Watson, who is all in for the social niceties would probably not mention it.
And perhaps Steve Dixie isn't all that smart. Holmes has little enough patience for Watson (an educated doctor)...why would he be bothered with Steve Dixie? He got what he needed, and he was in the middle of something else anyway.
Plus, Watson was preparing to bean Steve Dixie with a poker. Who would really want to witness such a thing? (OK, I might, but I'm working on my "cracksmith" badge for fan_flashworks and may be prejudiced.) Maybe Holmes just wanted to forestall any fisticuffs (or pokircuffs)
Now all we have to cringe over is: Steve's outfit (sigh), occupation, and sadly infantile behavior.
Re: Racism-I cringed, too.
Date: 2014-11-23 09:35 pm (UTC)But, yes - Sherlock60 is all about interpretation and reinterpretation. Though it would be naive of us not to acknowledge that ACD was being a man of his time and being racist, it is possible that Holmes isn't. And I would much prefer my hero not to be making unpleasant references to someone's ancestry ^^"
Re: Racism-I cringed, too.
Date: 2014-11-24 12:10 am (UTC)Maybe I am reading too much into this, but I'm fairly sure that men of Dixie's race and class might not have had access to bathing facilities and laundry the same way that middle and upper class people did. There was that whole thing about people turning up their noses at domestic servants--because they didn't have appropriate bathing facilities.
no subject
Date: 2014-11-24 11:12 am (UTC)I may have read somewhere that YELL (1893) was not well-received by ACD's American readers. 3GAB (1926) may have been written in a way to appeal to a wider American audience. I would have enjoyed Mrs Maberley's mystery for its own sake if not for my disappointment in Holmes' interaction (and Watson's lack of reaction) with Steve Dixie. Cringe indeed. Especially after the example of Grant Munro.
"I am not a very good man, Effie, but I think that I am a better one than you have given me credit for being." is one of my favourite lines in all of canon.
And in the name-calling-between-pot-and-kettle department, the process for fixing colour in tweed involved soaking it in urine, so when temperatures rose, or the tweed was damp, all our fine Victorian gentlemen smelled a bit like wee.
no subject
Date: 2014-11-24 04:20 pm (UTC)I agree that Mrs. Klein was in a bad situation with regard to Douglas's overenthusiastic attentions, but I also think she was a bit... silly, almost.
Who buys a whole house to get back a manuscript? And when that stops working, why threaten? Why not just pretend to be the publisher looking for the book and buy it back?
But I do suppose that, once you go down the path of hiring thugs to threaten people and burgling respectable homes, chloroforming a lady starts to look less bad in context.
no subject
Date: 2014-11-24 04:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-11-24 05:02 pm (UTC)It isn't just the racism that bothers me about 3GAB (though that really, really bothers me). As I mention in the discussion post, there's bizarre broad comedy and there's something not quite right about Holmes' personality all the way through. I like the mystery aspect but it's an odd story all told.
And I had heard that about tweed ^_^ *giggles* (Good luck with the bees, btw :P)
no subject
Date: 2014-11-24 05:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-11-24 05:16 pm (UTC)What I meant was that even Holmes and Watson smelled like wee.
(And that's not likely to ever show up in a fanfic!)
no subject
Date: 2014-11-24 06:13 pm (UTC)I'm new, so I'm going to stop, hoping I haven't offended you.
no subject
Date: 2014-11-24 06:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-11-24 06:26 pm (UTC)Intelligent debate is not something that would offend me.
I often fear that I do not communicate clearly and I only meant clarify what I had written. I am often guilty of misreading words and meanings, and I am sometimes far too abrupt in my responses.
Welcome and please continue to contribute!
no subject
Date: 2014-11-24 07:59 pm (UTC)So, I agreed with your assessment of the possible wee smelliness of Holmes himself. I just think that Holmes is essentially calling Dixie 'sweaty' in order to take him down a peg. I'm not apologizing, but I do think Holmes has some cause to be annoyed with him for barging into his house dressed like a buffoon and threatening him.
no subject
Date: 2014-11-24 09:05 pm (UTC)Compare with the insults hurled at Dr Grimesby Roylott in COPP... this time Watson has learned to grab the poker before the intruder does. Holmes just sits back and acts superciliously. Perhaps we are just being sensitive to the racial epithets (with due cause, for we know better) and we are used to Holmes mentally abusing people he does not like.
no subject
Date: 2014-11-25 12:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-11-26 01:37 pm (UTC)Perhaps those innuendos of smelling had something to do with the real case in which Dixie was involved, and Holmes was just letting him know that he knows and would not hesitate to use it against him had it been needed.
But that's just my interpretation. And perhaps wilful thinking.
no subject
Date: 2014-11-27 12:06 am (UTC)Well, I think ACD was being a man of his time, and Steve Dixie is a clear example of a negative racial stereotype. I think we'd be fooling ourselves to pretend otherwise. And I would say Holmes is also being a man of his time and being racist - in the sense he's looking down on Dixie partially because of the colour of his skin. Yes, he's primarily thinking of Dixie as a common criminal who's burst into his home but I just think he's behaving slightly differently than he would have done if Dixie had been white. He would have chosen a different way to insult a white man.
But I'm always open to reinterpretations ^^ And it is possible that Holmes was trying to send a subtle message to Dixie through his insults. Though I would point out that in the story, Holmes clearly implies that Dixie has been involved in the murder of a man named Perkins. It would perhaps be odd that he spelled that out but felt the need to be subtle about another crime.
no subject
Date: 2014-11-27 10:11 am (UTC)Ah, true. Grimsby Roylott and Holmes' ignoring of him in favour of the spring flowers comes to mind immediately. (And sorry, I'm too lazy to check right now how is that name actually spelled.)
But moreover, Holmes always struck me as a man not particularly caring for social niceties, thereby saying what is really on his mind. His behaviour towards Dixie is not OOC for me, thought I admit it is more clouded by Victorian prejudices than normally. What confuses me slightly more are Holmes' actions later on. ... Apparently, he just haven't got his day. Or Watson is not telling us the whole truth, as he sometimes tends to do. ^^
I don't know, it all might depend on to what extent was Dixie involved in the murder. Merely a watch guard while his accomplices done the deed? Did he provide false alibi for the murderer? Did he threatened the victim before? Or did he participate on the actual killing?
no subject
Date: 2014-11-27 10:54 pm (UTC)I suppose Dixie may not be the actual killer. (Holmes does seem very calm about just letting him go.) But it still feels strange to me that Holmes would talk clearly about one crime Dixie was involved in but would be subtle and talk sideways about another.