Canon Discussion: A Study in Scarlet
Jan. 18th, 2015 08:11 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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sherlock60Hello and welcome to the first discussion post for Round 4! This week we’re having a look at A Study in Scarlet. I’ve typed up a few thoughts to get the discussion going—please leave your own ideas in the comments!
Part I
Chap. 1
I had neither kith nor kin in England… For many years I interpreted this as meaning “I had no friends and family at all, but looking at it, it could mean “I had friends and family but none of them lived in England.” (And I’m assuming Watson is using England in the old-fashioned sense to mean the whole of Britain.) Playing the Game, the recently deceased older brother that Watson mentions in SIGN must still be alive at this point. Any thoughts on where the brother is, or thoughts on other possible members of Watson’s family?
"Dr. Watson, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said Stamford, introducing us. I have a mildly unusual given name. People constantly remark upon it, can’t spell it, can’t pronounce it, can’t remember it, try and ‘correct’ it to other names, very occasionally assume it’s my surname. And yet Sherlock Holmes never has any of these problems… Perhaps it’s just Watson doing a bit of editing—maybe the scene ended up with him saying to Stamford: “What was his name again? And how do you spell that..?”
Sherlock Holmes seemed delighted at the idea of sharing his rooms with me. Is Holmes just thrilled to find anyone to share the rooms? What does he think of Watson at this point?
"I keep a bull pup," I said… Any thoughts on this mysterious dog that is never mentioned again? I know there are theories that Watson is referring to his gun or his bad temper but I don’t really buy it. (Watson, bad-tempered?) Stepping out of the Game for a moment—I did wonder if ACD had meant for the pup to be the unfortunate recipient of Hope’s poison, but then changed his mind.
Chap. 2
Holmes was certainly not a difficult man to live with. He was quiet in his ways, and his habits were regular. Hmm… It has to be said that Holmes doesn’t stick to this description of his habits for long. Any thoughts?
Sherlock Holmes—his limits. Watson gives us that famous list here. It has to be said that Holmes then goes on to contradict a lot of it: he’s constantly quoting from philosophical works and literature—in BOSC Holmes is an acute admirer of George Meredith. And in SECO, he can guess who the “foreign potentate” is, so he demonstrates some knowledge of politics. Is it simply Watson doesn’t know him well enough here to make an accurate list? Or does Holmes constantly change his mind about what is useful and interesting?
One of the articles had a pencil mark at the heading, and I naturally began to run my eye through it. Has Holmes marked the article specifically so it would catch Watson’s eye? It seems unlikely he’d mark the article because he was worried he wouldn’t be able to find it again.
“I know well that I have it in me to make my name famous.” Holmes seems to have changed his point of view as he got older—doing the work only for its own sake.
Chap. 3
"You wish me to come?" Why does Holmes ask Watson to come with him? Watson doesn’t actually do anything—he goes along simply as an observer. I suppose Watson had started to express an interest in Holmes’ work, and had encouraged Holmes to actually go and take a look at the case. But it is perhaps surprising that Holmes wants Watson with him while he’s working. What do you think is going through Holmes’ mind with regard to the invitation? In chap. 4, Watson does say: I had already observed that he was as sensitive to flattery on the score of his art as any girl could be of her beauty. Perhaps he wants to show off to Watson a bit.
Chap. 5
Ten o'clock passed, and I heard the footsteps of the maid as they pattered off to bed. Eleven, and the more stately tread of the landlady passed my door, bound for the same destination. Minor bit of interest: the maid and the landlady (Mrs. Hudson is not yet named) appear to be going upstairs to their beds. So it’s not simply the case that the landlady and the servants live downstairs, and Holmes and Watson have the whole of the upstairs to themselves. Also, how old do you think Mrs. Hudson is? Traditionally she’s always thought to be older than Holmes and Watson, but we’re told so little about her. “Stately tread” does rather suggest a mature woman though.
Part II
So we know that Watson writes part I and the end of part II. Who writes the rest of part II..?
Chap. 4
Upon rising next morning he found, to his surprise, a small square of paper pinned on to the coverlet of his bed just over his chest. Any ideas on how the threats are being left?
Chap. 5
“Are you off, then?" It always throws me that Hope just leaves Lucy to her fate, and goes off to plot revenge, as though there’s nothing else he can do. Even if he considers her legally married and thinks he could never marry her himself, surely he wouldn’t want to leave the woman he loves with her father’s murderers?
...some of the younger members of the Church having rebelled against the authority of the Elders, and the result had been the secession of a certain number of the malcontents, who had left Utah and become Gentiles. How do they all manage to leave the Church and the area safely, when poor Ferrier ends up being shot dead? In chap. 3 we’re told “the man who held out against the Church vanished away, and none knew whither he had gone or what had befallen him.” Though perhaps it’s all the young men who had been actually carrying out the dirty work that wanted to leave. Or maybe it’s simply the fact there are so many malcontents that keeps them all safe.
Chap. 6
"Who was your accomplice who came for the ring which I advertised?" Any ideas? It’s surprising perhaps that Hope had a friend willing to do this for him. He is a foreigner who hadn’t been in London long. Where and how did he meet his friend?
Next Sunday, 25th January, we’ll be having a look at chapters 1-6 of The Sign of Four. Hope you can join us again for that.
Part I
Chap. 1
I had neither kith nor kin in England… For many years I interpreted this as meaning “I had no friends and family at all, but looking at it, it could mean “I had friends and family but none of them lived in England.” (And I’m assuming Watson is using England in the old-fashioned sense to mean the whole of Britain.) Playing the Game, the recently deceased older brother that Watson mentions in SIGN must still be alive at this point. Any thoughts on where the brother is, or thoughts on other possible members of Watson’s family?
"Dr. Watson, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said Stamford, introducing us. I have a mildly unusual given name. People constantly remark upon it, can’t spell it, can’t pronounce it, can’t remember it, try and ‘correct’ it to other names, very occasionally assume it’s my surname. And yet Sherlock Holmes never has any of these problems… Perhaps it’s just Watson doing a bit of editing—maybe the scene ended up with him saying to Stamford: “What was his name again? And how do you spell that..?”
Sherlock Holmes seemed delighted at the idea of sharing his rooms with me. Is Holmes just thrilled to find anyone to share the rooms? What does he think of Watson at this point?
"I keep a bull pup," I said… Any thoughts on this mysterious dog that is never mentioned again? I know there are theories that Watson is referring to his gun or his bad temper but I don’t really buy it. (Watson, bad-tempered?) Stepping out of the Game for a moment—I did wonder if ACD had meant for the pup to be the unfortunate recipient of Hope’s poison, but then changed his mind.
Chap. 2
Holmes was certainly not a difficult man to live with. He was quiet in his ways, and his habits were regular. Hmm… It has to be said that Holmes doesn’t stick to this description of his habits for long. Any thoughts?
Sherlock Holmes—his limits. Watson gives us that famous list here. It has to be said that Holmes then goes on to contradict a lot of it: he’s constantly quoting from philosophical works and literature—in BOSC Holmes is an acute admirer of George Meredith. And in SECO, he can guess who the “foreign potentate” is, so he demonstrates some knowledge of politics. Is it simply Watson doesn’t know him well enough here to make an accurate list? Or does Holmes constantly change his mind about what is useful and interesting?
One of the articles had a pencil mark at the heading, and I naturally began to run my eye through it. Has Holmes marked the article specifically so it would catch Watson’s eye? It seems unlikely he’d mark the article because he was worried he wouldn’t be able to find it again.
“I know well that I have it in me to make my name famous.” Holmes seems to have changed his point of view as he got older—doing the work only for its own sake.
Chap. 3
"You wish me to come?" Why does Holmes ask Watson to come with him? Watson doesn’t actually do anything—he goes along simply as an observer. I suppose Watson had started to express an interest in Holmes’ work, and had encouraged Holmes to actually go and take a look at the case. But it is perhaps surprising that Holmes wants Watson with him while he’s working. What do you think is going through Holmes’ mind with regard to the invitation? In chap. 4, Watson does say: I had already observed that he was as sensitive to flattery on the score of his art as any girl could be of her beauty. Perhaps he wants to show off to Watson a bit.
Chap. 5
Ten o'clock passed, and I heard the footsteps of the maid as they pattered off to bed. Eleven, and the more stately tread of the landlady passed my door, bound for the same destination. Minor bit of interest: the maid and the landlady (Mrs. Hudson is not yet named) appear to be going upstairs to their beds. So it’s not simply the case that the landlady and the servants live downstairs, and Holmes and Watson have the whole of the upstairs to themselves. Also, how old do you think Mrs. Hudson is? Traditionally she’s always thought to be older than Holmes and Watson, but we’re told so little about her. “Stately tread” does rather suggest a mature woman though.
Part II
So we know that Watson writes part I and the end of part II. Who writes the rest of part II..?
Chap. 4
Upon rising next morning he found, to his surprise, a small square of paper pinned on to the coverlet of his bed just over his chest. Any ideas on how the threats are being left?
Chap. 5
“Are you off, then?" It always throws me that Hope just leaves Lucy to her fate, and goes off to plot revenge, as though there’s nothing else he can do. Even if he considers her legally married and thinks he could never marry her himself, surely he wouldn’t want to leave the woman he loves with her father’s murderers?
...some of the younger members of the Church having rebelled against the authority of the Elders, and the result had been the secession of a certain number of the malcontents, who had left Utah and become Gentiles. How do they all manage to leave the Church and the area safely, when poor Ferrier ends up being shot dead? In chap. 3 we’re told “the man who held out against the Church vanished away, and none knew whither he had gone or what had befallen him.” Though perhaps it’s all the young men who had been actually carrying out the dirty work that wanted to leave. Or maybe it’s simply the fact there are so many malcontents that keeps them all safe.
Chap. 6
"Who was your accomplice who came for the ring which I advertised?" Any ideas? It’s surprising perhaps that Hope had a friend willing to do this for him. He is a foreigner who hadn’t been in London long. Where and how did he meet his friend?
Next Sunday, 25th January, we’ll be having a look at chapters 1-6 of The Sign of Four. Hope you can join us again for that.
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no subject
Date: 2015-01-18 03:29 pm (UTC)As for the bull pup - no idea. Checking on Wiki the idea of bullpup for a gun didn't even start until 1901. And it seems difficult to expect he could have kept a dog in the lodgings he had.
no subject
Date: 2015-01-18 09:25 pm (UTC)I can only assume there was some kind of kennelling at the hotel in the Strand, and then Watson decided he couldn't keep an active young dog upstairs at Baker Street. But it does all seem unlikely.
no subject
Date: 2015-01-18 04:18 pm (UTC)Certainly agree about Hope leaving Lucy. But we can remind ourselves that when he was telling the story, it was a one time when he wasn't in the best of health, and there might have been a reason he left out.
no subject
Date: 2015-01-18 09:45 pm (UTC)I suppose Hope might have been leaving in order to prepare a plan to rescue Lucy. He was on his own, and it would have been impossible to get her away right that moment. And then the poor woman does die so soon after her "marriage".
no subject
Date: 2015-01-19 01:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-19 02:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-20 03:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-20 10:59 am (UTC)Well, it is a Scottish name ^^ It's just not exclusively Scottish - its origins lie in England too.
no subject
Date: 2015-01-20 11:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-20 11:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-18 11:18 pm (UTC)As to the servants heading to their beds, perhaps they are doing one last check of the upstairs before going down to bed? A bit like how hubs and I walk the house before bed, making sure everything is closed and turned off and locked.
no subject
Date: 2015-01-18 11:46 pm (UTC)And that's a good point about the servants. Watson states that the landlady is passing his (sitting room) door. But she and the maid might have been heading downwards rather than upwards.
Btw, thanks so much for taking part in the discussion! It's so lovely to have more people getting involved ^^
no subject
Date: 2015-01-19 02:00 pm (UTC)Interestingly, John Sutherland in one of his great mysteries of literature type books, does point out that servants are rarely mentioned in Victorian fiction, even though they were everywhere, unless they themselves are the subject of the story.
no subject
Date: 2015-01-19 01:30 am (UTC)EXCEPT:
By 1878, Army officers no longer bought their commissions and were obliged to fill whatever regiment had openings. That would not affect Watson anyhow. Watson was with the Army medical board and that department operated completely differently than the officer ranks in the army. Doctors and surgeons would be assigned where needed. It would not not matter if Watson came from Scotland or not. If the 5th needed a junior medical officer, and if he was eligible Watson would go where he was assigned. (The evolution in the treatment of medical officers within the Army is a fascinating topic.)
AND:
A man's second name was commonly a family surname from the mother's side, such as her maiden name. So, Watson's middle name need not be a common Scottish first name like Hamish, although it could certainly be.
SO WHAT IS YOUR POINT?
There are so many holes in canon that it obliges the dedicated fan and fanfic writer to provide their own grout. ACD told us to go ahead and do whatever we wanted to with his characters, and we have. Gleefully, seriously, light-heartedly, suggestively... you name it... for over a hundred years! Every interpretation is equally as valid as the next no matter what one's personal preferences may be.
HOW ABOUT A CONCLUSION:
Rejoice! Any fic writer's interpretation is as valid as the next. Whether you are a classic mystery writer like Dorothy L. Sayers, or a modern-day BBC producer who has read his Baring-Gould, or even a humble fanfic writer, we are all here for the same reason: the appreciation for the original canon. So again I say, rejoice!
*ducks back behind a lurker tumbleweed and rolls off stage left*
no subject
Date: 2015-01-19 01:55 pm (UTC)Before you roll back out to the alkali area, though, I, for one, would be interested in knowing more about the Army officer/doctor thing.
no subject
Date: 2015-01-19 07:03 pm (UTC)His surname need not make him Scottish, although I personally imagine him as such.
no subject
Date: 2015-01-20 03:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-19 02:22 pm (UTC)Fascinating stuff ^^ And, yes, I would absolutely agree with you that all interpretations of ACD's work are perfectly valid!
no subject
Date: 2015-01-19 07:09 pm (UTC)I didn't mean to get on a soapbox... I just wanted to say that "It's fine. It's all fine." We all invent a head-canon where true canon is lacking (or just fails.
no subject
Date: 2015-01-19 01:47 am (UTC)Perhaps Watson meant that he planned to keep a bull pup when he got stable lodgings, and was running it by Holmes as a fait accompli to make sure it wasn't a deal-breaker.
Shortly after moving in however, the dog-loving Watson realized that while he might have cheaper, private lodgings now, the environment was anything but "stable", and so changed his mind. :-p
no subject
Date: 2015-01-19 01:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-19 02:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-20 03:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-02-16 01:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-20 06:16 pm (UTC)