A Scandal in Bohemia: Concealed Identities

[kestrel337.livejournal.com]

Canon Story: A Scandal in Bohemia
Title: Concealed Identities
Author: Kestrel337
Word Count: 60
Rating: G

Adventuress: “A woman who seeks and enjoys adventure.”

I did not seek a royal marriage. Neither, in truth, was scandal my intended goal.

A monarch chooses his identity: which false name and velvet mask.

A common woman has no choice; she must wear forever the mask he gives her.

Adventuress: “One who seeks social or financial advancement through unscrupulous means.”

Comments

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Good summary.

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

This is very true - the King assigns Irene Adler this identity of "well-known adventuress", and we immediately think of her in a negative way. When really they were just two young people indulging in a love affair. At least at the end of the story, we and Holmes come to know the truth.

(Btw, I noticed your post is member-locked. Was that your intention? It's just we usually leave all posts public.)

[kestrel337.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I've fixed it now. It's a default setting that I forgot to change; there are some folks I'd not like to find certain things.

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

Thanks ^^ And understood.

[mundungus42.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you chose to explore masks and meaning so thoughtfully- it makes the king's unmasking (and ultimately, Irene's) that much more satisfying and nicely bookends Holmes's observation that the king is on "another level entirely" from Irene.

You know, it wasn't until reading an annotated edition of this story that I learned the negative connotations of "adventuress." It makes me glad that the more disparaging definition has fallen out of common usage.

[debriswoman]

Yes...the king put a negative spin on Irene's intent and character.
Nicely done:-)