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sherlock602015-02-15 08:09 am
scfrankles.livejournal.com) wrote in sherlock602015-02-15 08:09 am
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Canon Discussion: The Red-headed League
This week we’re having a look at The Red-headed League. I’ve typed up a few thoughts to get the discussion going—please leave your own ideas in the comments!
“...I remarked the other day, just before we went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary Sutherland…” And of course we haven’t reached Miss Sutherland yet. I wonder why the decision to publish the stories out of order…
“It is The Morning Chronicle, of April 27, 1890. Just two months ago.” Yet at the beginning of the story we’re told: I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year… And in fact, later on we have: “The Red-Headed League is Dissolved. Oct. 9, 1890.” REDH was published in August 1891—could this slight confusion be due to Watson’s grief over Holmes?
“...a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple cooking…” Does the girl know anything of what Clay is up to? Wilson is got out of the house but the girl is still there all day.
...the comical side of the affair so completely overtopped every other consideration that we both burst out into a roar of laughter. This is such a lovely moment (though perhaps a little impolite and unprofessional…). Watson often seems to emphasise how different Holmes is from himself—how different Holmes is from everyone. But here the two friends are completely on the same wavelength.
“How did he come?” “In answer to an advertisement.” There was a certain amount of luck involved here for Clay and his accomplice. Clay was able to swing things in his favour by offering himself for half-pay—but what about before that? Did he bribe the previous assistant to leave? Did he have the plan to break into the bank first, or did seeing the job advertisement put the idea into his head? If he hadn’t got the position, would he have found another way to get into the bank?
“Has a white splash of acid upon his forehead.” Any thoughts on the story behind the splash of acid?
I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and indeed was nodding myself… Does Watson just sit there watching Holmes as he thinks?
“Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon,” Going to the concert always seems a bit out of the blue—it certainly doesn’t seem to have anything to do with the case. Any thoughts?
“...the Vegetarian Restaurant…” I wonder if that’s where Holmes and Watson have their “sandwich, and a cup of coffee”.
“I shall want your help to-night.” Should we be worried about the state of Watson’s marriage? Neither Holmes nor Watson mention Mrs. Watson at any point. When Watson is asked if he can come to the concert, only his work is discussed. And he confidently tells Holmes he’ll be able to assist him that night, without having to speak to his wife first. But perhaps Mrs. Watson is simply away during this story.
...one of whom I recognized as Peter Jones, the official police agent… Is Peter Jones the same man as Athelney Jones in SIGN? (I take it “Peter” is a Christian name and “Athelney” is part of a double surname.) Jones does say: “It is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly correct than the official force.” Odd to have the change in form of address though.
“I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. John Clay,” said Holmes… Any thoughts on the specifics of this statement?
Next Sunday, 22nd February, we’ll having a look at A Case of Identity. Hope you can join us then.
“...I remarked the other day, just before we went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary Sutherland…” And of course we haven’t reached Miss Sutherland yet. I wonder why the decision to publish the stories out of order…
“It is The Morning Chronicle, of April 27, 1890. Just two months ago.” Yet at the beginning of the story we’re told: I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year… And in fact, later on we have: “The Red-Headed League is Dissolved. Oct. 9, 1890.” REDH was published in August 1891—could this slight confusion be due to Watson’s grief over Holmes?
“...a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple cooking…” Does the girl know anything of what Clay is up to? Wilson is got out of the house but the girl is still there all day.
...the comical side of the affair so completely overtopped every other consideration that we both burst out into a roar of laughter. This is such a lovely moment (though perhaps a little impolite and unprofessional…). Watson often seems to emphasise how different Holmes is from himself—how different Holmes is from everyone. But here the two friends are completely on the same wavelength.
“How did he come?” “In answer to an advertisement.” There was a certain amount of luck involved here for Clay and his accomplice. Clay was able to swing things in his favour by offering himself for half-pay—but what about before that? Did he bribe the previous assistant to leave? Did he have the plan to break into the bank first, or did seeing the job advertisement put the idea into his head? If he hadn’t got the position, would he have found another way to get into the bank?
“Has a white splash of acid upon his forehead.” Any thoughts on the story behind the splash of acid?
I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and indeed was nodding myself… Does Watson just sit there watching Holmes as he thinks?
“Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon,” Going to the concert always seems a bit out of the blue—it certainly doesn’t seem to have anything to do with the case. Any thoughts?
“...the Vegetarian Restaurant…” I wonder if that’s where Holmes and Watson have their “sandwich, and a cup of coffee”.
“I shall want your help to-night.” Should we be worried about the state of Watson’s marriage? Neither Holmes nor Watson mention Mrs. Watson at any point. When Watson is asked if he can come to the concert, only his work is discussed. And he confidently tells Holmes he’ll be able to assist him that night, without having to speak to his wife first. But perhaps Mrs. Watson is simply away during this story.
...one of whom I recognized as Peter Jones, the official police agent… Is Peter Jones the same man as Athelney Jones in SIGN? (I take it “Peter” is a Christian name and “Athelney” is part of a double surname.) Jones does say: “It is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly correct than the official force.” Odd to have the change in form of address though.
“I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. John Clay,” said Holmes… Any thoughts on the specifics of this statement?
Next Sunday, 22nd February, we’ll having a look at A Case of Identity. Hope you can join us then.