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sherlock602015-04-26 08:00 am
scfrankles.livejournal.com) wrote in sherlock602015-04-26 08:00 am
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Canon Discussion: The Copper Beeches
This week we’re having a look at The Copper Beeches. I’ve typed up a few thoughts to get the discussion going—please leave your own ideas in the comments!
Sherlock Holmes had been silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. Intriguing. What is he searching for..?
“The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the incident of the noble bachelor…” “You remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle…” This is rather interesting. These stories weren’t published until after Holmes was presumed dead—so it appears Watson has written them and shown them to Holmes but not actually tried to sell them yet.
And Watson must be married at this point (he was definitely married for SCAN, IDEN, TWIS and BLUE) but there’s no mention of Mrs. Watson and, in fact, Watson gives the distinct impression here he’s living at Baker Street. Any ideas?
“...giving advice to young ladies from boarding-schools…” Any thoughts on what advice was asked for?
"I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to see a sister of mine apply for." Interesting way of putting it. I’m assuming Holmes doesn’t have a sister, and never did. But he and his brother were born seven years apart at a time of high infant mortality. Could there have been another child in between?
“It is my belief, Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." “...founded upon my experience…” Any thoughts?
“And yet she had some secret sorrow, this woman.” But Mrs. Rucastle seems to take a calm, active part in the plot—think of how she reacts just after Miss Hunter has used a piece of mirror to see what’s going on behind her in the road. Why should she be bursting into tears all the time? It doesn’t seem to fit. Is it the stress of the situation?
“And if you ever put your foot over that threshold again”—here in an instant the smile hardened into a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a demon—“I'll throw you to the mastiff.” Why doesn’t Rucastle simply sack Miss Hunter? He doesn’t need her as a decoy any more.
“As to who this prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice Rucastle…” It would be bad enough if Rucastle were being the wicked stepfather here, but Alice is his own daughter. Or is she..? Could she be the result of an affair that the previous Mrs. Rucastle had, and that’s why Rucastle treats her with such contempt? From the little we know of Alice she certainly doesn’t seem to be much like her horrible little half-brother. She doesn’t appear to have inherited her putative father’s cruelty.
"But how?" "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." Why on earth does Holmes jump to the conclusion that Rucastle has abducted Alice through the skylight? All he would have had to have done is unlock the door.
...we all rushed down the stairs together. I love that in this story Miss Hunter is pretty much an equal partner in the adventure. She isn’t just Holmes’ client. And she’s so brave, capable, observant and intelligent. I know she has that panic when she’s sees Alice Rucastle moving about in the locked room, but to me that indicates she’s human rather than weak. It is an unsettling moment.
“As well as I could learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will…” Presumably from her mother or a member of her mother’s family, but maybe from her natural father..?
"But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should be..” How does Holmes know Fowler is a seaman? The only clue I can see is that Miss Hunter refers to him as a bearded man. Hardly conclusive.
As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one of his problems… The first time I read this story, Watson’s “disappointment” rather surprised me. From what I can see, Holmes shows absolutely no romantic interest in Miss Hunter at all. (And she shows no romantic interest in him.) But perhaps that isn’t what Watson means. Perhaps he’s disappointed Holmes doesn’t continue his friendship with Miss Hunter—maybe he hoped Holmes might become a little more sociable.
Next Sunday, 3rd May, we’ll be having a look at Silver Blaze. Hope you can join us then.
Sherlock Holmes had been silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. Intriguing. What is he searching for..?
“The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the incident of the noble bachelor…” “You remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle…” This is rather interesting. These stories weren’t published until after Holmes was presumed dead—so it appears Watson has written them and shown them to Holmes but not actually tried to sell them yet.
And Watson must be married at this point (he was definitely married for SCAN, IDEN, TWIS and BLUE) but there’s no mention of Mrs. Watson and, in fact, Watson gives the distinct impression here he’s living at Baker Street. Any ideas?
“...giving advice to young ladies from boarding-schools…” Any thoughts on what advice was asked for?
"I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to see a sister of mine apply for." Interesting way of putting it. I’m assuming Holmes doesn’t have a sister, and never did. But he and his brother were born seven years apart at a time of high infant mortality. Could there have been another child in between?
“It is my belief, Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." “...founded upon my experience…” Any thoughts?
“And yet she had some secret sorrow, this woman.” But Mrs. Rucastle seems to take a calm, active part in the plot—think of how she reacts just after Miss Hunter has used a piece of mirror to see what’s going on behind her in the road. Why should she be bursting into tears all the time? It doesn’t seem to fit. Is it the stress of the situation?
“And if you ever put your foot over that threshold again”—here in an instant the smile hardened into a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a demon—“I'll throw you to the mastiff.” Why doesn’t Rucastle simply sack Miss Hunter? He doesn’t need her as a decoy any more.
“As to who this prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice Rucastle…” It would be bad enough if Rucastle were being the wicked stepfather here, but Alice is his own daughter. Or is she..? Could she be the result of an affair that the previous Mrs. Rucastle had, and that’s why Rucastle treats her with such contempt? From the little we know of Alice she certainly doesn’t seem to be much like her horrible little half-brother. She doesn’t appear to have inherited her putative father’s cruelty.
"But how?" "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." Why on earth does Holmes jump to the conclusion that Rucastle has abducted Alice through the skylight? All he would have had to have done is unlock the door.
...we all rushed down the stairs together. I love that in this story Miss Hunter is pretty much an equal partner in the adventure. She isn’t just Holmes’ client. And she’s so brave, capable, observant and intelligent. I know she has that panic when she’s sees Alice Rucastle moving about in the locked room, but to me that indicates she’s human rather than weak. It is an unsettling moment.
“As well as I could learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will…” Presumably from her mother or a member of her mother’s family, but maybe from her natural father..?
"But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should be..” How does Holmes know Fowler is a seaman? The only clue I can see is that Miss Hunter refers to him as a bearded man. Hardly conclusive.
As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one of his problems… The first time I read this story, Watson’s “disappointment” rather surprised me. From what I can see, Holmes shows absolutely no romantic interest in Miss Hunter at all. (And she shows no romantic interest in him.) But perhaps that isn’t what Watson means. Perhaps he’s disappointed Holmes doesn’t continue his friendship with Miss Hunter—maybe he hoped Holmes might become a little more sociable.
Next Sunday, 3rd May, we’ll be having a look at Silver Blaze. Hope you can join us then.