Canon Discussion: The Final Problem
Jan. 13th, 2018 11:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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sherlock60This week we are reading The Final Problem. It carries the theme of criminal mobs.
A few weeks ago we discussed the Empty House -- Holmes triumphant return. This week we are reading why and how he disappeared from London's foggy streets.
We open with a Watson who is in mourning even now two years after he lost his dear friend. He confesses that he had not considered publishing the case, but as Moriarty's tale was recently published and included false facts, Watson feels his hand is forced and he pens now for us what actually happened in Holmes' last days.
Alone at home, Watson is called upon by Holmes who was, according the newspaper accounts, solving cases for high officials and governments on the continent. Yet here he is, looking pale and worried. He reveals that he has for some time been looking for a mastermind behind all the crime happening in England and some on the continent -- a mob boss I think we would call it now -- a person who solved crimes for people who needed them doing. In time, Holmes discovers that the person he is looking for is Professor Moriarty, a mathematical genius who had prestige, but chose instead to pursue a life of crime rather than academia. Once Holmes realized who Moriarty was, he set about trying to catch Moriarty and his gang.
Moriarty realizes this and begins a cat-and-mouse game with Holmes, always one step ahead. But soon Moriarty tires of the game and addresses Holmes directly, threatening him if he does not cease trying to get Moriarty arrested -- as Holmes had arranged finally for a few days hence.
This confrontation leads Holmes to Watson we assume first to say his good byes, but when Watson confesses that he is on his own for some time -- Mrs Watson is away -- Holmes asks Watson to accompany him. He'll not stay the night because of the danger Moriarty presents and so Holmes is gone over the back fence after leaving Watson with some instructions for how to arrive at the train station. Puzzled but loyal, Watson follows Holmes' instructions exactly and arrives at the train at the exact time.
Holmes joins him just in time, dressed as an Italian priest and they both see Moriarty trying to stop the train -- Holmes was only seconds in time. Holmes changes their itinerary in Canterbury, suspecting and being proven right that Moriarty would guess their next logical move. Luckily it seems that they manage to remain one step ahead as they manage some days in Switzerland without trouble. Holmes' plan to finally catch Moriarty in London, though it failed to catch the genius, did catch all of his men and Holmes is waiting for Moriarty to come after him for revenge, now being without help and finally fully thwarted.
Soon however the idyllic travel is ruined; while they are visiting a natural waterfall, Watson receives a message that a fellow citizen is need of an English doctor at their hotel. He leaves without haste though he worries, especially once he sees a man in black going along the path to the fall where Holmes had been left. Arriving at the hotel, however, Watson finds that there was no patient waiting; he hurries back to the falls, but Holmes and Moriarty are gone. Holmes left a message for Watson detailing what happened for the police to get justice on the henchmen.
And so closes the tale of Moriarty.
Thoughts?
A few weeks ago we discussed the Empty House -- Holmes triumphant return. This week we are reading why and how he disappeared from London's foggy streets.
We open with a Watson who is in mourning even now two years after he lost his dear friend. He confesses that he had not considered publishing the case, but as Moriarty's tale was recently published and included false facts, Watson feels his hand is forced and he pens now for us what actually happened in Holmes' last days.
Alone at home, Watson is called upon by Holmes who was, according the newspaper accounts, solving cases for high officials and governments on the continent. Yet here he is, looking pale and worried. He reveals that he has for some time been looking for a mastermind behind all the crime happening in England and some on the continent -- a mob boss I think we would call it now -- a person who solved crimes for people who needed them doing. In time, Holmes discovers that the person he is looking for is Professor Moriarty, a mathematical genius who had prestige, but chose instead to pursue a life of crime rather than academia. Once Holmes realized who Moriarty was, he set about trying to catch Moriarty and his gang.
Moriarty realizes this and begins a cat-and-mouse game with Holmes, always one step ahead. But soon Moriarty tires of the game and addresses Holmes directly, threatening him if he does not cease trying to get Moriarty arrested -- as Holmes had arranged finally for a few days hence.
This confrontation leads Holmes to Watson we assume first to say his good byes, but when Watson confesses that he is on his own for some time -- Mrs Watson is away -- Holmes asks Watson to accompany him. He'll not stay the night because of the danger Moriarty presents and so Holmes is gone over the back fence after leaving Watson with some instructions for how to arrive at the train station. Puzzled but loyal, Watson follows Holmes' instructions exactly and arrives at the train at the exact time.
Holmes joins him just in time, dressed as an Italian priest and they both see Moriarty trying to stop the train -- Holmes was only seconds in time. Holmes changes their itinerary in Canterbury, suspecting and being proven right that Moriarty would guess their next logical move. Luckily it seems that they manage to remain one step ahead as they manage some days in Switzerland without trouble. Holmes' plan to finally catch Moriarty in London, though it failed to catch the genius, did catch all of his men and Holmes is waiting for Moriarty to come after him for revenge, now being without help and finally fully thwarted.
Soon however the idyllic travel is ruined; while they are visiting a natural waterfall, Watson receives a message that a fellow citizen is need of an English doctor at their hotel. He leaves without haste though he worries, especially once he sees a man in black going along the path to the fall where Holmes had been left. Arriving at the hotel, however, Watson finds that there was no patient waiting; he hurries back to the falls, but Holmes and Moriarty are gone. Holmes left a message for Watson detailing what happened for the police to get justice on the henchmen.
And so closes the tale of Moriarty.
Thoughts?
no subject
Date: 2018-01-14 04:46 am (UTC)"The Final Solution" was the euphemism used in Nazi Germany about exterminating people.
I know it's an easy mistake to make, but you probably want to correct that.
no subject
Date: 2018-01-15 12:44 am (UTC)My great-grandma is going to come out her grave and haunt me now.