The Hound of the Baskervilles review

Hello again! Sorry for the absolutely astronomical amount of time I've taken to post. I've been very busy with school and writing my own stories so I haven't had much time to read or write reviews. Anyways enough with excuses, I have finally written a post about The Hound of the Baskervilles which is the most famous Sherlock Holmes story. This review is a bit more formal than what I normally write but it should still be interesting. So without any further ado lets get into the review!

The Hound of the Baskervilles Review

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hound_of_the_Baskervilles

Title: The Hound of the Baskervilles

Genre: Mystery/ Detective

Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Star Rating: ***** (five stars)

Synopsis of the text:

A visit from the eccentric Dr. Mortimer brings forth one of the strangest and inexplicable mysteries that the great detective Sherlock Holmes has to solve. The doctor brought with him a manuscript, which told of the legend of The Hound of the Baskervilles, a fearsome hound rumored to target and kill every heir within the Baskerville linage as a result of a curse placed on Hugo Baskerville. Dr. Mortimer’s good friend sir Charles Baskerville died of a heart attack surrounded by the paw prints of a gigantic hound. Sherlock questions the existence of a supernatural beast but insists he must stay in London to take care of other business. Leaving Dr. Watson to travel to the moors of Devonshire with Dr. Mortimer and the last remaining Baskerville, Sir Henry. Watson’s adventures on the moor are told in a series of letters addressed to Holmes. He describes his encounters with the peculiar naturalist Stapleton, his beautiful sister and the mysterious Laura Lyons. As Watson struggles to piece together the mystery he begins to notice a mysterious stranger wandering the moors. Dr. Watson sets out to discover the identity of this curious man and determines that it is Sherlock who has been secretly following the events and has discovered the identity of the killer. Stapleton’s true identity as a Baskerville heir is exposed and a plan is set in motion, using Sir Henry to lure the fearsome hound out onto the moor. In a showdown with the dog, the killer escapes only to sink into the marshes where he kept the dog and meet his own death. Upon returning to Baker Street Holmes and Watson reflect on the curious events of the case, and regard it as one of the most exceptional mysteries they have ever encountered.

List of Characters:

Sherlock Holmes

Round: Sherlock is well-developed character with a unique personality. A round character is multi-dimensional and Sherlock Holmes definitely fits that description. You know about his strengths, weaknesses and aspirations. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, describes every element of Sherlock from his tall lanky appearance to his methods of deduction. He is one of the most widely portrayed characters in fiction and for good reason. He is so well developed a reader can picture him in their minds as if he was a real person. Static: Sherlock is a static character within his very nature, he is a logical man with an aversion to change. He believes he has figured out the correct way to live his life and refuses to change himself or the world around him. He never moves away and he never marries. Sherlock in his very nature is static and this rings true throughout The Hound of the Baskervilles. Sherlock does little within the book other than employ his usual brilliant skills of deduction and solve the case. He is constant and predictable, but this allows the reader to truly connect with and understand him as a character.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Dr. John Watson

Protagonist: Even though Sherlock Holmes is usually the protagonist of the books in this mystery Watson is the narrator of the stories and Sherlock Holmes “stays” in London. In actuality he secretly travels to the moor to investigate the mystery but does not show up within the book until the last few chapters. Leaving Watson on his own struggling to solve the mystery while racing with a ticking clock.

Round: John Watson is a round character because like Sherlock he is complex and well developed. We know about his caring and bold personality. As a reader we know about his past as a vetran and we know about the unfortunate death of his wife. As the narrator Watson serves to bring Sherlock’s genius to the understanding of the reader and with his empathetic and courageous nature he does so quite well.

Dynamic: Throughout the extent of the novel Dr. Watson develops as a character because he learns how to function without Sherlock and learns that he is capable on his own.

Stapleton

Antagonist: Stapleton is responsible for the murder of the characters within the novel and his cruel treatment of the hound and even his own sister paints him as a horrible man and a clear antagonist within the story.

Static: Stapleton is a static character because he does not develop or change throughout the novel. He is a terrible man from beginning to end and never indicates learning any moral lesson due to his death.

Round: Stapleton is a round character because we learn all about him and his past as the pieces of the mystery are put together. He has a developed backstory, which included him owning a school that he eventually had to close. He is manipulative, cunning and cruel. All these traits are clearly communicated to the reader making him round.

Three conflicts:

Man vs. Nature

One of the main sources of conflict within the book is the ferocious hound kept and trained by Stapleton to attack members of the Baskerville family. The hound is eventually shot to death by Sherlock Holmes but not before it claimed the lives of both Sir Charles Baskerville and an unfortunate convict who was hiding on the moor.

Man vs. Man

Stapleton is the main antagonist of the story and in turn is the main source of conflict within the novel. He is secretly an heir to the Baskerville household and is using a ferocious hound to kill anyone who stands in his way. Sherlock and Doctor Watson are conflicting with him to try and ensure the safety of Sir Henry Baskerville, however the killer is the source of his own demise when he falls into the marsh he was keeping his hound and perishes.

Man vs. Himself

Dr. John Watson is sent to the Devonshire moors on his own and he must learn to cope without Sherlock throughout the novel. Watson is challenged to use what he’s learned from working with Holmes to solve the mystery and must face the pressured of his job. Luckily Dr. Watson finds Sherlock just in time to reveal the true identity of the killer and save the life of Sir Henry Baskerville.

Three elements of fiction:

Metaphor: “We looked back on it now, the slanting rays of a low sun turning the streams to threads of gold…”

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle used metaphors throughout The Hound of the Baskerville to greatly enhance the text. The metaphors created brilliant imagery and painted a picture of the melancholy surroundings the novel took place in.

Symbolism: “ We have him, Watson, we have him, and I dare swear that before tomorrow night he will be fluttering in our net as helpless as one of his own butterflies.”

Due to Stapleton’s profession as a naturalist and, his fascination with catching butterflies a net is often used as symbolism with The Hound of the Baskervilles. Sherlock often mentions his plan to form a net around Stapleton as a means of capturing the killer and ensuring he won’t escape. Stapleton is associated with butterflies because like him the hobby seems harmless at first but when Dr. Watson discovers his room full of dead insects pinned to the wall a deeper element of his nature is revealed.

Suspense: “There was a thin, crisp, continuous patter from somewhere in the heart of the crawling bank. The cloud was within fifty yards of where we lay, and we glared at it, all three, uncertain with horror was about to break from the heart of it.

Suspense is a very important literary device within the novel and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle uses it often to help enhance the readers’ experience and get them to emphasize with the thrill of emotions the characters feel as they try and unravel the mystery. The use of suspense creates interest within the story and leaves the reader desperate to know how the plot will unravel.

Review:

Overall I loved this book! The mystery was engaging and suspenseful and Stapleton is my second favourite Holmes villain. He was wonderfully eccentric and interesting, and although I found the fact that he was the murderer predictable lots of plot twists kept it interesting. The use of metaphors and suspense was wonderful within the novel and I always had a vivid mental image of what was going on. I can definitely understand why this book is so famous and I highly recommend it.