VoF Chapter 5 - Part 2 chp 3
This reading was exciting, with plot twists, love stories, and action. With the characters built, Doyle accelerated the plot into a riveting ride.
Just as you thought you had the murder figured out, Doyle flipped the tables. It seemed so clear- The relationship between Barker and Mrs. Douglas, the slipper, the Dumbbell in the moat. Out of nowhere, Mr. Douglas has miraculously returned from the dead! It was a staged murder, to keep his enemies off his tracks. These kinds of plot twists keep the reader on their toes, which is why Sherlock Holmes novels were so popular.
Why wouldn’t Mr. Douglas tell Sherlock and the Police about this in the first place? He just wasted a few days of their time, which is extremely valuable. There are actual murders to investigate. This perplexes me, but perhaps there's a logical answer.
Also, Sherlock is just as rude to Watson and the Police as he was before. Although he is mostly correct when he does this, he seems to greatly offend them. Telling the police to "Abandon your case" was rude, although he was 100% right. What Sherlock lacks in social skills, he makes up with adept detective work.
The next part of The Valley of Fear concerns the actual “Valley of Fear” known as Vermissa, California. Home to coal miners, a gang of murderers, and Lodge 341 of The Eminent Order of Freemen. This section serves to explain the background of Douglas in California. It seems that the “Eminent Order of Freemen” is loosely based on or related to the Freemasons. This part intends to explain why Douglas fears McGinty, the branding on his arm, and who his killers are. So far it focuses on McMurdo, instead of Douglas. I suspect that Douglas changed his name from McMurdo, as they seem to have similar qualities. Earlier it was mentioned that Douglas always carried a revolver, and McMurdo always has his on him as well.
Instead of being told as an analytical mystery with twists and turns, it's told in a more straightforward manner, contrasting the first part. Even though it may be a less complex and exciting method, it is still a refreshing change. His great detail in descriptions still remain constant despite the changes in storytelling. Still, a major plot could still be in store knowing Doyle.
I agree with you that Sherlock Holmes continues to be condescending in this part of the novel. On page 224, Holmes asks Watson rhetorical questions about Cecil Barker's and Mrs. Douglas's questionable testimony. As a result, Holmes acts like he is superior to Watson and the local detectives, as he tells White and MacDonald to stop wasting their time with trying to find the missing bicyclist. It is interesting how the revolver is a shared object between the characters in Part I and Part II. Do you think the revolver symbolic meaning beyond a mechanism for defense against the Scowrers gang? It is clever how Doyle links McMurdo and Mr. Douglas with the firearm, enabling the reader to draw conclusions about Mr. Douglas's past identity.
ReplyDeleteI was actually really upset that Holmes kept everyone in the dark! But I guess that is just his way of solving mysteries and it works for him. I wonder if he doesn't give any hints away because he is waiting to prove his theories or if he just likes the satisfaction of annoying people by keeping them in the dark. He's so obnoxiously rude. But, I agree with you! I think Douglas and McMurdo are the same person!
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