VoF 1-4
The Valley of Fear is a classic example of what we would consider murder mystery today. A intelligent, witty detective with unconventional methods saves the day with his trusted partner. One could turn on the T.V. and find a police drama with the same theme today. However, a closer look at The Valley of Fear can help identify what makes these novels popular and great.
Like many other Sherlock Holmes novels, The Valley of Fear begins with a dialogue between Sherlock and Watson that might have you reaching for your dictionary. Within these dialogues however, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle develops the character of Sherlock Holmes. Watson will say something, and Sherlock will respond in a quick-witted manner that illustrates his intelligence to the readers. The other way Doyle does this is by demonstrating Sherlock’s ability to deduce and his line of questioning. Sherlock is able to cipher a message that was deemed useless by its sender in a seemingly rapid manner. Of the millions of books that exist, he narrows it down an Almanac and receives the warning. Whether this is realistic, is irrelevant. This illustrates the sheer genius of the famous detective, and sets the story.
Once Sherlock and Watson receive news of the murder by Inspector MacDonald, the proverbial game is afoot. I found an interesting historical connection in the conversation between Sherlock Holmes and Inspector MacDonald. Sherlock mentions that Professor Moriarty owns an expensive painting, therefore “he must earn it in an illegal fashion” (776). No compromising evidence can be found on him however. This could be compared to Al Capone, who was obviously involved in illegal activities, but was only able to be arrested through tax fraud by tracing his finances.
More tangible clues start to appear has the novel progresses. Doyle takes great care in describing the details of the moat, windows, and drawbridge of the Douglas Estate. These descriptions are revealed to be an essential part of the crime. “The ground floor of windows were within a foot of the surface of the water” (780) is a great example. It may seem unnecessary at the time, but it is later revealed to be important.
More and more characters are introduced to the story, each a suspect in their own way. Doyle characterizes each person strongly, developing the narrative. Whether it be Mrs. Douglas’s “acute uneasiness” (780) or Cecil Barker’s “prize-fighter face” (781), Doyle masterfully sets distinct personalities. Chapter 3 progresses, and the distinct identifying clue is revealed: A card that reads “V.V. -341”. What does it mean? Only a skilled detective like Sherlock Holmes could deduce. This adds excitement, making the reader want to witness Sherlock interpret the clue like he did with the cipher before.
Chapter 4 lays out all the small details and clues that Sherlock must piece together. Blood stains, boot marks, and bicycles number the list creating a murder scene. With no culprit arrested, many suspects, cliffhangers, and a greater connection to Professor Moriarty, this is a classic Sherlock Holmes novel. By analyzing how Doyle writes, one can understand why they became so popular. His writing style draws the reader in (myself included). The first 4 chapters of The Valley of Fear sets the scene for the classic murder mystery, beckoning you to read more.
I agree with you about how "Valley of Fear" is a classic example of a mystery novel. The aspects of suspense, questioning facts, and specific details are reflective of how one describe a murder story. Doyle focuses on minute details: the time of day, color of the water under the moat, location of blood stains, and how melted was the candle in John Douglas's room. I found Doyle's attention to detail interesting, causing myself to become more observant of details about the potential murder: how could the murderer have crossed the Douglas's moat? What were his motives for killing Douglas? Was Douglas innocent, or anticipating an attack? As a result, I am in agreement with you about how the mystery archetype is engaging, classifying this novel as a page-turner.
ReplyDeleteI thought that your comparison between Moriarty and Al Capone was an interesting one. I found Moriarty to be an intriguing character given the fact that he is a successful academic and a successful criminal (the public is unaware of this which is part of what makes him a good criminal). I always found it fascinating how Al Capone got caught, so it would be interesting to see if Moriarty is caught through the purchase of a painting that should be outside of his budget.
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