VOF pg. 208- 281
Talk about plot twist in this assigned reading. I didn't even think Douglas would fake his own death but that is a very clever way to escape the trouble he faces. In Chapter 5, I started growing distrust and distaste towards Barker and Mrs. Douglas because I had assumed they were involved in his murder. It's amazing how they had me fooled the entire time. I loved reading Watson's doubt towards the characters. His remarks like, "Was it my imagination that there was an undertone of fear rather than of hope in the question?" deepens the mystery aspect of the novel as the uncertainty builds suspense. Brief lines like, "Mrs. Douglas's face lit with a quick smile" convinced me that she was involved in the murder of her husband, creating feelings of disgust towards her within me.
In Chapter 6, I got the vibe that Watson considered himself less smart than the other three detectives. He lets them do all the solving...is it because Holmes constantly puts him down so he feels his opinions or not worthy enough or does he feel like solving mysteries just isn't in his area of expertise? I felt angry reading about the part when Watson encounters Barker and Mrs. Douglas mingling behind bushes because I assumed they were having an affair! It's really interesting to me that despite Douglas' feelings of jealousy towards Mrs. Douglas and Barker's relationship, he trusted them enough to work closely together to deceive everyone around them. Pg 221 is when I really noticed Holmes is an actual druggie. He was suddenly bursting with energy...he must've sniffed something. On this page, I felt that Watson worked for Holmes. There isn't much sense of equality in their relationship as Watson is ordering tea for Holmes. I was offended when Holmes said he wasn't a "whole-souled admirer of womankind"...sexist much? Pg. 224 Holmes channels his inner jerk to undermine Watson... which was really upsetting for me to read. But I was really impressed by his undivided attention towards one minute detail--the missing dumbbell, which builds the whole story. Towards the end of Chapter 7 is when I had a "wtf moment" because Douglas just emerges from the wall. How he faked his death was really a master plan.
I'm convinced Mr. McMurdo and Douglas are the same person. Mr. Douglas was in trouble with a group. He had that branding of a circle with a triangle within it, just like McMurdo's. There's a lot of setting the scene in chapter 1 and 2 of part 2. Ettie Shafter must be Douglas' first wife. Kinda weird how they declared their love for each other within seeing each other twice. McMurdo's debacle with Teddy Baldwin really proves McMurdo and Douglas are the same person. It makes sense for Baldwin to want to kill McMurdo/Douglas because he stole his lover. Part Two really clarifies the whole mystery. I'm looking forward to reading Chapter 4: Valley of Fear!!
Here are some words that I didn't know the meanings of:
inglenook-a space on either side of a large fireplace
debonair- confident, stylish, charming
asceticism- severe self-discipline, avoiding self-indulgence
ululation- howling or wailing sound
genius loci- the prevailing character or atmosphere or a place
peine forte et dure- hard and forceful punishment
acushla- vein or pulse of heart
In Chapter 6, I got the vibe that Watson considered himself less smart than the other three detectives. He lets them do all the solving...is it because Holmes constantly puts him down so he feels his opinions or not worthy enough or does he feel like solving mysteries just isn't in his area of expertise? I felt angry reading about the part when Watson encounters Barker and Mrs. Douglas mingling behind bushes because I assumed they were having an affair! It's really interesting to me that despite Douglas' feelings of jealousy towards Mrs. Douglas and Barker's relationship, he trusted them enough to work closely together to deceive everyone around them. Pg 221 is when I really noticed Holmes is an actual druggie. He was suddenly bursting with energy...he must've sniffed something. On this page, I felt that Watson worked for Holmes. There isn't much sense of equality in their relationship as Watson is ordering tea for Holmes. I was offended when Holmes said he wasn't a "whole-souled admirer of womankind"...sexist much? Pg. 224 Holmes channels his inner jerk to undermine Watson... which was really upsetting for me to read. But I was really impressed by his undivided attention towards one minute detail--the missing dumbbell, which builds the whole story. Towards the end of Chapter 7 is when I had a "wtf moment" because Douglas just emerges from the wall. How he faked his death was really a master plan.
I'm convinced Mr. McMurdo and Douglas are the same person. Mr. Douglas was in trouble with a group. He had that branding of a circle with a triangle within it, just like McMurdo's. There's a lot of setting the scene in chapter 1 and 2 of part 2. Ettie Shafter must be Douglas' first wife. Kinda weird how they declared their love for each other within seeing each other twice. McMurdo's debacle with Teddy Baldwin really proves McMurdo and Douglas are the same person. It makes sense for Baldwin to want to kill McMurdo/Douglas because he stole his lover. Part Two really clarifies the whole mystery. I'm looking forward to reading Chapter 4: Valley of Fear!!
Here are some words that I didn't know the meanings of:
inglenook-a space on either side of a large fireplace
debonair- confident, stylish, charming
asceticism- severe self-discipline, avoiding self-indulgence
ululation- howling or wailing sound
genius loci- the prevailing character or atmosphere or a place
peine forte et dure- hard and forceful punishment
acushla- vein or pulse of heart
I agree about the plot twist! It seemed like something straight out of a soap opera, I never would have expected it. I also think that McMurdo and Douglas are the same person, because Ted Baldwin was involved with both of them. He hated McMurdo and now has come to murder Douglas. Great post!
ReplyDeleteYour comments about the plot twist are exactly what I was thinking during this reading. I really like how the story is set up so that the reader gradually becomes more and more suspicious of both Mrs. Douglas and of Barker. I tunneled really hard on how suspicious they were acting while reading the chapter and was almost sure that they had conspired to kill Douglas.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that Holmes' and Watson's relationship is so negative. Watson probably feels like he cannot solve mysteries because he is a doctor, and that is what his real job is. Ordering tea I saw as just a friendly gesture. I also am beginning to think that McMurdo and Douglas are the same person, but I don't know why Doyle would change the name. Perhaps for suspense? Anyways great post, it's pretty solid.
ReplyDelete