Sherlock Essay

Explore A.C.Doyle's use of setting in at least three of his Sherlock Holmes mystery stories.

This essay will be exploring setting used in the speckled band, silver blaze and The Final problem. These three detective stories are all Sherlock Homes novels.

In the speckled band setting is first used at Sherlock homes house to make it feel relaxed and a safe atmosphere. Then it moves out to a big house 'stoke Moran' which is in the countryside which is away from London and Sherlock's house which makes it uneasy and dangerous.

The silver blaze uses setting in the countryside again with a big house and a dark night to increase tension and suspense. "Especially in so sparsely inhabited a place as the north of Dartmoor." This is saying how Dartmoor is desolate and people could get away with murder or other crimes out in the wilderness. This setting is linked to the speckled band as they are both set at a big house in the middle of no-where.

In the final problem it is first set in the house of Dr Watson but Sherlock is scared which makes the whole of London in fear. Then later on it moves to a train on the way to Switzerland. They are travelling away as Professor Moriarty 'a criminal mastermind' knows that Sherlock has got evidence to send him to prison so he wants Sherlock dead. The setting in this is completely different from the other two as it shows London as unsafe. This will be because Sherlock is scared for his life so he won't be able to solve any more crimes I London. Towards the end it sets at a waterfall which is supposed to be peaceful but isn't as it is where Sherlock dies.

The history of when Sherlock was published is very important because the cities were seen as false and thief ridden, whereas in Arthur Conan Doyle stories London is shown as safe and secure, this is where Sherlock lives. The countryside is shown in the novels as insecure and a fearful place. Sherlock makes the people feel welcome and warm when they enter his house "I am glad to see that Mrs Hudson has had the sense to light a fire" this shows a sense of security and warmth in his house. The countryside