The Speckled Band Essay Example

The Speckled Band Essay Read ‘The Speckled Band’ by A. Conan. Doyle and ‘The Monkey’s Paw’ by W. W. Jacobs. Discuss how the authors create tension and discuss the devices Used to mislead the reader.  Ã¢â‚¬ËœThe Speckled Band’ by A. Conan. Doyle and ‘The Monkey’s Paw’ by W. W. Jacobs are two very different stories; ‘The Speckled Band’ follows the ‘murder mystery’ line whereas ‘The Monkey’s Paw’ is based more around horror genre. This means that they will create tension and mislead the reader in completely different ways. In this essay I am going to explore how the two authors do this, and compare their methods for doing so. Arthur Conan Doyle creates tension in many ways. At the beginning of ‘The Speckled Band’, he creates tension by showing the effects of this dreadful crime on the characters. We are told Sherlock is usually a ‘late riser’, however, because of this new case, his routine was broken because at a quarter-past seven, Watson awakes to find Sherlock Holmes, fully dressed, standing by the side of his bed. Helen Stoner, the client who sought Holmes’ services as a detective, when speaking to Sherlock and Watson, was shivering, not from the cold as one would first assume, but from fear. The way she says â€Å"It is not cold which makes me shiver. It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror,† creates tension because she first says what does not make her shiver as if holding off telling them, and then, using short sentences, she repeats the two words, ‘it is’. These two events evoke tension because these events are directly linked to this one case whic h at this point, we still do not know about. We will write a custom essay sample on The Speckled Band specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Speckled Band specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Speckled Band specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The location of this suspicious death, the austere house of Stake Moran which â€Å"was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab.† Only three people live in this spooky house. It seems rather odd that in this grand manor house only three people live. Everyone can empathise with the fact that being alone in a large house is incredibly scary, so, you feel scared for these three people, and this then creates tension. The mysterious Dr. Roylott, having spent a lot of time in India, lets a cheetah and a baboon roam the house. This strange assortment of animals creates tension as it seems strange that such a vicious animal (the cheetah) would be allowed to roam the house. And on top of this all the rooms are barred, â€Å"the windows were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars. The chimney is wide, but is barred up by four large staples. This creates tension and portrays the rooms as cells, trapping them. It is a sinister thought that these three people are trapped within this house which has a cheetah and a baboon roaming around. Arthur Doyle creates tension by using scary and sinister adjectives, such as â€Å"a long drawn catlike whine† or â€Å"there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs. On the night of Julia’s death, the weather was wild, â€Å"the wind was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing against the windows†. The adjectives used in this description of the weather creates the most horrific images and evokes tension because you can just imagine how scared they must be, locked up in this macabre house. In ‘The Monkey’s Paw’ there are only 4 main characters; the mother and father who live in their isolated house with their son, and a sergeant-major. This is a major difference as characters play a huge role in ‘The Speckled Band’.  William Jacobs creates tension by using sinister images, and sudden actions. Just like in â€Å"The Speckled Band†, the weather plays a huge part in the tone of the particular part of the novel and the tension created. This story starts off with the father and the son playing chess. This in itself evokes tension because we hear of the disastrous weather, â€Å"The night was cold and wet. Path’s a bog, and the road’s a torrent,† and yet these two characters are calmly playing chess, ignoring the sombre weather. He also creates tension by using sudden actions and short sentences. For instance, tension is immediately created when Sergeant Morris came out of the night into the house, his ‘heavy footsteps came toward the door, as the gate banged to loudly’. This gives him a mysterious aura  Short sentences also add to the tension of the story, â€Å"The paw!† she cried wildly. â€Å"The monkey’s paw!†. Not only adding tension, this then reminds us of Julia’s dying words in ‘The Speckled Band’, â€Å"It was the band! The speckled band!† It is interesting that in both the stories, the mystery in each is completely based on the title. The author also uses portent to hint what is going to happen. â€Å"[Herbert] sat alone in the darkness, gazing at the dying fire, and seeing faces in it. The last face was so horrible and so simian that he gazed at it in amazement. His hand grasped the monkey’s paw, and with a little shiver he wiped his hand on his coat†. This could be hinting to the bad things that are going to happen to him. These sinister faces create tension and adds to the mysterious air surrounding the paw. Another possible hint to the bad things ahead is that when the sergeant was describing the paw, he said,â€Å" It had a spell put on it by an old fakir. He wanted to show that fate ruled people’s lives, and that those who interfered with it did so to their sorrow†. This last sentence was a possible sign for the terrible events ahead. The Speckled Band Essay Example The Speckled Band Paper During his time in Calcutta, exotic animals, particular species being sent to Stoke Moran, fascinated Dr Roylott. For the duration of Holmes investigation, a cheetah and baboon roam around the Manor House. Dr Roylott also allows Gypsies to wander freely over his grounds. Both these factors create tension for the reader, encouraging them to read more of this mystery. The reader is intrigued to discover if the cheetah, baboon and gypsies have a part to play in Helen Stoners horror, and also the murder of her twin sister. And if so, then what it was they did. The reader is also captivated by the description of Dr Roylott, when he meets with Sherlock Holmes. A huge man is illustrated to the reader, with a hunting crop swinging in his hand and a resemblance to a fierce old bird of prey. Together, these create tension between Dr Roylott and the reader. The link to a predator suggests he is strong, and aggressive. With the description of him including the hunting crop and the bird of prey, the image of Dr Roylott is of a hunting, un-human like man, of a dark, mysterious past. The mystery is discovered in the picture of ruin, Stoke Moran, located in Surrey. We will write a custom essay sample on The Speckled Band specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Speckled Band specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Speckled Band specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The manor house is portrayed as a suspicious, dark, threatening house, by the use of Conan Doyles simile two curving wings like those of a crab. Crabs claws are strong and they have the potential to harm. Therefore the simile used implies that Stoke Moran is a dubious, shady house, situated in the middle of nowhere, with darkness surrounding it. The late at night and early morning setting of the discovery of the secret, adds to the suspense for the reader. All was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Through the darkness, things can come out of hidden places and alarm people in the area. For example, while Sherlock Holmes and Watson are walking on Manor House grounds, a hideous and distorted child surprises them, and the reader, by jolting out of the bushes. The reader is intrigued to find out what this distorted child is, and within a few minutes of meeting this creature, the reader is reminded that roaming the ground is a Baboon. Conan Doyles technique of using darkness throughout The Speckled Band creates tension, and this appears to the readers senses. The imagery of the distorted child affects the readers sight, as they become more aware of their surroundings. The cat-like whine appears the readers sound sense, as the reader can hear things, but they cannot see them, and this would make the reader nervous. Therefore they are encouraged to read further on. The things, such as chill wind, affect the readers touch sense. The blustery weather builds more suspense as it implies the image of a cold, dark, windy night. Almost as though something bad is about to happen. All of the senses are appealed to, and therefore the readers are able to feel more involved and believe they are included in the mystery. The Speckled Band Essay Example The Speckled Band Paper The similarities of Lamb to the Slaughter and The Speckled Band are evident throughout both stories, although some are found deep beneath the surface, hidden well by their authors, but delve deep into the worlds of Mary Maloney and Sherlock Holmes and the answers are provided, clear as day. The characters in both Lamb to the slaughter and The speckled band are portrayed by the authors of each story respectively as, in Mary Maloneys case in Lamb to the slaughter as an easy target, a very passive woman and in actual fact this is far from the actual truth, as she is a murderer. Whilst The speckled band plays centre stage for Sherlock Holmes, who acts out his role of typical detective with the trademark pipe, cap and magnifying glass props included (although Holmes is excused as this stereotype is one he helped build). Its these stereotypes that build the structure of the short stories, Maloneys of shock and disbelief over what she is capable of doing and covering up, this shows a character immensely diverse from the readers first impression of Mrs Maloney; Her skin for this was her sixth month with child had acquired a wonderful translucent quality, the mouth was soft, and the eyes, with their new placid look, seemed larger, darker than before. This backs up Maloneys first impression of being the ironic typical victim of the story, the emphasis on the size of Marys eyes show innocence and a sense of being nai ve on the soon-to-be widow. Holmes not only helps along the idea of being a typical detective by appearance alone, his actions, observations and language fuels this also. We will write a custom essay sample on The Speckled Band specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Speckled Band specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Speckled Band specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer He picks up on the slightest of clues and possibilities of the case, giving an accurate prediction early on in the story, backing up and adding depth to the Sherlock Holmes character. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle does this well and successfully makes the famous detective shine. I had come to an entirely erroneous conclusion, which shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from insufficient data. This quotation is echoed from Sherlocks conclusion of the case, once solved, as always Holmes simplified and explained how he arrived at yet another infamous Sherlock Holmes victory, not only for Watson, but for the reader. Note the intellectual language used by Holmes. This is not a show. It is how he truly speaks, this aswell as the reference to unimaginable leads from the beginning of the story, which aided Holmes in solving the case, shows what a sharp and educated man he really is, along with his ability to deal with the venomous snake who appeared in the story, showing courage and strength. This gives Holmes the rightfully acquired typical detective stereotype adopted by him in The Speckled Band. The settings in both Lamb to the slaughter and The Speckled Band play a major role of significance to both stories respectively. Lamb to the slaughters setting gives a sense of warmth and security, a homely background with Mary Maloney and husband at the forefront. This setting adds to the emotions felt when the unexpected murder occurs, from one extreme to the next. At first the radiant mother-to-be is awaiting the arrival of her loving husband then shifts to the desperate cover up of his death and deceit of the investigating police. It really does make the story that much better, in that it plays with your emotions and puts that unpredictable spin on Mary Maloneys character.