Diffferences in Detective Stories

Throughout the years detective stories have changed due to the time period and what was socially acceptable. For instance, at one point in time women were only seen as the damsel in distress even in detective stories. Whereas now in the remake of Sherlock Holmes the character played by Rachel McAdams has a huge role in helping solve cases. Another difference, although this depends on the writer, is at what point the actual murder takes place whether it is at the beginning of the story or the end. Edgar Allen Poe may have started off the detective story frenzy with his character Dupin but since then stories, roles of women and men, and how the stories are organized has changed, possibly for the better.

In Edgar Allen Poe’s detective story The Murders in the Rue Morgue the story is told by an anonymous narrator who does not think that the detective Dupin is very competent. This is the start of the analytical detective who will know pieces of information from any category you give him, which is still a character trait of most detectives we read about to this day. In the story a woman and young girl are killed and the detective finds out it was animal. Through the story Dupin finds small clues everywhere and at the end is able to surprise everyone and piece together the murder.

Once again in Arthur Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes you meet another analytical man. The twist this time is that he has a partner named Watson. Also, this book is more detailed and does not leave a thing out. Sherlock proves himself just like Dupin and shows how good of a detective he is. Sherlock also has not just common knowledge but knowledge about every subject you could dream of which has started to become a common trait in detectives.

In Dashiell Hammett’...

... middle of paper ...

... completely and totally different. From finding naked bodies half eaten by pigs in public parks to psychos going on a prostitute killing spree.

Obviously shows today would not be what they were if it was not for the first stories mentioned earlier but at the same time it is easy to see the complete and total differences in them. While stories then were more polite and less risqué, shows today seem to be better because they still go deep into detail and they still have very good stories that keep you guessing the whole time or even after the show or book is over. The main differences, the ones listed above, are women’s roles and goriness although there are still more differences. While the original stories have evolved whether or not everyone is on board, they changed with the times and what is socially acceptable and are still a fantastic thing to watch or read.