How Conan Doyle Conveys an Impression of Suspense and Mystery

How Conan Doyle Conveys an Impression of Suspense and Mystery

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle uses many literary devices to convey an

impression of suspense and mystery. They are placed throughout the

story to ensure that the reader is always guessing as to what happens

next.

The primary device that Doyle uses is a combination of melodrama and

academic writing. The latter is used in abundance with touches of the

former to ensure that the reader is not put off at any point.

Furthermore, it ensures a sense of realism which makes the mystery

much more intense. Doyle's academic style can be seen from the very

first sentence of the story when he states: "Of all the problems,

which have been to my friend Mr Sherlock Holmes for solution" Coupled

with academic writing is understatement when he writes, "At the time

the circumstances made a deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two

years has hardly served to weaken the effect." Melodrama can be

observed from the statement, "[it] was so strange in its inception and

so dramatic in its details"

Throughout the beginning of the story the credibility of the narrator,

Dr Watson, is built up to ensure a relationship of trust between him

and the reader. This means that everything he says is instantly

believable and this amplifies the mystery and suspense. An example of

this is: "My practice had steadily increased, and as I happened to

live at no very great distance from Paddington Station, I got a few

patients from among the officials." Here you can see that Doyle is

emphasising Watson's profession. The reader is given the impression

that because Watson is a doctor he can be trusted. Furthermore, the

reader knows that he's not going to dramatise the events.

To ensure ...

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...le size but of an exceeding thinness. I do

not think that I have ever seen so thin a man. His whole face

sharpened away into nose and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was

drawn quite tense over his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation

seemed to be his natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was

bright, his step brisk, and his bearing assured."

In conclusion, I will say that using all these devices, Doyle

successfully builds up curiosity and hence mystery and intrigue. Using

little but heavy description, he is able to build up a powerful image

that has the ability to shock the reader into submission. It is, for

the most part, instantly believable and this serves the purpose of

lulling the reader into a false sense of security. When the whole

truth is finally revealed it is ever more vivid and much more

successful in entertaining the reader.