Symbols Loose on the Moor

Symbolism is one of the common techniques that authors often use when writing a book. Symbolism is the usage of symbols to identify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal meaning. Many authors use this technique to add depth and meaning to a complex idea and Arthur Conan Doyle, author of The Hound of the Baskervilles is no exception. Baskerville Hall, the hound and the moor are all examples of symbolism in the detective fiction, The Hound of the Baskervilles.

The Baskerville Hall symbolizes paranoia and doom to all the Baskerville members that reside there. Watson describes Sir Henry’s reaction to the hall as he looks at the hall up close. He says, “Baskerville shuddered as her looked up the long, dark drive to where the house glimmered like a ghost at the farther end” (41). This shows that Sir Henry, the last heir to the estate and wealth of the family, feels a bit scared and is quite anxious about the ghostly atmosphere that envelops Baskerville Hall. Dr. Mortimer, a family friend of the Baskervilles and a doctor, tells Sherlock...