Sanchez 1 Brenda Sanchez Professor Haas Writing 37 2 February 2014 Behind Every Mystery Story Mystery tends to always

stimulate ones mind and act on impulse to find an answer. Whether it might be a small mystery, trying to figure out who finished your favorite cereal or a more complicated mystery that involves deaths and other complications, in order for a mystery to be solved it requires detectives. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle focuses on mystery throughout his many novels in which he brings to life the famous detective Sherlock Holmes and his companion Dr. Watson. In Arthur Conan Doyles The Sign of the Four, Holmes and Watson decide to investigate Mary Mortsans mysterious deliveries and are able to come to a conclusion without the need of other detectives. Without Holmes or Watson the many mysteries that are presented in the novels would remain unresolved. As well as in The Red Headed League, Holmes is able to help Wilson, a man who felt like a victim of a prank find out the truth through his knowledge. Throughout The Sign of the Four, Holmes and Watson are the primary investigators who fulfill the definition of a detective. Miss Mortsan had received a pearl a year for the past 6 years after failing to reunite with her father she turned to Holmes for help. Holmes and Watson decided to take on this mystery and find out who was sending her pearls and what happened with her father. The novel begins with the introduction of Holmes and his important role. Holmes describes himself as "The only unofficial consulting detective," he is the last and highest court of appeal in detection. Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan (2012-05-12). The Sign of the Four (p. 2). Majority of the times the detectives are out of their depths and they automatically turn to

Sanchez 2 Holmes. The role of a detective is crucial in a mystery story, the detectives need to posses three qualities, the power of observation, deduction and knowledge in which many of the detectives in the police force lack. Following up on Miss. Mortsons story Holmes and Watson discovered that her father had found a treasure with his friend Major Sholto Mr. Mortson died of a heart attack after a dispute with Sholto. Major Sholto disposed of the body afraid that the police would go after him and kept the treasure to himself. At Sholtos deathbed, he began to confess to his two twin sons about the treasure and was unable to tell them the hiding place. After his death the two sons, Thaddeus and Bartholomew searched for the treasure and were given orders to give Miss Mortson her share but an unfortunate tragedy happened, Bartholomew was murdered and the treasure was stolen. Approaching the murder scene Holmes turned to Watson and told him that they have half an hour to us. Let us make good use of it. Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan (2012-0512). The Sign of the Four (p. 36). This portrays the very low trust Holmes had in the detectives going into the crime scene. Holmes was glad that they had time before the detectives would go inside and mess up the crime scene. Holmes would pay attention to every detail, such as the poisonous thorn he was killed with, how the murderers got in and how they left, footprints and everything surrounding the room. As opposed to detective Jones who just walked in and began to blame everyone who lived in the house for the cause of his death. In Sir Arthur Conan Doyles short story, The Red-Headed League begins with a man named Jabez Wilson who felt betrayed and was a victim of a prank after being invited to the Red Headed League that was later found out to not exist. Through Holmes knowledge he is able to figure out that the pranksters that made up the League are actual professional forgers and catches them. After deciding how to approach Wilsons problem, Holmes and Watson is ready to catch

Sanchez 3 John Clay when he sees a police offer, Jones and Mr. Merryweather a bank director that was interested in the matter. Jones and Merryweather had been on the look for Clay for many years and have not been able to ever see him but through Holmes deductions and observations they were very close on finding him. Holmes however did have second thoughts on bringing along Jones and Merryweather, saying, He is not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Holmes describes Jones as someone who isnt bad but he hasnt been able to find Clay but that doesnt mean he wasnt trying. Through The Sign of the Four and The Red-Headed Leauge we see the differences of Holmes and Watson and the police force. Holmes is able to conserve the crime scene and acknowledges the importance of keeping the crime scene clean and observes everything in it. Having Holmes, as a detective was very important, the detectives during that time would often jump to conclusions and not treat everything as serious as it needed to be. Holmes was always suffice with his accomplishments and didnt need anything out of it. Watson asks Holmes "You have done all the work in this business. I get a wife out of it, Jones gets the credit, pray what remains for you?" "For me," said Sherlock Holmes, "there still remains the cocaine-bottle." And he stretched his long white hand up for it. Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan (2012-05-12). The Sign of the Four (p. 113).

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Works Cited

Conan Doyle, Sir Arthur. The Sign of the Four. 1890. eBook. Conan Doyle, Sir Arthur. The Red-Headed League. 1892. eBook.