Skip to main content

How does Holmes's outlook on life at the beginning of "The Red-Headed League" compare or contrast with his outlook at the end of the story?

At the beginning of "The Red-Headed League," Holmes displays a positive and enthusiastic outlook on life. He speaks "cordially" to Watson, for example, and he refers to the narrative of his visitor, Jabez Wilson, as "one of the most singular" that he has heard for some time. In short, the "unique" facts of Wilson's story revitalize and rejuvenate Holmes.


By the end of the story, however, Holmes's outlook on life has changed significantly. His enthusiasm...

At the beginning of "The Red-Headed League," Holmes displays a positive and enthusiastic outlook on life. He speaks "cordially" to Watson, for example, and he refers to the narrative of his visitor, Jabez Wilson, as "one of the most singular" that he has heard for some time. In short, the "unique" facts of Wilson's story revitalize and rejuvenate Holmes.


By the end of the story, however, Holmes's outlook on life has changed significantly. His enthusiasm is replaced by "ennui" (boredom/ lethargy), and his thoughts return to the "commonplaces of existence." For Holmes, life is meaningless if he does not have an interesting and unique case to work on, and this is shown by the quote Holmes tells Watson: "L'homme c'est rien—l'oeuvre c'est tout." This roughly translates to "man is nothing and work is everything." This typifies Holmes's attitude at the end of the story: he feels like a man without purpose. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is hyperbole in the story "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry?

The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his... The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him plu
Post a Comment
Read more

How can I analyze Moon and Six Pence by Somerset Maugham?

In "Moon and Sixpence," loosely based on the life of Paul Gaugin, Maugham presents a study of the tension between the "civilized" life of 19th century Europe, and the lead character's desire to throw off the shackles of bourgeois life. Charles Strickland is a middle-aged English stockbroker with a wife and family. By abandoning his domestic life, Strickland commits what many in European society would consider a gross betrayal of one of the foundations of... In "Moon and Sixpence," loosely based on the life of Paul Gaugin, Maugham presents a study of the tension between the "civilized" life of 19th century Europe, and the lead character's desire to throw off the shackles of bourgeois life. Charles Strickland is a middle-aged English stockbroker with a wife and family. By abandoning his domestic life, Strickland commits what many in European society would consider a gross betrayal of one of the foundations of that society. His decision to e
Post a Comment
Read more

What are some literary devices in Macbeth, Act V, Scene 1?

Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not... Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh! oh, oh! (5.1.53-55) Hyperbole - Obvious exaggeration  There is also h
Post a Comment
Read more