Being Sherlock HolmesOr,

Observation and Inference:Arthur Conan Doyle

(Part 1)

Guest lecture by Patrick MooneyBased substantially on material

by Professor Chris Newfield

English 193, Winter 20149 January 2014

Some quick announcements

● The course reader should be available Friday or Monday at SB Printing, 6549 Pardall Rd.

● A copy of the syllabus is available on line at http://is.gd/oricop.

● Because the reader is not yet available, we will we watching the 1984 TV adaptation of “Dancing Men,” starring Jeremy Brett as Holmes.

● Pay close attention to specific pieces of evidence – the follow-up lecture will be a model for how you complete your first assignment.

● TAs will handle crashing after lecture.

Detection Structure Detection Structure AssignmentAssignment

• Write a plot analysis and “breakout” of the detection structure for:

Agatha Christie

or

Sue Grafton

• DUE Week 3 in section• Not graded (provided that you do an adequate

job) – you’re practicing for later

Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930)

● Studies medicine at U of Edinburgh 1876● His university professor Joseph Bell MD

– model for Holmes

● Fails as “serious” writer● First detective story in 1886. Nobody cares.● First big success “A Scandal in Bohemia” 1891

– thanks to serial character called “Sherlock Holmes”

THE DETECTIVE THE DETECTIVE GENRE: GENRE: Basic ElementsBasic Elements

A) The Detective (and sidekick)

B) The Corpse / Crime / Mystery -- dancing men, worried wife, corpse-to-come

C) The Investigation -- decoding work & letter to Chicago; post murder inquiry

D) Villain Exposed -- Holmes’s explanation

• effect of surprise: conventional wisdom undermined by detective

• like science • paradigm shift opens minds, shifts power

E) Arrangements and Aftermath (sentencing, etc.)

Victorian Context

1. “British” as pragmatic rationality (also Poe)

2. Era of “scramble for Africa” (1880-1914) – arts & science progress AND white supremacism

3. era of scientific empiricism & “plain facts” (pre-relativity)

4. Rise of professions• fact-based expert knowledge (Poe again)• impartial (not driven by political / financial interest)• independent (e.g. of political pressure)

The Detective (review)

S/he who creates original knowledge against the wishes of those in power

Sherlock’s Deduction: the Warm-up

conclusion: Watson will not invest in South African gold fields

OBSERVATIONOBSERVATION INFERENCEINFERENCE

Watson’s chalky handWatson’s chalky hand Watson’s played billiardsWatson’s played billiards

Watson only plays with Watson only plays with ThurstonThurston

W played, talked w/ TW played, talked w/ T

Thurston wants W to invest Thurston wants W to invest in South Africain South Africa

T again pressured WT again pressured W

W’s checkbook is locked upW’s checkbook is locked up W will not invest w/ TW will not invest w/ T

Holmes’s Chain of Inferences

Holmes’s Character

A “Genius”

=

He Who Takes the Hidden Steps

Holmes’s CharacterHolmes’s Character

1) Vulnerability (to boredom and depression)• romantic melancholic: the “truth is out there” (the truth

is hidden)

2) Male Domesticity• Homosociality• Competitive mutual support• top / bottom

3) Arrogance• Confidence • No fear of unknown, no fear of hidden steps

4) Independence - unconventional thinking

The Real Test: Cubbitt Homicide

The Conventional WisdomThe Inspector’s Theory:The Inspector’s Theory:

• One gun, two shots One gun, two shots • Window closedWindow closed

∴ ∴ they shot each otherthey shot each other

Conventional Wisdom is Conventional Wisdom is WrongWrong

Procedure Procedure (for finding hidden steps)(for finding hidden steps)

Example: Decoding “The Dancing Men” (p. 540-)Example: Decoding “The Dancing Men” (p. 540-)

1)1) AttitudeAttitude: anti-conventional wisdom ->High-quality, precise : anti-conventional wisdom ->High-quality, precise observationsobservations

2)2) Context: Context: Starts with applying known rules (languages have Starts with applying known rules (languages have words; E is the most common English letter)words; E is the most common English letter)

3)3) Revision process: Revision process: • Honest clarity about limits of his knowledgeHonest clarity about limits of his knowledge• Knows when to stop and wait for “fresh material” (no Knows when to stop and wait for “fresh material” (no

anxiety over anxiety over mysterymystery))• Persists with Persists with littlelittle pieces (1 of 26 letters) pieces (1 of 26 letters)• Notes and tolerates ambiguityNotes and tolerates ambiguity

4). Theory: Risks a guess (and reevaluate)• Holmes takes (a) small steps (b) in the dark

Final ThoughtFinal Thought

The Mystery Story:

Life is about solving mysteries• finding the hidden truth• (crime, violence, coercion are exceptions, can

be managed)

The Mystery: • Watson says: “how absurdly simple”• WATSON IS RIGHT

Anyone can find the hidden steps

Anyone can do this:Anyone can do this:

OBSERVATIONOBSERVATION INFERENCEINFERENCEdancing men messagesdancing men messages a third man is around–called Slaneya third man is around–called Slaney

Cubitts a “devoted couple”Cubitts a “devoted couple” Mrs wouldn’t shoot MrMrs wouldn’t shoot Mr

Two “explosions,” first louderTwo “explosions,” first louder first bang was two shotsfirst bang was two shots

smell of powder in the housesmell of powder in the house window open (draft) – someone maybe in window open (draft) – someone maybe in windowwindow

window is shut and lockedwindow is shut and locked somebody shut it latersomebody shut it later

Money in Elsie’s handbagMoney in Elsie’s handbag attempted bribe (of a 3rd party)attempted bribe (of a 3rd party)

third bullet (in window sash)third bullet (in window sash) third person was presentthird person was present

candles not guttedcandles not gutted window open briefly (ent/ex)window open briefly (ent/ex)

third casing outsidethird casing outside third shot was what hit Mr C – Elsie not shooter

➜ Slaney’s confession