The Hound Themes

In the novel, Sherlock Holmes The Hound of the Baskervilles, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are given a case that is paranormal. They decide to split up and Dr. Watson is given the task to stay by Sir Henry’s side while looking for clues. They cross paths against and Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson meet to discuss this case as a murder. They find major clues against Mr. Stapleton leading to his death. The novel explores the theme of not being ruled by fear through characters dealing with the apparent supernatural myth coming to life.

In the beginning, Sir Charles died from the fear of seeing the supernatural hound. Dr. Mortimer has just met up with Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson to describe a case. The case is the

Sir Henry and Dr. Watson figures out for Barrymore’s strange behavior. Mrs. Barrymore admits her brother is the escaped convict, Selden, each night Mr. Barrymore will bring bread and meat to him. After hearing this, Dr. Watson and Sir Henry agree on going out into the moor, and putting him in a place where he can do no harm. This is when they hear the howl of a hound. In fact, in the novel, it states, “ … a long, deep mutter, than a rising howl, and then the sad moan … the whole air throbbing with it, strident, wild, and menacing … [Sir Henry] ‘I am not a coward … seemed to freeze my very blood.” (135-136) It also states, “[Watson] ‘Shall we turn back’ [Sir Henry] ‘No … we have come out to get our man, and we will do it.” (136) The Hound of the Baskerville has haunted them for generations. When Sir Henry hears this howl, it frightens him. He could have easily ran away, but decides to overcome that fear to catch the convict. This relates to the theme because, Sir Henry overcome his fear of the supernatural myth of the hound by allowing himself to understand the

Watson, and Lestrade control their fear of the sight of the hound to save Sir Henry. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson use Sir Henry to bait out the hound, as evidence against Stapleton. A dense fog came in their vision, so they have to move back to a hill. They hear footsteps approaching, Sir Henry is running, with a hound on his back! In the novel, it states, “ … I glanced for an instant at his face. It was pale and exultant … suddenly they started forward in a rigid, fixed stare, and his lips parted in amazement … Lestrade gave a yell of terror … my mind paralyzed by the dreadful shape which had sprung out upon us … an enormous coal-black hound … Fire burst from its open mouth, its eyes glowed with a smouldering glare, its muzzle and hackles and dewlap were outlined in flickering flame.” (212) In another part, it states, “Then Holmes and I both fired together … Never have I seen a man run as Holmes ran that night … he outpaced me as much as I outpaced the little professional.” (212-213) When Sir Henry Baskerville came running through the more with a hound on his back, it frightens all three of them in shock. Fire is spitting out from its mouth and this gigantic hound is exactly the description from the apparent legend. Any ordinary man would leave as soon as possible or be stuck in shock, but Sherlock Holmes, Lestrade, and Dr. Watson overcome their fear and ran towards the hound to save Sir Henry. This supports the theme because, Sherlock