Dr Watson as the Narrator of The Hound of the Baskervilles

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Analyse the use of Dr Watson as the narrator of The Hound of the Baskervilles

In this essay I am going to examine how Dr Watson is used as a

narrator during the story of "The Hound of the Baskervilles". I will

do this by talking about which character's personality is best suited,

their ability at detective work and comparing other points. The novel

was written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who was born in 1859. The book

was published around 1902 and sold many copies. Doyle did not want to

write any more stories but when the public started to crave another

story, he then went back on his word to write "The Hound Of The

Baskervilles", even though Holmes had been killed by his arch enemy Dr

Moriarty, by falling off a cliff. Arthur wrote his novels periodically

in "The Strand" on a monthly basis. This is the same as Charles

Dickens did.

In this novel, there are two protagonists, a Mr Sherlock Holmes and

his sidekick Dr Watson. They work together in partnership, just like

Batman and Robin. This is relevant because both of the duos are very

popular, work in the crime business and are well known. E.g. If

someone says Batman your instincts would tell you to say Robin and if

Sherlock Holmes is mentioned then Dr. Watson instantly jumps into your

mind.

Holmes and Watson are different in many ways, even though they are a

duo.

Watson is very sociable and friendly, while Holmes is independent. "I

confess, my dear fellow, that I am very much in your debt. He had

never said as much before, and I must admit that his words gave me

keen pleasure." This proves my point because it shows that Holmes is

not used to people helping him out. This is probably because he locks

himself away in his room smoking a pipe thinking a...

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...e last but most no means least reason to me, why Watson is the

suited character is that, when Holmes had worked out the murder and

the villain, he would tell you straight away. This would be unexciting

for the reader because it would end up more like a documentary rather

than a thriller because there would be a lack of suspense for the

finale.

In conclusion to what I have written, I think that Dr. Watson is best

suited to the part of narrator. He helps us understand the novel

because he does not use scientific words, that ordinary people would

not understand. Pointed out how Holmes and Watson are different. Like

Watson being a solid, friendly, reliable and useful. While Holmes

would come across arrogant, patronising and too scientific. Overall I

think that I have met my aims because I have proven all my points with

a quote and an explanation or comment.

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