How Conan Doyle Conveys an Impression of Suspense and Mystery Essay

How Conan Doyle Conveys an Impression of Suspense and Mystery Sir Arthur Conan Doyle uses many literary devices to convey an impression of suspense and mystery. They are placed throughout the story to ensure that the reader is always guessing as to what happens next. The primary device that Doyle uses is a combination of melodrama and academic writing. The latter is used in abundance with touches of the former to ensure that the reader is not put off at any point. Furthermore, it ensures a sense of realism which makes the mystery much more intense. Doyle's academic style can be seen from the very first sentence of the story when he states: "Of all the problems, which have been to my friend Mr Sherlock Holmes for solution" Coupled with academic writing is understatement when he writes, "At the time the circumstances made a deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly served to weaken the effect." Melodrama can be observed from the statement, "[it] was so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details" Throughout the beginning of the story the credibility of the narrator, Dr Watson, is built up to ensure a relationship of trust between him and the reader. This means that everything he says is instantly believable and this amplifies the mystery and suspense. An example of this is: "My practice had steadily increased, and as I happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington Station, I got a few patients from among the officials." Here you can see that Doyle is emphasising Watson's profession. The reader is given the impression that because Watson is a doctor he can be trusted. Furthermore, the reader knows that he's not going to dramatise the events. To ensure ... ...le size but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his step brisk, and his bearing assured." In conclusion, I will say that using all these devices, Doyle successfully builds up curiosity and hence mystery and intrigue. Using little but heavy description, he is able to build up a powerful image that has the ability to shock the reader into submission. It is, for the most part, instantly believable and this serves the purpose of lulling the reader into a false sense of security. When the whole truth is finally revealed it is ever more vivid and much more successful in entertaining the reader.