Day 2-A Study in Scarlet

 As I continued reading A Study in Scarlet, I explored Chapters 3 through 7. In these chapters, Sherlock Holmes steps fully into the spotlight, investigating a pair of murders that reveal the depth of his deductive genius and why his reputation precedes him.

The victims hail from Ohio, and the first murder initially appears to be driven by personal vengeance. The German word for "revenge" (RACHE) is scrawled in blood on the wall—an evocative detail meant to imply an emotionally charged motive. However, Holmes quickly uncovers that this message was a calculated distraction, planted to mislead the police. The second murder shares superficial similarities with the first, but key differences—skillfully interpreted by Holmes—ultimately lead to the killer’s capture.

One of the most fascinating elements in these chapters is Holmes’s use of the Baker Street Irregulars, a group of street children he employs as informants. He explains that these boys are ideal spies because they go unnoticed—unlike police officers, whose presence might cause people to be more guarded. This immediately reminded me of Charles Dickens’s Oliver Twist, where Fagin uses a gang of orphaned boys for more nefarious purposes. The parallel highlights how both authors tap into the reality of street children in Victorian London, though in very different contexts.

Charles Dickens was a towering literary influence during Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s youth, and his presence can be felt in much of the era’s fiction. Yet Doyle’s narrative voice diverges significantly from Dickens’s. While Dickens is known for his rich descriptions, emotional depth, and critique of societal issues, Doyle’s writing is more concise, rational, and focused on logic—especially in his detective stories. Though Doyle likely admired Dickens’s mastery, he clearly chose not to mimic his more ornate style, perhaps intentionally setting his work apart from what he may have viewed as Dickensian excess.

Another compelling thread running through these chapters is the relationship between Holmes and the detectives Gregson and Lestrade. Though both men turn to Holmes for his insights, they also show a subtle but understandable resentment toward him. This tension seems rooted in professional rivalry and the discomfort Holmes’s brilliance causes within the traditional structures of Scotland Yard.