Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Conan DoyleSir Arthur Conan Doyle
"Perhaps when a man has special knowledge and special powers like my own, it rather encourages him to seek a complex explanation when a simpler one is at hand." (Arthur 1) This quote by Sherlock Holmes, the most famous fictional character of A.C. Doyle, describes not only Sherlock Holmes but also his creator. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was an interesting man and his writing were influenced by many things. Specifically, the novel The Hound of the Baskervilles, was influenced by Doyles family and his life experiences.
The family of A.C. Doyle greatly influenced his novel The Hound of the Baskervilles. By having noble and even royal blood flowing through his veins, Doyle was better able to write about the noble Baskerville family. Doyle knew about nobility and he was able to pass this personal quality onto one of his characters. The Baskerville family was a very respected one especially after Sir Charles took control over Baskerville Hall. "Though Sir Charles resided at Baskerville Hall for a camparatively short period his amiability of character and extreme generosity had won the affection and respect of all who had been brought into contact with him." (Doyle 19) The noble Baskerville family is very likely a reflection of what Doyle thought, or knew, about his own family. Another thing that is evident in the book is Arthur Conan Doyle's chivalrous side. The characters of Sir Henry Baskerville and Sir Charles Baskerville continually show that they are honorable men. "Being himself [Sir Charles] childless, it was his openly expressed desire that the whole countryside should within his own lifetime, profit from his good fortune." (Doyle 20) By providing for his neighbors and friends, Sir Charles showed that he was willing to put others first and that he genuinely cared for others. The help given to Ms. Laura Lyons also shows Charles's chivalrous side. He helped her financially after she was forced to leave her home by her father and she requested help from Charles a second time saying, "I knew Sir Charles's generosity, and I thought that if he heard the story from my own lips he would help me." (Doyle 120) Sir Henry continued on in the same tradition and started to refurbish the Baskerville Manor and give help to the people who needed it most. Sir Henry was also able to show his chivalrous side in another way. It was in his pursuit of Miss Stapleton that he showed his romantic side. "As it was I told him [Stapleton] that my feelings toward his sister were such that I was not ashamed of, and that I hoped that she might honour me by becoming my wife." (Doyle 94) The chivalrous and romantic Baskervilles were a mirror image of Doyle. He was raised by his mother to be chivalrous and he truly listened to what his mother said. By passing these characteristics onto his fictional characters, Doyle was able to write about something he believed in.
Arthur Conan...
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