Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s master detective Sherlock Holmes is one of the most famous literary figures in the world. He is known by almost everybody, whether people have read his stories or not.
This paper is intended to discuss and to contrast the topics “Justice and Judgment” and “Lies and Deceit” with regard to the short story “The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton” written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
For Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s fictional character Sherlock Holmes “[…] the social order is something to be both upheld and defied. On one hand, his bohemian nature rebels at class distinction and privilege, while on the other hand he takes extreme measures to rescue the aristocracy from scandal” (Doyle, Steven; Crowder, David A. 74).
I personally chose this short story on the one hand because of the presence of one of Holmes’ biggest opponents apart from Professor James Moriarty, his gofer Colonel Sebastian Moran and Irene Adler – the already mentioned Charles Augustus Milverton – and on the other hand because of the fact that Sherlock Holmes himself commits a crime in this story.
My aim in the conclusion of chapter 4 will be to consider whether lies and deceit or justice and judgment gain the upper hand in “The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton” or if there is simply no clear line that makes it possible to separate both topics from each other.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Justice and Judgment in The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton
3 Lies and Deceit in The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton
4 Conclusion
5 Bibliography
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the interplay between the concepts of justice, moral judgment, and the prevalence of lies and deceit within Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's short story, "The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton." The central research question investigates whether these themes can be clearly distinguished or if they overlap in ways that challenge the traditional role of the detective as a representative of the law.
- Analysis of Sherlock Holmes’s evolving moral framework and his willingness to operate outside legal boundaries.
- The portrayal of class-consciousness and social mobility in Victorian England as a backdrop for the narrative.
- The dichotomy between legal justice and personal moral justification in cases of vigilantism.
- The function of lies and deception as tools used by both the villain and the protagonist to achieve their respective goals.
Excerpts from the Book
Justice and Judgment in The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton
The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton is a perfect story when talking about justice and judgment as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s master detective Sherlock Holmes commits a crime himself in this story. Sherlock Holmes considers himself the law and much more capable as the police: „[...] [Er] repräsentiert [...] einen Hüter des Gesetzes. Wenn die Polizei nicht weiter weiß und es keine Lösung zu geben scheint, dann kann Sherlock Holmes in den meisten Fällen doch noch helfen“ (Fleischhack, Maria. 41). However, Sherlock Holmes often pursues his own form of justice outside the actual law and decides on a case-by-case basis whether a punishment by the law is really necessary or not:
[...] [E]r kennt [...] das Gesetz genau und entscheidet in einigen Fällen selbst, was mit den Verbrechern geschehen soll. Oft lässt er Milde walten und sieht die Überführung des Täters und dessen offensichtliche Reue als Absicherung, die diesen davor bewahrt, erneut ein ähnliches Verbrechen zu begehen (Fleischhack, Maria. 41).
Sherlock Holmes seems to act up to the following principle: Truth can always win but is not always welcome. So, when Holmes, for instance, considers the incident in question a minor tort or a justifiable way of acting, he might just hide the truth in order to protect one of his clients or to simply solve the case in question successfully. That is exactly what happens in The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton when Holmes not only buries the truth about him and Watson breaking into Milverton’s house with the purpose to steal the letters that incriminate his client Lady Eva Brackwell but also hides the truth about the real murderer of Charles Augustus Milverton in order to protect the woman in question.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter introduces the author's motivation for choosing the short story and provides a historical context regarding the Victorian social class system and its influence on Sherlock Holmes.
2 Justice and Judgment in The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton: This section analyzes how Holmes navigates his role as both an investigator and a vigilante, often prioritizing moral justification over strict adherence to the law.
3 Lies and Deceit in The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton: This chapter explores the manipulative tactics employed by the characters, highlighting how Holmes uses deception to achieve his goals, even at the cost of ethical boundaries.
4 Conclusion: The final chapter synthesizes the previous discussions, concluding that in this specific narrative, lies and deceit are more prominent than traditional legal justice.
5 Bibliography: This section lists the academic and literary sources utilized throughout the paper.
Keywords
Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Charles Augustus Milverton, Justice, Judgment, Lies, Deceit, Victorian Era, Moral Justification, Vigilantism, Detective Fiction, Social Class, Crime, Ethics, Law
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic paper?
The paper focuses on the moral ambiguities in "The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton," specifically analyzing how themes of justice and deceit interact within the narrative.
What are the central thematic fields explored?
The central themes include the ethical limitations of the law, the class structure of Victorian society, and the detective's role as a moral arbiter rather than just a legal enforcer.
What is the main research question of the work?
The work seeks to determine whether lies and deceit outweigh the pursuit of justice in the story, and whether a clear distinction between the two can be drawn.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The paper utilizes literary analysis to interpret character motivations and plot developments, supported by academic secondary literature on Conan Doyle’s work.
What is covered in the main body of the paper?
The main body examines the specific instances where Holmes breaks the law for what he deems moral reasons, and the subsequent cover-up of a murder to protect social interests.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include Sherlock Holmes, justice, moral justification, deception, and the ethical divide between the law and the individual.
Why is Charles Augustus Milverton considered a unique opponent for Holmes?
Milverton is unique because he is one of the few villains capable of provoking genuine fury in Holmes, which drives the detective to abandon his typical protocols.
How does the author interpret Holmes’s decision to hide the identity of the murderer?
The author argues that Holmes is blinded by his desire to protect the aristocracy, viewing the act as a moral triumph rather than a criminal concealment.
Does the paper reach a definitive answer on whether Holmes’s actions are justifiable?
The paper acknowledges that there is no unique answer, but concludes that Holmes frequently crosses the line from detective to criminal in his methods.
- Quote paper
- Lea Lorena Jerns (Author), 2015, Justice and Judgment versus Lies and Deceit in “The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/308722
