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Andy Trinh
Professor Lynda Haas
Writing 37
6 November 2014
A Helping Hand
In the Victorian Era, literary scholars mention that the detective genre became
popular through Doyles convention of a middle-class audience, because the stories of
Sherlock Holmes reflected society. In part, this appeal is because Conan Doyles stories
are like games that allowed readers to interact and play along. In The Different Story,
the first chapter of his book-length study of the genre, George N. Dove compares the
detective story to a crossword puzzle, explaining that, both the crossword puzzle and the
detective novel are free of stress, each offers the reader a task or set of related tasks, both
are shaped by convention, and neither has any goal beyond itself. (3). The relaxing play
of the stories attracted the middle class workers because it ties in with the lack of a moral
tract, as described by Panek. With the Holmes stories, however, Doyle purposely leaned
far heavier on the dulce of adventure than on the utile of imperial morality or scientific
method, (90). In Conan Doyles novel, The Hound of The Baskervilles, he creates a case
that relates to a point Dove makes about the conventions of the detective genre. That is
the great Grimpen MireA false step yonder means death to man or beast, (loc. 1908).
Doyle displays his use of a detective convention to grab the readers attention, which
would build up a larger audience for him. The detective genre blossomed with Conan
Doyles tales of Sherlock Holmes and Watson. Conan Doyle was able to pique his
audiences interest in detective work with entertaining and engaging stories.

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According to literary scholars, the audience saw Watson as a reflection and feel like they
could take Watson's place if they had to. People like reading stories that they can relate to. Just
like the middle class, Watson works for a living because he does not have the income flow that
Holmes has from being a consulting detective. In the novel The Hounds of The Baskervilles,
Watson shows, Only a humble commoner, but his friend. My name is Dr. Watson, (loc. 1965).
He defines himself as a commoner and reveals that he is a doctor. Being a doctor, Watson deals
with many middle class people so he naturally acts that way. While Watson is speaking, the
audience only receives the information that he does, which relates to how he represents them in
the story. An excerpt from Doyle, explains, Doyle, of course, realized the uses for plot and
characterization of the detectives assistant as the narrator: the writer can use the narrators
ignorance to hide important facts and through him can praise the detective and keep him civilly
reticent at the same time, (Panek 80). The audience can not know everything because they are
limited to Watsons knowledge. This was enforced by Doyle through Watsons ignorance in the
stories, which is why it seems as if Holmes is a genius to both Watson and the readers. Watson is
the bridge between the story and the audience, which contributed to the popularity of the
detective genre through Doyle.
Watson served as a foil to the above-average capabilities of Holmes. . It may be that you
are not yourself luminous, but you are a conductor of light. Some people without possessing
genius have a remarkable power of stimulating it. I confess, my dear fellow, that I am very much
in your debt, (loc. 874). During the Victorian Era he was the spark that lit the candle, the
Watson to Holmes. Doyles series continued to flourish because his stories followed a very
particular format. His stories referenced what was relevant to society at the time, but did not

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sway from the structure that made them so popular.
Even through the changes in society, the detective genre continued to flourish with new
Sherlock Holmes stories. Panek mentions in his article, First of all, Doyle wrote the Holmes
tales over a period of forty years, from 1887 to 1927. During this span, human technology and
social organization changed mightily. None of this affects the Holmes stories, (Panek 8). The
conventions of his stories continued to capture the audiences attention. These were the same
conventions that were used by Dove in The Different Story. He explains, First, the main
character is a detective. Second, the main plot of the story is the account of the investigation and
resolution. Third, the mystery is no ordinary problem but a complex secret that appears
impossible of solution. Finally, the mystery is solved must be known to the reader, (Dove 10).
The main character can be any sex, can have any level of professional experience, and can be
any type of person. This gives the author flexibility in incorporating relevant issues as they see
fit. Also, other genres can be incorporated as long as crime is the main focus. This point was
exhibited in The Hound of The Baskervilles when Doyle mixed the horror genre within the story.
He included a monster, an eerie setting, and death. Lastly, it does not matter if the solution is
undiscovered by another character in the story. The importance of Doves last point is solely on
the readers knowledge of the resolution. Doyle applied these points into every Sherlock story,
allowing him to benefit the growth of the detective genre.
Doyles writing flourished by targeting the middle class male during the Victorian Era.
His short stories and novels helped shape the conventions of the detective genre. After reading
more short stories and novels, readers got more accustomed to the pattern of detective stories. It
was easier to predict what would happen in terms of structure but not context. When these
conventions sunk into the audiences mind, Doyle was able to incorporate other genres into his

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stories. Just like how a bit of horror was added to The Hound of The Baskervilles. The
combination of genres did not just settle in detective stories because other categories of
entertainment use ideas of spies or investigations. A scary film would have some sort of inquiry
while a romantic novel also includes a mystery that needs to be solved. Progress of the detective
genre continued even after Doyles time because our present day still relates to the stories.
Holmes can be the basis of study for future policemen and detectives, while the crimes are
applied to our daily lives. It also stands as one of the most popular topics today because Doyle
chose the middle class to advise the detective genre through his stories of Sherlock and Watson.

Works Cited:
Panek, Leroy. Doyle. An Introduction to the Detective Story. Bowling
Green, OH: Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 1987. PDF
File.
Conan Doyle, Arthur. The Hound of the Baskervilles. Sharon, MA: Higher
Read, LLC 20143. Kindle eBook. Online.
Dove, George N. The Different Story. The Reader and the Detective Story.
Bowling Green, OH: Bowling Green State University Popular Press,
1997. PDF File.