Speckled Band Conflict

The story “The Adventure of the Speckled Band” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is a foul play mystery. It takes place in early April 1883, at the Roylott Stoke Moran Manor. The main conflict centers around a timid yet intelligent woman, Helen Stoner who lives with her deviant, selfish stepfather, Dr. Roylott. She fears for her own life and is suspicious of the death of her sister, Julia, on the eve of Julia’s wedding. The exposition, or beginning, of the mystery is when Helen seeks the assistance of Sherlock Holmes, a determined and observant detective, along with his assistant Dr. Watson who was a supportive medical doctor. She arrives at their place of residence early in the morning in a very destressed state, and proceeds to explain her situation …show more content…
Sherlock, realizing this is a matter of upmost seriousness, agrees to take on the case and asks to examine her house that very afternoon. It was at this point that the adventure truly began, and many of the rising action events took place. Sherlock Holmes was prepared to leave for the Roylott Stoke Moran Manor immediately, but upon Helen’s departure her stepfather, Dr. Roylott, arrived. He threatened Sherlock that if he did not stop his investigation he would come after him. This only angered Sherlock, and by the time the doctor had left, it was apparent to anybody that they could not tolerate each other in any way possible. Dr. Roylott had not only conflicts with Sherlock, but as the detective was quite perceptive he realized that Helen and her stepfather had a conflict as well. He recognized that Helen was not completely safe around Dr. Roylott when he saw the bruises around her wrists, proving Dr. Roylott was a danger to her. Still, dutiful Helen continued to look after and care for him even in her sorrowful state from her twin sister’s demise. The interwoven conflicts between Sherlock and Dr. Roylott and between Helen and her stepfather added to the anxious mood. The serious tone of the story, that is seen in quite a few of the rising action events, assisted with the …show more content…
Sherlock and Dr. Watson found that Julia’s old room, the room Helen currently was residing in, had a false bell pull, an opening ventilator, as well as a bed clamped to the floor. In Dr. Roylott’s room they found a bowl of milk and a leash, which was particularly puzzling, for Sherlock understood the doctor had exotic pets, but none small enough to drink out of a bowl of milk or use a leash on. This allowed Sherlock and Dr. Watson to have some semblance as to what was going on, which led to them asking Helen if she could permit them to sneak in later so that they could stay the night. She agreed, and Sherlock and Dr. Watson’s plan was set into motion. After Dr. Roylott had gone to sleep, Helen signaled for Sherlock and Dr. Watson to come over to the manor. They arrived and went into the room Helen was supposed to be sleeping in. Their plan was to stay up all night and hopefully catch the person who was attempting to murder Helen. Sherlock informed Dr. Watson that he did not have to go through with the dangerous plan, but Dr. Watson, who was ever courageous, refused to leave. The falling action of the story was underway when the two waited well into the night for the murderer. The determination of Sherlock only further supported that he believed Dr. Roylott was somehow involved and that he disliked the other so overwhelmingly that he wanted to catch him more than almost anything. However, it was when