The tension between science and superstition, which permeated England in the twentieth century, plays a key role in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel, The Hound of the Baskervilles. The story revolves around the mystery of a supposedly supernatural hound, which has killed both Hugo and Charles Baskerville. The concerned doctor to the Baskervilles seeks help from Holmes and Watson in finding the true cause behind these murders. Throughout the novel, Doyle examines the conflict between science and the supernatural by pitting Holmes’ scientifically oriented perspective on the natural world when investigating physical realities against the abnormally superstitious methods of several men of science. An inherent tension between science and superstition
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Mortimer through Conan Doyle’s introduction of him as a doctor and through his irresolute beliefs in what is known to be logical and scientifically proven. Before Dr. Mortimer is even introduced in the story, Holmes ascribes to him a very stereotypical role of a man of this status. For example, when Holmes is talking to Watson just as Dr. Mortimer is entering, he asks, “What does Dr. James Mortimer, the man of science, ask of Sherlock Homes, the specialist in crime?” (Doyle 9). In this instance, Holmes makes clear that Dr. Mortimer is a “man of science” and should be scientifically oriented in his thinking, thereby using established scientific facts and laws as a guide in all of his observation. Conan Doyle’s word choice of Dr. Mortimer having to “ask of” Sherlock Holmes, however, simultaneously emphasizes the fact that Mortimer’s scientific outlook truly is not sufficient in solving this mystery and that he must be dependent on another person or belief in order to make sense of the murders. It is evident that Dr. Mortimer is relying on speculations outside of established, known rules of science, such as a supernatural hound, to make sense of the case. Furthermore, Mortimer is fully aware that as a doctor he is expected to depend on his studies to make analyses, and therefore works to hide the fact that he is using rationale outside of this to make sense of the mystery of the hound. …show more content…
As a naturalist, Stapleton is also expected to rely on explainable scientific theory; however, although possibly for different, less genuine reasons, he too wavers in his belief in facts and logic. When Watson writes in a diary format, the reader gains direct access to his thoughts on Stapleton. As Watson describes a dreary day at the Moor and contemplates the impossibility of the cause of Baskerville killings being “outside the ordinary laws of nature,” (146) he comments on Stapleton’s susceptibility to believing in the superstitious when he states, “Stapleton may fall in with such a superstition, and Mortimer also, but if I have one quality upon the earth it is common sense, and nothing will persuade me to believe in such a thing” (146). Here this tension is clear in Watson’s ability to rely on what he has learned from science and his studies and in his disbelief in a superstitious cause. On the one hand, Stapleton, a man who, as a naturalist, should be able to make sense of things through his scientific studies, believes in an exotic element. This is evident when Dr. Watson first meets Mr. Stapleton on the Moor. When Watson realizes that Stapleton believes that the hound is to blame for the murders he asks, “You think, then, that some dog pursued Sir Charles, and that he died of fright in
Mortimer through Conan Doyle’s introduction of him as a doctor and through his irresolute beliefs in what is known to be logical and scientifically proven. Before Dr. Mortimer is even introduced in the story, Holmes ascribes to him a very stereotypical role of a man of this status. For example, when Holmes is talking to Watson just as Dr. Mortimer is entering, he asks, “What does Dr. James Mortimer, the man of science, ask of Sherlock Homes, the specialist in crime?” (Doyle 9). In this instance, Holmes makes clear that Dr. Mortimer is a “man of science” and should be scientifically oriented in his thinking, thereby using established scientific facts and laws as a guide in all of his observation. Conan Doyle’s word choice of Dr. Mortimer having to “ask of” Sherlock Holmes, however, simultaneously emphasizes the fact that Mortimer’s scientific outlook truly is not sufficient in solving this mystery and that he must be dependent on another person or belief in order to make sense of the murders. It is evident that Dr. Mortimer is relying on speculations outside of established, known rules of science, such as a supernatural hound, to make sense of the case. Furthermore, Mortimer is fully aware that as a doctor he is expected to depend on his studies to make analyses, and therefore works to hide the fact that he is using rationale outside of this to make sense of the mystery of the hound. …show more content…
As a naturalist, Stapleton is also expected to rely on explainable scientific theory; however, although possibly for different, less genuine reasons, he too wavers in his belief in facts and logic. When Watson writes in a diary format, the reader gains direct access to his thoughts on Stapleton. As Watson describes a dreary day at the Moor and contemplates the impossibility of the cause of Baskerville killings being “outside the ordinary laws of nature,” (146) he comments on Stapleton’s susceptibility to believing in the superstitious when he states, “Stapleton may fall in with such a superstition, and Mortimer also, but if I have one quality upon the earth it is common sense, and nothing will persuade me to believe in such a thing” (146). Here this tension is clear in Watson’s ability to rely on what he has learned from science and his studies and in his disbelief in a superstitious cause. On the one hand, Stapleton, a man who, as a naturalist, should be able to make sense of things through his scientific studies, believes in an exotic element. This is evident when Dr. Watson first meets Mr. Stapleton on the Moor. When Watson realizes that Stapleton believes that the hound is to blame for the murders he asks, “You think, then, that some dog pursued Sir Charles, and that he died of fright in