theblanchedsoldier

The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier | Arthur Conan Doyle

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes
@Cuilin

#theblanchedsoldier

Thoughts, Sherlockians?

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CatLass007 Sherlock Holmes‘s fear of being vulnerable and lonely is represented by his comments about Watson abandoning him to get married. The same loneliness faces Godfrey and his family. The family and their two trusted servants have isolated themselves from any community because they believe they have to protect Godfrey‘s “secret.” Solitude is great and being alone doesn‘t mean being lonely, but the self-isolation of this small group of people (cont)⬇️ 1w

CatLass007 has brought loneliness to one and all. 1w

Librarybelle Holmes sounds bitter when he mentions Watson choosing to marry and live with his wife, leaving Holmes all alone. It‘s like Holmes recognizes the importance of Watson in these cases, and he also brings in the doctor to help identify the disease, in essence showing he cannot do this on his own. The family, meanwhile, chooses to self-isolate rather than be piranhas in society. (edited) 1w

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Cuilin Absence makes the heart grow fonder and can lead to loneliness. James misses his friend Godfrey, Sherlock misses Watson, the family miss their “healthy” son. The butler misses the young Godfrey and Godfrey misses his life of inclusion. 1w

dabbe @CatLass007 @Librarybelle @Cuilin ... W🤩WZA! All of your answers have #gobsmacked me! Just to add my 2 cents: Godfrey's literal confinement reflects the social fear of contagion and mirrors how society isolates those who are considered tainted.

The setting itself: The country estate is portrayed as secluded and gloomy, emphasizing the idea of separation from the outside world. ⬇️ 1w

dabbe @CatLass007 @Librarybelle @Cuilin The country estate is portrayed as secluded and gloomy, emphasizing the idea of separation from the outside world. The locked and hidden room where Godfrey is kept symbolizes how society sometimes “locks away” what it fears or does not understand.

Also, Godfrey's “blanched“ appearance may not only be due to his illness but could also be psychologically symbolic of the emotional toll of his isolation. 1w

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dabbe

The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier | Arthur Conan Doyle

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes
@Cuilin

#theblanchedsoldier

Thoughts, Sherlockians?

CatLass007 Status seems to have been very important to members of society, some more than others. So there is fear of loss of the family‘s social standing. Leprosy, aka Hansen‘s disease, still exists exists today but if detected early enough and treated properly no disfigurement occurs and the disease is curable. I confess that I learned this by watching House but I consulted Dr. Google to confirm the facts. We‘re still ignorant about and frightened (cont)⬇️ 1w

CatLass007 by this once incurable disease. So much of this fear is based on what occurs in the Old and New Testaments and is based on religious superstition. How many times have religious people said that AIDS was God‘s punishment? That‘s what was taught in the old religious texts about leprosy. Most people don‘t go beyond the religious texts to do any real research. I‘m probably veering way off course, so I‘ll bring it back around and say (cont)⬇️ (edited) 1w

CatLass007 humans and their irrational fears haven‘t changed much over the millennia. 1w

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Librarybelle Like @CatLass007 , leprosy had (and has) such a negative connotation, thanks in part to religious teachings. Those who live with the disease are deemed “unclean” and “tainted.” If word got out that a well-to-do member of society contracted it, well that would be the end of their social acceptance. So much fear, with no accurate research. Of course, Conan Doyle makes everything perfect by stating he really does not have leprosy. 🙄 1w

Cuilin I agree with @CatLass007 and @Librarybelle The families shame was so great they hid their son away from society and couldn‘t bring themselves to get a specialist doctor. I think we still see this today with a certain sector of society ignoring medicine and science. The use of medication is seen as weak. The shame of not being perfect pervades culture, we exalt youth and hide our elders away. Others entertain eugenics. Well that got dark. 1w

CatLass007 @Cuilin @Librarybelle It‘s okay to get dark. It‘s okay to be angry. It‘s okay to be afraid of what is happening in the US and because of what‘s happening here it has put the whole world into turmoil, or at least that‘s how it seems to me. Litsy is a safe space to express and discuss our feelings and thoughts. (edited) 1w

dabbe @CatLass007 @Cuilin @Librarybelle You all perfectly answered the fears we have had and still have not just re: leprosy but anything that is seen as different and not acceptable to the so-called norm. I'll just add to the “personal“ aspect of the question. Fear manifests in Godfrey‘s emotional and psychological response to his suspected illness. His willingness to live in near-total isolation reflects an internalization of societal stigma. ⬇️ 1w

dabbe @CatLass007 @Cuilin @Librarybelle He is not only afraid of the disease itself but also of what it would mean for his identity and future. His father, Colonel Emsworth, shares in this fear—not necessarily out of concern for Godfrey‘s health, but for the family's reputation and social standing. This leads to stern and secretive behavior rather than compassion or reason. 1w

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dabbe

The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier | Arthur Conan Doyle

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes
@Cuilin

#theblanchedsoldier

Thoughts, Sherlockians?

CatLass007 I don‘t think Conan Doyle was a real stickler for continuity. 1w

Librarybelle I agree, @CatLass007 . 1w

Cuilin @CatLass007 Agreed, he really had a nonchalant approach to chronology. 1w

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dabbe @CatLass007 @Librarybelle @Cuilin 🎯🩵🎯 What I find utterly fascinating, though, is that the inconsistencies are what Sherlockian scholars who “play the game“ love to focus on. It's mind-boggling the number of essays and columns that are devoted to excruciatingly trying to pin down the chronology of everything in these stories. And I agree with ya'll; Doyle seems to be like “Whatev. I don't want to take the time to go back to look at dates!“ 🤣 1w

CatLass007 @dabbe @Librarybelle @Cuilin I‘m a huge Star Trek fan and we do the same thing. I‘ve read articles and essays on TOS alone which make every effort to explain the inconsistencies in a logical, in-universe way. There‘s only one known alternate universe and one known parallel universe in TOS, although I never can remember which is which. One appears in the episode “Mirror, Mirror” and the other appears in “The Alternative Factor.” The titles (cont)⬇️ 1w

CatLass007 should indicate which type appears in which universe but my limited understanding of the two types says otherwise. But I believe devotees of different genres and media behave in the same manner. Sorry for going off-topic. 1w

dabbe @CatLass007 No need to be sorry! This is fascinating! I loved the old series, but I never appreciated it like you do! 😍 1w

CatLass007 Mom was always a huge science fiction fan. My brother and I were raised on TOS! 1w

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dabbe

The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier | Arthur Conan Doyle

#NoPLaceLikeHolmes
@Cuilin

#theblanchedsoldier

Thoughts, Sherlockians?

CatLass007 I didn‘t feel like I was in the dark, that information was being kept from me, the way I always feel when Watson narrates. I liked seeing things through the eyes of the great detective. He still manages to insult Watson, which seems like a self-defense mechanism to keep him from admitting to himself that even he needs a friend and confidante. 1w

Librarybelle I answered this in the previous question! I liked Holmes‘s approach to storytelling much more than when we read Watson‘s tale. 1w

Cuilin I‘m conflicted, Sherlock‘s style is laconic which I appreciate, however Watson has the more difficult task as he must tell the tale as accurately as he can, (without all the information) be fantastically entertaining while illuminating the brilliance of Holmes. 1w

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dabbe @CatLass007 🎯! Holmes even laments that he hates giving away the clues too early, something he always loves to do with Watson. We were able to truly be there right along with him as he solved the mystery. 1w

dabbe @Librarybelle You pre-predictor, you! Too bad we don't have more from Holmes's point of view, right? 1w

dabbe @Cuilin I am, too. I truly love these two together, not apart. And I believe that Watson humanizes Holmes, though Holmes was able to show his humor and emotions when he narrated as well. Definitely conflicted! 1w

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dabbe

The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier | Arthur Conan Doyle

#NoPLaceLikeHolmes
@Cuilin

#theblanchedsoldier

Thoughts, Sherlockians?

CatLass007 I liked hearing this story from Holmes‘s perspective. My ability to follow his train of thought allowed me to be almost certain of the word Holmes wrote on the sheet of paper and it turned out I was right. The only thing I didn‘t follow was why the name of the newspaper mattered, and knowledge of which I believe only someone who lived during that time or who was a historian of that time would have. The final twist also eluded me because (cont)⬇️ 1w

CatLass007 only the the great Sherlock Holmes, a collector and connoisseur of obscure knowledge would know this. 1w

Librarybelle I was surprised that we had an adventure in Holmes‘s voice, and it was not as pretentious as I thought it may be. I liked his approach to show the reveal over how Watson showcases Holmes‘s approach. Sadly, I didn‘t know the word, but once Holmes said it, everything made sense to me!!😂 1w

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Cuilin I loved Sherlock‘s voice, the missing person mystery, and the simplicity of the solution. I can happily say this one I solved. 1w

dabbe @CatLass007 @Librarybelle @Cuilin The Holmes narration interested me as well. It was definitely more succinct and factual, and even Holmes dryly commented on his inability to stretch the story like Watson does. I also thought his 3-pronged approach as to what could have happened was spot-on; I really couldn't think of other possibilities as to what had happened to Godfrey either! And I agree @Culin; I actually didn't feel so dumb in this one! 🤣 1w

CogsOfEncouragement I like Watson telling the story better. SH is shown to care about people once again. He would not have brought the specialist if he didn‘t. 1w

dabbe @CogsOfEncouragement It's nearly impossible to have Holmes without Watson! 1w

kelli7990 I liked this story. 1w

dabbe @kelli7990 Yay! I'm glad you did. 💜 1w

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