2009 Extended Essay
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- Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Romanticism Edgar Allen Poe
- Romanticism in Edgar Allen Poe’s Works
- Realism Arthur Conan Doyle
- Realism in Arthur Conan Doyle’s Works
- Edgar Allen Poe Arthur Conan Doyle
Table of ContentsTable of Contents 1 Abstract 2 Introduction 3 Romanticism & Edgar Allen Poe 4 The Romantic Period 4 Romanticism in Edgar Allen Poe’s Works 4 Realism & Arthur Conan Doyle 5 The Realist Period 5 Realism in Arthur Conan Doyle’s Works 5 Edgar Allen Poe & Arthur Conan Doyle 6 Conclusion 8
AbstractResearch Question: How has Edgar Allen Poe influenced Arthur Conan Doyle’s works in the mystery genre, despite differences brought about by the changing values from the Romantic period to the Realist period? In order to fully appreciate a literary work, it’s crucial to examine its context and roots. This paper aims to do so by exploring the legendary Sherlock Holmes saga penned by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in light of the Realist period and the prototype of detective literature in which Doyle draws inspiration from, namely The Aguste Dupin Series written by Edgar Allen Poe. Because this paper aims to contextualize two literary works and establish a collation of both, it requires concepts to be branched into three focal parts: 1) Romanticism and its evidence in Edgar Allen Poe’s works, 2) Realism and its evidence in Arthur Conan Doyle’s works, and finally, 3) Poe’s Aguste Dupin and his influence on Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes saga. Finally, as an answer to the aforementioned thesis question, the paper will conclude on a note that, regardless of the literary works’ polarizing origins, Edgar Allen Poe has influenced Doyle in the detective genre through the establishment of ratiocination, portrayal of an ineptitude police force, and the usage of a prototype armchair detective who solves conundrums through logical deduction. Word Count: 211
In order to fully appreciate a literary work, it’s essential to contextualize it and examine the roots from which it stemmed. Examining Poe’s influence on Doyle and establishing a collation of both works is enlightening and allows readers to better fathom and appreciate Doyle’s legendary saga as well as acknowledge Poe’s eminent role as “the father of detective stories.” Thus, the underlying question stemming from this becomes: how has Edgar Allen Poe influenced Arthur Conan Doyle’s works in the mystery genre, despite differences brought about by changing values from the Romantic period to the Realist period? This paper seeks to draw answers by exploring the similarities and differences between the detective stories penned by both authors. Before delving into an in-depth comparison of Poe and Conan Doyle’s works in light of their respective eras, however, it’s imperative to first examine the attributes of Romanticism and Realism.
The Romantic PeriodThe Romantic period, in this context, refers to a prevalent literary movement in England, Europe, and America dating roughly between 1828-1865 (Harvey). A successor to the Enlightenment, Romanticism reflects an era that echoes people’s yearning to break free from the rigid restraints of reason and rationalism that characterized the Enlightenment. In pursuit of a world that transcends mere logic and reasoning, Romanticists sought after imagination, individualism, exoticism, nature, and spirituality. Due to these pursuits, Romantic literature often delves into imaginative thinking and portrays life rife with idealistic characters and spiritual, ethereal settings. Among others, renowned Romanticists include Herman Melville, Emily Dickinson, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Walt Whitman, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, William Blake, Samuel Coleridge, Lord Byron, and Edgar Allen Poe himself (Harvey). The rudimentary principle of Romantic literature states that imagination is the primary faculty for creating all art. A common technique is illuminating reality by omitting realistic details and allowing the readers’ imagination to wander through ethereal settings. Substantially, Romantic literature uses both reason and feeling as “intellectual intuition”, puts emphasis on the search for and presentation of unknowable truth, focuses on the ideal, as characters tend to be heroic, environments can include supernatural settings or unreal events and circumstances, and utilizes language that gravitates towards the formal and or poetic (VanSpanckeren). Romanticism in Edgar Allen Poe’s WorksAlthough he is dubbed “the father of detective stories”, Edgar Allen Poe wrote only three detective stories: The Murders in the Rue Morgue (1841), The Mystery of Marie Roget (1842-1843), and The Purloined Letter (1844). Unlike his other works, these detective tales deviate from characteristics of the romantic period and, at first glance, may seem closer in trait to the Realist period due to its tendency to highlight logic and deduction. Nevertheless, Poe’s works in the detective genre are not completely deprived of Romantic qualities. Poe utilizes methods characteristic of the Romantic Period such as poetic language, ambiguity, and metaphysical explanations to weave stories that may otherwise appear too logical and concrete to be categorized under Romantic literature. “There are few persons, even among the calmest thinkers, who have not occasionally been startled into a vague yet thrilling half-credence in the supernatural, by coincidences of so seemingly marvelous a character, that, as mere coincidences, the intellect has been unable to receive them” (Poe 141). Here, Poe highlights how the supernatural can baffle even the most logically grounded thinkers. In The Murders in the Rue Morgue, Dupin commented on the Parisian police and denounced their flawed techniques of investigation. While endorsing the perseverance and intelligence of Vidocq, a member of the Parisian police department, Dupin criticized him for scrutinizing evidences too excessively, thus failing to see the situation as a whole: “He impaired his vision by holding the object too close. He might see, perhaps, one or two points with unusual clearness, but in so doing he, necessarily, lost sight of the matter as a whole. Thus there is such a thing as being too profound. Truth is not always in a well. In fact, as regards the more important knowledge, I do believe that she is invariably superficial. The depth lies in the valleys where we seek her, and not upon the mountain-tops where she is formed... By undue profoundity we perplex and enfeeble thought; and it is possible to make even Venus herself vanish from the firmament by a scrutiny too sustained, too concentrated, or too direct” (Poe 123). Dupin’s observational and insightful remark is reminiscent of Romanticism’s tendency to steer clear of reality’s rigidity and instead, resort to the flexibility of human imagination and spirituality as a primary means of perceiving the world. Due to these characteristics, Romanticism stands in stark contrast to its successive period, Realism. Realism & Arthur Conan DoyleThe Realist PeriodRealism refers to the period of literary works produced in Europe and the United States from 1840-1890s (Encarta). This particular movement sparked from an age in which humans were viewed as secular beings living in a world untouched by spiritual presence (Lye). Dissimilar to its prevenient period, Realism endeavors to convey observations impartially and objectively rather than selecting facts in accord with preconceived aesthetic or ethical ideals (Encarta). Attributes such as mechanism, empirical thought, materialism, and scientific reasoning are often found in typical realist literature. Marxist critic Georg Lukacs remarks that Realist literature reflects a social reality whose phenomena serves as a model for the work of art (Lye). Due to its endeavor to convey the real world as accurately as possible, the essential quality of Realism can be analogized to that of a mirror. Through emphasis on unavoidable truths—empirical and sensory, scientific inclination, precise details, and the portrayal of main characters as average and flawed, Realism strives to mirror nature as it appears in reality. Realism in Arthur Conan Doyle’s WorksArthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes saga is a preeminent work of literature rife with elements characteristic of the Realist period. The employment of deductive reasoning, scientific methods, and precise details evident in Doyle’s works demonstrates Realism’s endeavor and yearning to establish a believable reflection of reality. Reasoning and observation is one of the most recurring techniques employed by Doyle’s prominent character. Holmes’ idiosyncratic use of logic, deductive reasoning, and power of observation to solve conundrums is reminiscent of Realism’s main tenet. In A Scandal in Bohemia, Holmes remarks: “It is simplicity itself... My eyes tell me that on the inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting specimen of the London slavery” (Doyle 241). Realism often incorporates precise details to establish the illusion of reality. The aforementioned passage highlights how significant and customary it is for Holmes to observe details in order to arrive at answers to conundrums. Another quality of Realism is that it is scientifically inclined. In Doyle’s writings, this is especially evident in the many instances in which Holmes utilizes scientific methods and forensics to solve crime. Among others, these techniques include the use of tobacco ashes and cigarette butts in A Study in Scarlet, The Adventure of Silver Blaze, The Adventure of Priory School, The Hound of the Baskervilles, and The Boscombe Valley Mystery, the comparison of typewritten letters to expose a fraud in A Case of Identity, the use of gun powder residue to expose two murderers The Adventure of the Reigate Squire, bullet comparison from two crime scenes in The Adventure of the Empty House, and even an early use of fingerprints in The Norwood Builder. In addition to these techniques, Doyle also equips Holmes with the cunning ability to utilize profound knowledge in chemistry, anatomy, literature, and law to solve enigmas. This is especially characteristic of the Realist period, because it often conveys believable and scientific means of attaining knowledge. Edgar Allen Poe & Arthur Conan DoyleWatson’s remark on Holmes perhaps best illustrates the unmistakable similarity that readers have pinpointed in both Poe and Doyle’s iconic detective characters: “It is simple enough as you explain it,’ [Watson] said, smiling. ‘You remind me of Edgar Allen Poe’s Dupin. I had no idea that such individuals did exist outside of stories” (Doyle 241). Aguste Dupin was Poe’s eccentric but brilliant investigator and Sherlock Holmes was Doyle’s own widely acclaimed detective, whose wits rival that of Dupin’s. The Sherlock Holmes saga, as evident in the aforementioned quote, is fraught with not-so-subtle nods to its predecessor, the Dupin series. Among the number of humorous allusions Doyle pays in homage to Poe: “Sherlock Holmes rose and lit his pipe. ‘No doubt you think that you are complimenting me in comparing me to Dupin,’ he observed. ‘Now, in my opinion, Dupin was a very inferior fellow. That trick of his of breaking in on his friends' thoughts with an apropos remark after a quarter of an hour's silence is really very showy and superficial. He had some analytical genius, no doubt; but he was by no means such a phenomenon as Poe appeared to imagine” (Doyle 241). This alone is an indicator that both literary works are very much alike. From such allusions, readers can infer that Doyle undoubtedly draws inspiration from Poe’s prototypical detective story. How exactly do the two compare? Regardless of their polarizing origins, there are many literary aspects from Poe’s Dupin series that Doyle has applied to his own Sherlock Holmes saga. Despite originating from separate literary movements, Poe’s main influence on Doyle is the establishment of a prototype armchair detective and the profound use of “ratiocination”, a method of logical deduction that induces readers to join the detective’s quest towards the solution and apply his own powers logic and deduction using provided clues. Apart from these methods, other aspects in Poe’s detective works that are evident in Doyle’s works include the eccentric but brilliant amateur sleuth, the introduction of simple clues early on in the plot, the stupidity or ineptitude of the police, the resentment of the police for the amateur’s interference, and the simple but careful solution of the problem through logic, deduction and observation. Moreover, the skills employed by Poe’s Dupin and Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes are founded upon principle and ratiocination. Van Dover notes that their relationship mirrors that of Plato and Aristotle: “Dupin described his approach as a combination of the skills of the poet and the mathematician, skills whose essential nature normally removes them from direct applicability in the practical world. Sherlock Holmes's debt to Dupin was certainly real, but in this respect it is like that of Aristotle, the great scientist, to Plato, another great poet-mathematician. The Platonic tradition in detection continued... Its method -- ratiocination -- remained the esoteric gift of particular geniuses. Holmes's scientific method... was, like Aristotle's, empirical, depending upon investigations into the matter of the mundane world and resulting in synthetic conclusions regarding the nature of that matter” (qtd. in Ho, Richard K.). The use of clues early on in the plot is a recurring aspect found in both works. This method eventually paves way for ratiocination, allowing readers to systematically piece clues together as the story unravels. The manner of both characters’ involvement with the crimes varies. In Murders in the Rue Morgue, Dupin is a disinterested observer, piecing together the clues through newspapers and a single visit the crime scene, and through newspapers alone in The Mystery of Marie Rogêt. Likewise, when the body of a man is found in a house in London, Holmes is called in to investigate some interesting clues, namely a woman's wedding ring and a timetable for the Atlantic Steamship Company. Another commonality in both works is the stupidity and ineptitude of the police. This aspect is included to elevate the significance and influence of main characters in the stories and downplay minor characters. Both stories also display the resentment of the police for the amateur’s interference and vigilantism. In The Murders in The Rue Morgue, Dupin remarks, “The Parisian police are cunning, but no more. There is no method in their proceedings, beyond the method of the moment” (Poe 122). In A Study in Scarlet, Holmes also remarks on the ineptitude of the police: “Scotland Yarders,’ my friend remarked; ‘he and Lestrade are the pick of a bad lot. They are both quick and energetic, but conventional – shockingly so” (Doyle 18).Yet another similarity found in both works is the detective’s fervor for mysteries and deduction.In A Study in Scarlet, Holmes expresses his utmost reliance on deduction: “Yes, I have a turn for observation and for deduction. The theories which I have expressed there, and which appear to you to be so chimerical are really extremely practical – so practical that I depend upon them for my bread and cheese” (Doyle 17). Poe’s fictional detective stories were an attempt to explore a protagonist with the ability to unravel cases without the aid of the police by gathering clues and sifting through newspapers to pinpoint crimes. This prototype is better known as the “armchair detective”. Doyle was very much influenced by Dupin’s profession, and followed in Poe’s footsteps by having Sherlock Holmes pose as a consultant detective operating independently from the law. In The Mystery of Marie Roget, Poe describes how citizens and authorities alike often take counsel from Dupin, a prominent armchair detective: “This point being settled, the Prefect broke forth at once into explanations of his own views, interspersing them with long comments upon the evidence; of which latter we were not yet in possession. He discoursed much, and beyond doubt, learnedly; …Dupin, sitting steadily in his accustomed armchair, was the embodiment of respectful attention” (Poe 158). In A Study in Scarlet, Holmes comments on his profession as an armchair detective: "Well, I have a trade of my own. I suppose I am the only one in the world. I'm a consulting detective, if you can understand what that is. Here in London we have lots of Government detectives and lots of private ones. When these fellows are at fault they come to me, and I manage to put them on the right scent. They lay all the evidence before me, and I am generally able, by the help of my knowledge of the history of crime, to set them straight. There is a strong family resemblance about misdeeds, and if you have all the details of a thousand at your finger ends, it is odd if you can't unravel the thousand and first. Lestrade is a well-known detective. He got himself into a fog recently over a forgery case, and that was what brought him here.” (Doyle 27). By assuming the role of an armchair detective, both Dupin and Holmes are portrayed as superior in solving conundrums, their intelligence surpassing that of even the most distinguished detectives in the area and often succeeding without police intervention. By providing their characters with such likeable traits idealized by their respective periods, Poe and Doyle have won the acclaim of a large audience, thus allowing their characters to thrive throughout generations.
ConclusionAs connoisseurs of detective fiction, both Edgar Allen Poe and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle have enraptured readers throughout decades with their gripping tales of mystery and enigma. A quintessential romanticist, Poe devises mystery stories that allow readers to envisage surreal settings rather than restrict their imaginations to convoluted details. Rather than provide scientific explanations as denouements for his stories, Poe gravitates towards metaphysical conclusions. Doyle, on the other hand, opts to establish empirical and scientific reasoning in the Sherlock Holmes saga. He constructs a believable character whose cunning methods of solving crime involve logical deduction and utmost scrutiny. Despite the differing characteristics of their respective literary works, however, both the Dupin mysteries and the Sherlock Holmes saga share more commonalities than one would expect when examining their respective periods. How has Poe influenced Doyle in the mystery genre, regardless of their different origins? Despite differences brought about by changing values from the romantic to realist periods, Edgar Allen Poe has influenced Arthur Conan Doyle’s works in the mystery and detective genre through the establishment of ratiocination, the portrayal of an ineptitude police force, and the usage of a prototype armchair detective who solves conundrums through logical deduction. From this exploration on Poe and Doyle, there are a number of queries that can be further examined. Despite being dubbed “the father of detective stories”, why did Poe write only three detective tales? Although the Dupin stories were considered forerunners of detective fiction, why was Sherlock Holmes saga more renowned to common readers? Poe has left a legacy that thrives in works of many genres. How are Poe influences evident in the works of other detective fiction? These are inquiries that may be intriguing to explore in further dissertations. Authors, artists, and inventors alike are forever drawing inspirations from history. As the saying goes, “a writer reads.” Thus, literature is not something that comes out of an empty vacuum. It is an ever-changing medium that evolves across time and culture, thus requiring it to be examined contextually and not independent of its roots and origins. By contextualizing Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes saga and studying Poe’s Dupin stories in which it emanates from, readers are able to cherish and fathom the essence of iconic detective stories weaved together by the world’s most celebrated mystery writers.
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