#NoPlaceLikeHolmes
@Cuilin
#TheYellowFace
#Discussion
What did y'all think? 🤩
Daisey, erzascarletbookgasm, CogsOfEncouragement, AnneCecilie, Aimeesue, Larkken, Librarybelle, mom2bugnbee, Read4life, StayCurious, Sace, CatLass007, Mollyanna, curiouserandcurioser, eeclayton, dabbe, IndoorDame, kelli7990, TheAromaofBooks, 5feet.of.fury, Tineke, Blackink_WhitePaper, Pageturner1, PageShifter, AllDebooks, AnnR, kimrenee, aroyse, CrystalE02Cuilin Holmes really is a bystander and I think it begs the question as to what Conan Doyle‘s intention was with this story. 6mo
CatLass007 @Cuilin I was wondering why Conan Doyle wrote this story. So many of his own prejudices shine through in Holmes. For example, his antipathy towards Mormons. Why did Holmes appear to think that her first husband was still alive and stalking Effie? And when he removed the girl‘s mask, why did he laugh? Because he had made false assumptions? I would think the common reaction of the times would have been shock and anger. 6mo
Librarybelle Not only was Holmes a bystander, but his initial solution was wrong. Watson points out that Holmes was not always correct - did the public want an example of this? To me, this seems like a story very politically loaded. 6mo
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Cuilin @CatLass007 interesting. I did see the laugh as something more positive. He understood Munro‘s personality and would accept Effie‘s daughter. A case of “all is well, that ends well”. 6mo
IndoorDame I think the “why” here has a lot of depth. Holmes plays a cheerleader/psychiatrist, something he‘s notoriously bad at & uninterested in. His assumptions are totally wrong, mainly because he always disregards women & this case is all about actions taken by women. But in the end a woman is the villain of the story. Doyle shines a spotlight on race relations & interracial relationships, but doesn‘t really offer any clear answers except it‘s messy. 6mo
dabbe Perhaps Doyle wants to send a message of acceptance as shown through Munro's actions towards Effie's daughter. And perhaps Watson wants to show his readers that Holmes is a flawed character and makes mistakes. Even Holmes chastises himself--“Watson, ... if it should ever strike you that I am getting a little over-confident in my powers ... kindly whisper ‘Norbury‘ in my ear, and I shall be infinitely obliged to you“--showing that he has a heart. 6mo
Aimeesue I think Holmes suspected the husband because that‘s the logical first suspect. No one ever suspects a CHILD - it‘s always the Ex. Still true today, because statistically, that‘s the simplest and most likely answer. Like the warning to doctors about diagnoses, “When you hear hoof beats, think horses, not zebras.” The most likely answer is usually the answer. 6mo
dabbe @Aimeesue Good point. But why not suspect the mother? Women usually are the first to be suspect in any situation. #patriarchysucks 6mo
Aimeesue @dabbe Whose mother? Effie‘s not a suspect in Holmes‘ mind because she‘s the target. Who has motive to blackmail her? Because blackmail‘s what it looks like from Holmes‘ POV 6mo
dabbe @Aimeesue Is she the target? Her husband speaks about her as if she is the guilty one--skulking about at night, not answering his questions, etc. The husband judges her far more harshly than Holmes--who doesn't judge her at all. 6mo
Aimeesue @dabbe At the start, Holmes sees Effie‘s actions as a result of someone threatening/blackmailing her, so he suspects the 1st husband of pressuring her, and E. acquiescing to his demands, which is why he looks on her sympathetically, right? Munroe judges her from a self-centered POV -she‘s keeping secrets from ME, not Gosh, this is odd, you OK, Effie? Holmes is looking at a wider view, and accepts Munroe‘s belief that E is still in love with him (edited) 6mo
dabbe @Aimeesue Agree 💯. 6mo
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