Reading Response #2: Examining the Scientific & Inductive Writing Styles of Doyle

Unlike many works of mystery fiction around its time, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is the one of the first mystery fiction writers to write from a purely logical standpoint, doubting everything until it can be proven compared to other novels from the mystery genre at its time (which "always seemed to get his results either by some sort of lucky chance or fluke" as said by Doyle himself) (Movietone News 1928). Doyle also most likely one of the first mystery writers to use a methodological scientific style of writing fiction by use of inductive reasoning and scientific methods. 



A walking stick

In the first chapter of The Hound of the Baskervilles, Sherlock Holmes and his assistant detective, Dr. Watson, are examining a walking stick left at their apartment from the previous day. Watson's clever inductive reasoning leads to his theory that walking stick, Watson infers "the thick iron ferrule is worn down, so it is evident that he has done a great amount of walking with it" (Doyle 10). Here lays a clear example of Doyle employing the use of inductive reasoning: Watson makes an observation ("thick iron ferrule worn down"), sees an emerging pattern (the worn out iron ferrule must indicate heavy usage of the walking stick), and proposes his theory ("he has done a great amount of walking with it") (Doyle 10). His style of presenting ideas as seen here makes for a more concrete and less questionable plot compared to earlier mystery novels which "always seemed to get [their] results by some sort of lucky chance or fluke" (MovieTone News 1928).

The proceeding chapter of this novel sets up the theme, background story, and more importantly, the purpose (or what I would call, the observations). Just as in scientific methodology, Doyle gives Holmes and Watson a set of observations (as given by the doctor of Sir Charles Baskerville who was died mysteriously). Based on the facts that were given by the doctor of Sir Charles Baskerville, Holmes and Watson begin to indirectly hypothesize, for example Holmes inquires about the butler of Sir Charles Baskerville by asking, "did Barrymore profit at all by Sir Charles’s will?" (Doyle 63). As the novel continues more revealing events occur such as Holmes and Watson spotting a dodgy man and the missing boots of  Sir Henry Baskerville which allow Holmes and Watson to inquire and ask more questions about the crime at hand. To find out if their hypotheses are correct the conduct experiments, for example Holmes sends Watson "to go to Baskerville hall" to experiment by talking to people there and observing environmental (Doyle 63). After experiments (such as conversing with neighbors on the subject of the Baskervilles) and observations, Doyle will take small breaks in between the plot to explain the implications (or analysis) of their findings (just as in scientific research and lab reports). For example Watson (the narrator) explains Mr. Stapleton as being "unemotional" leading his to a theory that "he also gives the idea of hidden fires" (Doyle 105). These small break offer the reader insight into the reasoning of Watson which gives a stronger structure to whatever is said, seen, or heard. The process of asking questions, hypothesizing, experimenting, analyzing, and theorizing is seen throughout this novel. Only at the end of the novel you see the actual conclusions to their hypotheses.

Clearly, Doyle's style is a steeple in English literature. His style of writing has left a mark on modern storytelling in media such as the television shows CSI and House which have the same inductive reasoning and scientific methods as Doyle had in his writing. I induct from Doyle's writing that he is one of the figures in culture had started a revolution in the way we think. At this time, people would have been highly dedicated to religion but what Doyle indirectly teachers his readers is that you should not believe something simply because someone exclaimed it.

*On a semi-related note, Doyle was a doctor before he became a writer which explains why his writing was so exact and scientific. In fact, his writing is inspired by one of his colleagues which always could draw large conclusions from small pieces of information!