Introduction
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in ‘A Scandal in Bohemia’ and Agatha Christie in ‘The Adventure of the Western Star’ alternate between reinforcing and challenging gender, class, and ethnic norms. These two classic crime novels represent a subtle analysis of social construct, creating characters who either abide by or break societal conventions. Critics like Moretti have observed that traditional crime fiction-soften reasserts societal expectations. However, when examined closely, the texts exhibit not only normativity but also space for transgressive acts and identities, which are symbolic of the intricacies of human society. “A Scandal in Bohemia” to “The Adventure of the Western Star” reveals aspects of gender, class, and ethnicity as either normative or transgressive, depicting their significance regarding enforcing or defying conventional values within crime fiction.
Gender
Both “A Scandal in Bohemia” and “The Adventure of the Western Star” present a mixture of normative and transgressive depictions of gender roles. In A Scandal in Bohemia, Sherlock Holmes takes centre stage as he embodies every attribute of being an intelligent detective type. In other words, Holmes personifies the stereotypically masculine traits of logic and stoicism (Trüper, 2004). Nevertheless, Irene Adler breaks these stereotypes. Even though she is portrayed as a mysterious and intriguing woman, she has authority and intelligence that outgrows the conventional gender role of her time. When Holmes admits his defeat to Adler, calling her “the woman,” he recognizes her as an equal, thus challenging the traditional dominance of men over women.
In the story ‘A Scandal in Bohemia,’ Irene Adler emerges as a striking character who steps beyond the bounds of conventional female roles in those times. However, contrary to expectations for females involved in opera singing, often seen as feminine and potentially objectifying, she exhibits intellect, cleverness, and freedom. For once, Holmes also went wrong; he admitted that this lady was sharper than him – “the woman.” Such description elevates her to another pedestal generally reserved for male colleagues, making respecting and adoring her even more intimately possible (Trüper, 2004). The portrayal given by Adler goes against the grain set by normative Victorian society, where women were confined to passive or homebound duties such as motherhood.
Another way that Adler defies gender norms is by disguising herself in male attire to outwit Holmes. She acted against societal expectations when women could only be submissive to men and relied on them entirely for everything they needed. Her character as a brilliant, intelligent woman who outwits the greatest detective is a provocation to the traditional gender roles, and it shows how critical agency and self-determination are irrespective of one’s sex.
Likewise, Lady Frances Carfax represents another instance of such a portrait of genders. Initially, Lady Carfax is cast as an ID, a believable target to be abused by a conman, but she later proves this notion when she displays bravery and intelligence. Her fight against other wizarding preservationists who threaten her life does not matter. She is determined to confront them and to decide her future (Trüper, 2004). Her freedom to criticize the established truths gives rise to her rebellious thoughts against her identity, symbolizing the male-dominated anti-feminist gender ideals that prevailed then. Women who were vulnerable in the Victorian era, like Lady Carfax’ in the stories, suffered from not having power imposed on them for reasons like fear (Wiki, n.d). She gradually becomes prey to the exploitation of the vile who use her as a stepping stone to their selfish greed. However, to continue to seek and regain control over what their lives look like and to challenge oppressive views about femininity is another way how women combat the ideological ideas about women.
Class
Whether normative or counter-moving, literature always contains several intact class themes, illuminating how people assemble into different social structures, strive for power, and interrelate. The story “A Scandal in Bohemia” and “The Adventure of the Western Star” of the detective fiction series of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle focused upon as the two stories excellently exhibited the complexities of class with class adding both a regulating factor and times field of deviance (Trüper, 2004). Doyle does this by characterization, events, and virtual episodes of his stories that portray a novel class and how it relates to individual behaviour and the expectations of society.
Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler are exceptional investigators and extraordinary women, respectively, who bring different social values into question in “A Scandal in Bohemia.” In the story’s very beginning, the King of Bohemia appears before Holmes, saying he believes that Irene Adler is telegraphing with intentions to undermine his marriage. Notwithstanding Holmes’ reputation for mentality, he is impressed by Adler’s brain power and extraordinary skills, which results in a peerless transcendence by him of the class-based limitations in his profession. As a woman, she never goes against the King, nor is it within the reach of a commoner like Adler to undermine the dominant power structures; she successfully outwits the King and Holmes, which for her is standing in the front of life’s challenges and overcoming existing inequalities.
The class structure of the times, scrutinized in the chapter on a dirty jewel theft from Lady Castleton’s (the leading lady in “The Adventure of the Western Star”) possession, remains a normative force. The servants’ social “lower level” status is considered the reason for being naturally treacherous when they are accused of stealing diamonds that disappeared at a social function where upper-class people might be (Trüper, 2004). First, according to Holmes’ conclusion, the thief presents himself as a member of the upper class, which allows for the successful finalization of the task. It shows how easy it is to use society’s stereotypes to one’s benefit and how wide the class prejudice is.
Doyle illustrates how class trends and relations are mincing not by plain-cutting but by careful articulation in both his novels, showing how people indulge in social structures. With Irene Adler and the other characters in “A Scandal in Bohemia,” it is a twist to the situation where they confound the usual class standards and norms. However, the play highlights how the upper class is often represented as an ideal type in society, bringing forth many prejudices and biases in people.
Ethnicity
The way literature uses ethnicity, a social construct, is intricate and can be considered normative or subversive by the writers. For example, “A Scandal in Böhmia” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and “The Adventure of the Impossible” by Agatha Christie excitingly discuss the ethnicity issue. The books are structured so that they variously expound on ethnicity through the characters, settings, and narration style to highlight the importance of people’s confirming or against societal conventions.
Holmes and Adler engage in a mystery of service in “A Scandal in Bohemia,” and among the race origins, there is a hint. As a result of her remarkable intelligence, wit, and being a person of flesh and blood- an impulsive woman- she disturbs the stereotypes; in some stories, she is seen as the same archetype (Trüper, 2004). The indeterminacy about her race does not directly support her outlandish nature; instead, her disobedience toward gender norms is the most noticeable. Through her nature in contradicting the set of feminine gender roles in the Victorian epoch, she manages to overcome Holmes. Hence, the question of gender roles is the central theme discussed in “A Scandal in Bohemia,” making the ethnicity just the student body.
Though ethnicity is depicted negatively in some works, contemporary people represent this nuance differently in “The Adventure of the Western Star.” Regarding detective fiction from earlier periods, the kind of Greek slang of the Hungarian Bermuda actress Madame Rosika Davos is unparalleled (Wiki, n.d). Even though Christie repeatedly violates the accepted norms, especially if you look at how he depicts Madame Davos as a dexter character with a sharp mind. Despite being an individual from a different race, as a part of the investigation, Madame Davos bears testimony to various stereotypes and becomes an indispensable part of the investigation. It is in the texts that Christie describes the limitation of prejudices there and how easily the identity of the person concerned becomes distinct through her narration of ethnicity.
In addition, the depiction of characters based on their ethnic affiliations is a notable phenomenon because, in many instances, these depictions are an exact reflection of the day-to-day life, practices, and happenings in society and may also be rooted in the power structures of society. It is the gender in the first place that defines the plot of “A Scandal in Bohemia,” as the character is a female, different from the rest of her time, an outcast of the Victorian ideal of a quiet and behaved woman (Trüper, 2004). This story shares the norm that the female’s role is the household chores and that they are more competent than their male counterparts, as well as the courage of Irene Adler to challenge these and have a life on her terms.
Ethnic stereotypes are also fully explored, but to a depth only an attentive reader can go through in Christie’s “The Adventure of the Western Star.” In a way that stresses identity and completely shuns stereotypical approaches to peoples and their cultures, Madame Davos’s character rejects the presumptuous label of foreign sophistication that such societies are often given.
Besides, both books touch on many characters’ ethnic backgrounds and their impact on personal identity and social relationships. The King of Bohemia appeals to Holmes for help to prevent an embarrassing wedding day from being disgraced because of the picture circulating in the press (Trüper, 2004). However, the King’s struggle corresponds to political turmoil and the change of traditional powers while old powers are disempowering and strong. As in Holmes’ approach to “The Sanctum of the Western Star,” including the strangeness displayed among the savage, the man-consumed nature of the Western Star, the stolen gem is evident (Wiki, n.d). Disguising vice as a virtue, Christie complicates the cultural supremacy issue as the very same empires that take diamonds by force are considered the wealthiest, and this idea, in turn, is underwritten.
For instance, as Moretti suggests, the sceptics believe detective stories ultimately buttress societal norms since they endorse unquestioning compliance with society’s power structures and moral values. What is true in this case are “A Scandal in Bohemia” and “The Adventure of the Western Star,” which are literary crime pieces that can also push for the change of stereotypes and injustices. Opposing gender, social, and ethnic stereotypes is a portrayal of the characters who do not conform to these models. These works stimulate you to look through your prejudices and ponder the complicated reality.
Finally, both short stories about gender, class, and ethnicity unpacked against classic crime have complete sophistication. Humans will live among machines, robots will be essential to life, and the boundaries between humans and machines will blur. Still, while these texts have a normative component, they will also give people a place to express themselves in ways that go against the grain of an accepted societal norm. Doyle and Christie use their characters to demonstrate what they see as the corruption of their period’s society: people oblivious to gender, class, and ethnic norms (Wiki, n.d). These texts are, therefore, a chilling reminder of the flexibility of the human self and the intricacy of human society. At their depth, they symbolize the strengthening factor that can tear down society into pieces.
Reference
Trüper, P.-C. (2004). 3. Sherlock Holmes – rooted in reality. S.Holmes – Gender Roles – P.C.T. http://www.text-traeger.info/SHolmes/32Gend.html
Wiki C. A. (n.d). The adventure of the western star. Available on https://agathachristie.fandom.com/wiki/The_Adventure_of_%27The_Western_Star%27
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