Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Sequence in the adventures of the speckled bond
On page 102 in Barnes article, Barnes describes the term sequence as a threatened logical unit. This unit has a minimal risk which can sequentially lead to a maximum risk. The minimal risk is a simple function such a singular greeting as Barnes explains. The Maximum risk is that one greeting leads to a meeting with many people. A connection of these two risks can be made in “"the adventures of the speckled bond" where Doyle presents a minimal sequential risk by Helen coming to visit Holmes to discuss the case. The maximal sequential risk would be Holmes actually taking the case. It is bad enough that he has taken the case but the fact that he went into the house and even had the courage to go into the doctor’s room had a the risk of being caught and murdered by the doctor is the ultimate risk.
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3 comments:
Barthes refers to sequence as a 'threatened logical moment', made up of smaller nuclei of moments, each with its own alternatives that end up creating sequences within sequences. For instance, overall the Doyle work was about the quest for Holmes to solve the mystery, this being the main sequence. However, within this sequence there are others such as going to the Manor, searching the manor, and eventually solving the mystery. These sequences within the sequences have the possibilty of leading the story down a number of different trails, but in the end, Holmes is just too good to be fooled by an insane doctor.
There is certainly sequence in the Speckled Band, however I think that there are a lot of small sequences in the story, beginning with finding Holmes out of bed and dressed much earlier than normal. I find this an important though miniscule part of the story. If Holmes had decided to not answer the call of Ms. Stoner, the story may have done in a completely different direction, with Holmes taking a different case, at a different point in time, or not taken a case at all. There are a lot of unobvious factors to a sequence. Even the fact that Ms. Stoner does not stay for breakfast, or meeting them at the manor changes the way the story pans out.
Sera Ramlal
I would like to add on to Fina's comment. I think she makes a valid and important point that each situation within the story changes the entire outcome in the end. I think this is what Barthes meant when he said that every aspect of a narrative has a function. Without each clue, no matter how insignificant, the case may not have been solved in time, if at all.
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