Multiple Approaches to Obsessive Tendencies: A Close Reading of 'A Study in Scarlet' Eli Smith College

‘The Hunter’s mind was of a hard, unyielding nature, and the predominant idea of revenge had taken such complete possession of it that there was no room for any other emotion. He was, however, above all things, practical.’ (Doyle, 2014, p.122)

A Study in Scarlet is the first of Arthur Conan Doyle’s extensive renditions of the fictional character Sherlock Holmes, a British detective that exhibits extraordinary skills in solving crimes. The novel deals largely with the issues of single-mindedness and behaviour that reflects obsessive tendencies. Beginning with an analysis of the above extract, I will explicate Doyle’s most poignant description of such attributes as presented in Jefferson Hope and thereby show some of Doyle’s attitudes. Following this I am to look at Holmes and Watson and their relation to these attributes and attitudes. Finally, I will consider Doyle’s scathing critique of Mormonism with regard to his depiction of these obsessive and single-minded traits exhibiting the centrality of the aforementioned ideas in the novel as an entirety.

A close reading of the extract brings to the fore issues of obsessive behaviour and single-minded preoccupation. Revenge has taken ‘complete possession’ of Jefferson Hope’s mind...