What is the social class of the characters in this story? What can you tell about Doyle’s attitude toward the social class issues of his day?
Social status affects characterization. Doyle seems to point out that the stereotypes of gentry acting like a gentleman do not necessarily correlate. Mr. Frankland, for example, is overly litigious and he abandons his daughter. Stapleton is a murderous fraud. The classes remain isolated to each other; they do not mix with other classes. The Baskerville family, of supposed high class, has a penchant for crime.
