Holmes describes him as the “fourth smartest man in London” and “a remarkable man.” He is from royal blood, was educated at Eton and Oxford, and appears to be a “bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow.” Holmes even praises him for his “new and effective” scheme and clever mind. This corruption is particularly noticeable in Clay, who-if not for his greed and criminal behavior-would be a respectable figure. ![]() The criminals John Clay and Archie are the characters most corrupted by greed in the story. Conan Doyle thus implies that greed in any measure is morally punishable, while moral integrity reaps rewards. Holmes, on the other hand, expects no reimbursement other than what he is fairly owed, and this fairness eventually earns him the ultimate reward: solving the case. Even Jabez Wilson, the innocent victim of their crime, is punished for his greed-after all, his decision to take on an assistant for half the normal wage, and to leave his shop unattended in order to earn four pounds extra a week, are two greedy acts that ultimately lead him to become the victim of a criminal scheme. ![]() The criminals John Clay (also known as Vincent Spaulding) and Archie (also known as Duncan Ross) try to rob a bank and are punished for this greed through their arrest. In “The Red-Headed League,” characters who are greedy are eventually punished for their actions, whereas selfless characters (such as Sherlock Holmes) are rewarded.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |