Superstition versus rationalism depicted in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's novel "The Hound of the Baskervilles" (PDF)

Essay from the year 2018 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, , language: English, abstract: This essay will observe how rationalism, logic, and scientific fact prevail against old-fashioned superstitions. Also, it will discuss how the background of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle helped to shape the character of Sherlock Holmes, and how the political situation in England was reflecting in the creation of such mastermind. Holmes is someone who does not believe in old fairy tales such as the existence of a hellish dog and a curse over the Baskervilles family. When Holmes is on the scene, logic is always present.

Additionally, the birth of the Gothic literature will be examined. The impact that Conan Doyle had on society by creating the genius mind, the logic-based thinker, Sherlock Holmes, was to create the foundation not only for the modern crime scene investigations, but also a model for the modern detective novel. Influential facts such as educational background of the author, influential figures in his life, the publishing of the Darwinian theory, "The Origins of Species", and phrenology studies done by the author strongly influenced the creation of Sherlock Holmes and his scientifically based genius mind, fighting against old- fashioned superstitious beliefs.