Foundation Project: Social Scientific Analysis of A Study in Scarlet

This report provides a social scientific review of Arthur Conan Doyle's 'A Study in Scarlet', focusing on the character of Jefferson Hope and its implications within the context of criminology. The review analyzes Hope's motivations for murder, his obsession with revenge, and his actions in the light of his criminal intent. It explores how the novel reflects societal aspects of the Victorian era, and how the actions of the characters can be understood using sociological and criminological concepts. The report discusses the application of these social scientific ideas to the plot, characters, and themes of the novel, including the portrayal of the Mormons and the contrasting methods of murder employed by Hope. The analysis also considers the psychological aspects of Hope's character, particularly his obsession with revenge and its consequences. The report includes a discussion of the novel's structure, separating the narrative into two parts and emphasizing the significance of the setting and characters. The review concludes by highlighting how the social scientific approach provides a deeper understanding of the novel's complexity.

SOCIAL SCIENCE

Table of Contents
Assessment 1: Review of A Study in Scarlet with a social scientific idea......................................2
Assessment 2: Presentation of the review.......................................................................................4
Example of the central point: Jefferson Hope.................................................................................4
Social scientific idea: Criminology.................................................................................................4
Applications of the social scientific idea to A Study in Scarlet.......................................................5
Reference List..................................................................................................................................6
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Assessment 1: Review of A Study in Scarlet with a social scientific idea
A Study in Scarlet written and published in 1886 and 1887 respectively by Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle is cited as one of the first detective novels. The novel in its initial stages had received
negligible attention upon release; however, it went on to become one of the most famous
detective novels of all time. This study evaluates the novel not only on the basis of the use of
literature in the text, but also aims at investigating its significance in terms of a societal impact.
The novel involves multiple characters, along with out-of-the-ordinary plot twists to keep the
readers interested. It may be stated in this context, that the publishers had initially been reluctant
to publish the novel due to the prevalence of ‘cheap fiction’ in the market. Hence, a considerable
insight into society, the Victorian era, as well as the city of London as a whole can be gathered
through a social scientific review of A Study in Scarlet.
The novel is segregated into two parts. The first part of the novel describes the murders, the
scene of the murder as well as the meeting of the protagonists of the story, Sherlock Holmes,
private detective and his associate Dr. John Watson in 1881. Furthermore, it may be mentioned
in this context that a geographical description of London can be obtained from the narration. The
murder in the hotel rooms, along with the conveyance of Jefferson Hope, the antagonist of the
novel from the United States of America, to parts of Europe and finally London, in the hope of
achieving revenge for his long-lost love (Brombley, 2017). The arrival of Hope at London, may
be considered significant as London, during the Victorian era had housed several immigrants
from a number of countries (Bailey, 2017). Furthermore, the theories of institutional as well as
sociocultural approaches formulated by urban anthropologists and urban sociologists can be
implemented for describing the condition of London and the implications it has on the events
described in the novel (Downes, 2016). Evaluating the ‘ways of life’, as performed in this study
may prove beneficial in gaining an insight into the psychology of the antagonist of A Study in
Scarlet. However, whether or not Jefferson Hope can be considered an antagonist for the novel
may be regarded as a central point of this review.
In order to comprehend the back-story of Jefferson Hope, one would discuss the second part of
the novel, which goes back to 1847. The story begins in Salt Lake Valley, Utah in America,
where Lucy, a little child and a man, John Ferrier have been left for dead and are rescued by a
group of Mormons. The pair is allocated a generous share of a land and is asked to convert to the
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faith as a token of gratitude for their rescue (Leasure and Martin, 2017). It may be mentioned in
this regards that the Mormons are forbidden to marry individuals outside the faith. However,
when Lucy falls for Jefferson Hope, a non-Mormon, trouble ensues and the family along with
Hope is forced to flee the state. While fleeing Salt Lake City with Lucy and John Ferrier, Hope
goes hunting and returns to the sight of a dead John Ferrier, with no sign of Lucy. Lucy is
forcibly married off Enoch Drebber; however, she dies in a month because of the heartbreak.
Hope seeks revenge on the Drebber and Joseph Stangerson, another Mormon who had been a
potential husband for Lucy.
Despite dying of an aortic aneurysm, Hope seeks vengeance on Stangerson and Drebber, stalking
them all over the world, through Russia, Denmark, France and finally England. The desperation
of Hope and his journey for revenge throughout a span of 20 years leads to his self-neglect and
eventual death (Uggen, Horowitz and Stewart, 2017). Hope’s obsession with seeking revenge
had spurred across a span 2 decades, which had resulted in his downfall. However, considering
the aspects of criminology and sociology can be attributed to the development of the theme for
the novel. These particular aspects are also involved in this study of the social scientific idea for
this study. Taking the words of Hope into account, one may consider his motive behind
committing the murders. Hope claims that his hatred for these men had not his prime driving
force for committing the murders, but the fact that these men had been involved in the murder of
a family had been the fundamental impetus behind the heinous homicides. However, the irony
persists when Hope, driven by his obsession for vengeance had committed the same crime,
despite holding these men guilty for similar activities (Johnson and Fong, 2017). Therefore, a
contradiction remains as a form of hypocrisy and irony as one may consider the series of events
as the major agenda behind Hope’s crimes.
A psychiatric analysis of the character of Jefferson Hope is likely to determine that the prolonged
obsession, without a mitigating force or a distraction had led him to his final downfall. Analysing
the criminal intent, one may mention that the obsession had initially stemmed from his emotions
and dedication to his fiancée, Lucy. However, the prolonged pursuit of the men guilty of the
murder of the Ferriers demonstrates a determined trait in Hope. Thus, considering the overall
character of Hope, his losses and his melancholy life, it may be stated that the obsession had
grown drastically, and had gained a significant influence on the life of the man (Rosenstock,
2018). The ‘obsession’ had rendered him incapable of leading a normal life, and his self-neglect
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had led him to develop the deadly aneurysm (McNabb, 2017). Furthermore, one may consider
his choice of procedures for committing the murders as an idea for the social scientific approach
for this study. The pill used to murder Drebber demonstrates intellect, at the same time,
eliminating the brutality illustrated during the murder of John Ferrier. However, Hope is forced
to stab Stangerson in self-defense due to the physical altercations in the hotel room.
Thus, Jefferson Hope from A Study in Scarlet demonstrates various shades to his character. At
one point of time, he is just, and the other he repeats the same crimes that he had once despised.
Other instances may include the non-violence he illustrates while murdering Drebber, but
demonstrates violence during the murder of Stangerson. Hence, the social scientific idea
discussed in this study has investigated and evaluated the character in all regards.
Assessment 2: Presentation of the review
Example of the central point: Jefferson Hope
 According to Holmes, he concluded that Jefferson Hope murdered Stangerson and
Drebber maybe because of love or for politics.
 It can be said that Hope got his motivation through love, but his idea was also to take
revenge.
 Jefferson Hope was strong, reticent, independent, and solitary man; this can be said based
on him not taking favors from John Ferrier and Lucy.
Speaker Note
Jefferson Hope decided that he would devote his life to bring justice to the killers; this was the
passion, which always motivated him to take revenge. He was determined to kill the targeted
people, no matter what the condition is going on he will select the victims of his lime and will
kill him, even if he needs to travel to different parts of Europe for the purpose. According to him,
he considers himself the judge of his life and for the people who have done wrong with him. He
does not believe in the law not does he believe in God. All he wants is revenge, because of his
Lucy. It can be described that the Mormons are forbidden to marry individuals outside the faith.
Lucy falls in love with Jefferson, who is a non-Mormon and he is forced to flee the state (Adi,
2015). Accordingly, when Hope went to Salt lake City with Ferrier and Lucy Jeffeerson could
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not find Lucy and also found John Ferrier to be dead. Later, Enoch Drebber married Lucy
forcefully, but Lucy dies within a month due to heartbreak.
Social scientific idea: Criminology
 The character named Jefferson Hope is basically a criminal who is confused about his
ideas.
 Taking the words of Hope into account, one may consider his motive behind committing
the murders.
 Hope claims that his hatred for these men had not his prime driving force for committing
the murders, but the fact that these men had been involved in the murder of a family had
been the fundamental impetus behind the heinous homicides.
Speaker Note
Jefferson Hope was an aortic aneurysm, and he was finding Stangerson and Drebber. He would
stalk them throughout, in different parts of the World. Hope’s obsession with seeking revenge
had spurred across a span 2 decades, which had resulted in his downfall. However, considering
the aspects of criminology and sociology can be attributed to the development of the theme for
the novel (Axelrod, 2017). These particular aspects are also involved in this study of the social
scientific idea for this study. An analysis based on psychology taking the character of Hope is
taken to determine the obsession he possesses.
Applications of the social scientific idea to A Study in Scarlet
 The novel “A Study in Scarlet,” has various characters involved. There are various plot
twists, and has many characters with different motives.
 Though, the character named “Jefferson Hope” has various involvements through various
ways.
 On one side, he does not want to stab Drebber, rather he poisons him and adapts the path of
non violence.
 While on the other hand, when his previous trick does not work he forcefully without his
own concern stabs Stangerson that too for defending his own self.
Speaker Note:
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The criminal intent is analysed, one may mention that the obsession had initially stemmed from
his emotions and dedication to his fiancée, Lucy. Though, the prolonged pursuit of the men
guilty of the murder of the Ferriers demonstrates a determined trait in Hope. He do not have any
hope lest, he loses his trust and seeks for revenge. The ‘obsession’ had rendered him incapable of
leading a normal life, and his self-neglect had led him to develop the deadly aneurysm.
Furthermore, one may consider his choice of procedures for committing the murders as an idea
for the social scientific approach for this study. To kill Drebber, Hope used a pill to kill him,
instead of stabbing him (Parker, 2016). However, in the case of Stangerson, Hope was forced to
stab because of his self-defense. Hence, it can be said that the social scientific idea is illustrated,
as once Hope adapted non-violence but later he was forced to adopt the path of violence that too
for his self defense.
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Reference List
Adi, W.T., (2015). SOCIOLOGICAL CONDITION AND THE SETTING OF A STUDY IN
SCARLET NOVEL. Wanastra: Jurnal Bahasa dan Sastra, 7(1), pp.73-86.
Axelrod, M.A., Flowers, A., Groff, K. and Colwell, J.N., (2017). Governance for Conservation
Risks and Crime. Conservation Criminology, p.61.
Bailey, F.Y., (2017). Crime Fiction. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Criminology and
Criminal Justice.
Brombley, K., (2017). A case study of early British Sherlockian fandom. Transformative Works
& Cultures, 23.
Downes, D., (2016). Sheer Luck, Holmes? Clues Towards Canon Formation in Victorian
Detective Fiction. In Victorian Fiction Beyond the Canon (pp. 105-123). Palgrave Macmillan,
London.
Johnson, T.J. and Fong, C.L., (2017). The expanding universe of Sherlockian fandom and
archival collections. Transformative Works & Cultures, 23.
Leasure, P. and Martin, T., (2017). Criminal records and housing: An experimental study.
Journal of Experimental Criminology, 13(4), pp.527-535.
Lintang, A.S., (2017). THE VICTORIAN ERA’S CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION METHODS
AS SEEN IN ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE’SA STUDY IN SCARLET: A NEW HISTORICISM
APPROACH. Sastra Inggris-Quill, 6(7), pp.683-694.
McNabb, J., (2017). Anthropology by gaslight: Sherlock Holmes, Conan Doyle and the
anthropology of detection at the Victorian fin de siècle. World Archaeology, 49(5), pp.728-751.
Parker, B., (2016, November). The Method Effect: Empiricism and Form in Sherlock Holmes.
In Novel: A Forum on Fiction(Vol. 49, No. 3, pp. 449-466). Duke University Press.
Rosenstock, M., (2018). Bloody Patterns: Shades of Myth and the Limits of Reason in A Study
in Scarlet. Clues, 36(2), pp.49-59.
Uggen, C., Horowitz, V. and Stewart, R., (2017). Public Criminology and Criminologists with
Records. The Criminologist, 42, pp.3-7.
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