The Adventure of the Speckled Band

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   pmiranda2857 Teacher
   High School - 11th Grade

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   This story expresses the weakness of the female identity, women are portrayed as helpless.  Men in this story are in charge with full authority.  Women are subservient and subject to the will of men.  Even the inheritance is subject to terms that involve men.  They won't inherit the money unless or until they marry.

   As the story goes, when Helen and Julia's mother died, she left each of her daughters a sum of money to be distributed upon each's marriage.  What we don't know at the beginning of the story is that Dr. Roylott, the stepfather, has been spending the money that belonged to Julia and Helen.

   Therefore, the perception is that Dr. Roylott, because he is a man, has the right to take, first Julia's and now Helen's, money, the instructions of his deceased wife mean nothing.

   In order to preserve his authority over the money, Dr. Roylott murders Julia.  When Helen becomes engaged, Dr. Roylott tells her that she needs to sleep in Julia's old bedroom, she does as she is told.  She could have said no, but she was obedient. In order to protect herself,  Helen, seeks the help of another man, Sherlock Holmes.

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   Posted by pmiranda2857 on Tuesday July 22, 2008 at 11:47 AM
   
   

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