Student Question
Compare and contrast "The Man with the Twisted Lip" and "The Case of Identity" in Sherlock Holmes.
Quick answer:
Both "The Man with the Twisted Lip" and "The Case of Identity" involve men who conceal their true identities for financial gain. In "The Man with the Twisted Lip," the protagonist deceives his family to protect them from the shame of his fraudulent begging. Conversely, in "The Case of Identity," the man deceives his stepdaughter for selfish motives, aiming to retain control over her finances by preventing her marriage.
The major similarity between these two stories is that both of them have to do with a man who has hidden his identity. In both cases, the men have assumed fake identities for the purpose of money.
However, that is, to me, where the similarity ends. In "The Man With the Twisted Lip," the protagonist is fooling his family for a good purpose. He does not want them to realize he makes his money begging fraudulently. So he is trying to protect his family from the truth.
In "The Case of Identity" the man is fooling his stepdaughter for entirely selfish purposes. He wants to keep using her money so he wants to prevent her from getting married.
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