Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes, the greatest living detective and therefore the logical person for Dr. Mortimer to approach in the case of Sir Charles Baskerville’s death and the possible danger to his heir. As usual, Holmes dazzles Watson and his visitor with his ability to deduce personal history from observable clues, and he is quick to test the possibility that Mortimer and Sir Henry are being followed. Despite this apparent interest in the case, he pleads prior commitment and sends Watson to Devon in his place. This, it turns out, is a ruse that allows Holmes to spend the next days camped in a neolithic ruin on the moor, where he can observe everyone and everything, while receiving Watson’s reports and initiating investigations into Stapleton’s background. When he finally enters Baskerville Hall and sees the family portrait of Sir Hugo, he realizes instantly from the resemblance that Stapleton is a throwback to the evil Hugo, whose death through a demoniac hound occurred while he was trying to rape the daughter of a neighbor. Holmes arranges that Sir Henry’s visit to the Stapletons will be the occasion to flush out and capture Stapleton.

Dr. John Watson

Dr. John Watson, Holmes’s friend, colleague in detection, and chronicler of his adventures. He reports to Holmes by letter from Baskerville Hall, helps to solve the mystery of Barrymore’s odd behavior, observes the odd behavior of Stapleton and his “sister,” and tracks down Holmes in his hiding place without realizing who he is. He also supplies the information that Stapleton arranged Sir Charles’s presence outside his home on the night that he was frightened to death by the hound.

Sir Henry Baskerville

Sir Henry Baskerville, a Canadian, next in line of succession to Sir Charles. He is concerned enough to welcome Holmes’s help and advice, but he insists on going onto the moor alone to meet Mrs. Stapleton, with whom he is falling in love. In the end, he is the bait Holmes uses to spring his trap on the hound and Stapleton.

Mr. Stapleton

Mr. Stapleton, actually a rival heir who arranged the death of Sir Charles and plans the death of Sir Henry. He is a passionate entomologist and a fearless explorer of the Grimpen Mire, where he keeps the great hound. When he prepares to loose it on a victim, he coats it with phosphorous, which makes the animal glow and appear to breathe fire. In order better to entice Sir Henry, he insists that his wife pretend to be his sister. He dies in the Mire, fleeing from Holmes, Watson, and Inspector Lestrade.

Dr. Mortimer

Dr. Mortimer, a friend of Sir Charles who is concerned that the family curse has overtaken him and will overtake his heir. He brings Holmes the old account of the first appearance of the hound and the death of Sir Hugo.

Mrs. Stapleton

Mrs. Stapleton, who finds her husband’s scheme so distasteful that she tries twice to warn Sir Henry against staying in Baskerville Hall. She is found beaten and bound by Stapleton because she could no longer bear his schemes.

Barrymore

Barrymore and

Mrs. Barrymore

Mrs. Barrymore, Baskerville family servants of long standing. Their odd behavior leads to the discovery that they are supplying food and other necessities to Mrs. Barrymore’s younger brother, Selden, who has escaped from Princetown prison.

Selden

Selden, the Notting Hill Murderer and Mrs. Barrymore’s brother. His escape from prison and his presence on the moor terrify local inhabitants.

Sherlock Holmes is a private detective who works from his residence at 221B Baker Street in London, England. Wealthy and selective, he only takes on cases that pique his interest. He is highly-strung and restless, and although he finds some solace in playing the violin, it often isn't enough to calm his troubled mind when he's not working. During these times, he resorts to injecting himself with cocaine. It takes years for his associate, Dr. Watson, to help him overcome his addiction, but Watson ultimately succeeds.

Holmes is tall and meticulously clean. His voice is described as "cold, incisive, ironical." A brilliant thinker, his knowledge is both extensive and oddly limited. For instance, he can identify different brands of tobacco by scent alone, yet he is unaware that the earth orbits the sun until Dr. Watson explains it to him.

In The Hound of the Baskervilles, Holmes demonstrates his love for the pursuit; he relishes the chance to outsmart the clever villain and thwart his plans. He has a flair for the dramatic, often astonishing listeners with deductions made from seemingly trivial clues, and he enjoys disguising himself, much like an actor. Despite his genius, he is not infallible. In the stories, Professor Moriarty manages to evade him on more than one occasion, and sometimes Holmes fails to protect a client adequately. In The Hound of the Baskervilles, he even believes at one point that he has allowed the heir, Sir Henry Baskerville, to be killed. This element of uncertainty in Holmes's character enhances the appeal of his stories, introducing genuine suspense because he sometimes makes mistakes.

"I counsel you by way of caution to forbear from crossing the moor in those dark hours when the powers of evil are exalted."
Dr. John Watson is a sturdy man of action. He meets Holmes while seeking lodgings after serving as a military doctor in Afghanistan. His steady temperament balances Holmes's edgy nature. As a physician, Watson's medical skills are often invaluable when injuries occur. Intelligent enough to comprehend Holmes's brilliance, strong enough to provide physical support when needed, brave enough to accompany Holmes on any adventure, and unwavering in his loyalty, he is the perfect companion for Holmes. Watson narrates nearly all of Holmes's adventures, asking the questions that readers want answered and often remaining in the dark alongside the audience due to Holmes's maddening habit of keeping his plans secret until he knows whether they will succeed.

Stapleton serves as a prime example of Conan Doyle's masterful villains who exploit the innocent. He is first introduced as an eccentric naturalist and a highly esteemed expert on insects. With an ambiguous background and lineage, he is depicted as a "small, slim, clean-shaven, prim-faced man, flaxen-haired and lean-jawed, between thirty and forty years of age." Despite his unimposing physical stature, which makes him appear too delicate and innocent to be a villain, his intellect is exceptionally sharp. He has meticulously crafted his plans, leveraging the legend of a curse on the Baskervilles to advance his sinister objectives.

Sherlock Holmes is tall and slender. He is meticulously clean; even when he hides in the Grimpen Mire, he arranges for food supplies, clean clothes, and opportunities to bathe daily. His voice is described as "cold, incisive, ironical." A brilliant thinker, his education is both extensive and limited. He can identify different brands of tobacco by smell but knows nothing about astronomy until Dr. Watson explains that the Earth orbits the Sun. Holmes is obsessed with the intellectual thrill of criminal detection and studies only what is practically useful for his investigations. In The Hound of the Baskervilles, he demonstrates his love of the chase, delighting that the villain is as brilliant as himself, enjoying the contest the villain's schemes provide. Holmes is known for his dramatic flair; he astonishes listeners with deductions from seemingly minor clues and enjoys disguising himself as though he were an actor. Despite his genius, he is fallible. In some stories, Professor Moriarty escapes him multiple times, and he occasionally fails to protect a client adequately. For instance, in The Hound of the Baskervilles, he once believes he has allowed Sir Henry Baskerville to be killed. This element of uncertainty in his character adds genuine suspense to his stories, as it shows he can make mistakes. Stapleton — cold, calculating, and ruthless — nearly defeats Holmes, proving to be a worthy adversary.

Sherlock Holmes is a private investigator based at 221B Baker Street, London, England. Wealthy and discerning, he takes on cases that interest him while rejecting those that do not. Highly energetic and restless, he finds some creative outlet in playing the violin, but it often isn't enough to occupy his troubled mind when not on a case. During these times, he resorts to injecting himself with cocaine. It takes years for Dr. Watson to help him overcome his addiction, but Watson is ultimately successful.

Dr. John Watson is a robust man of action. He meets Holmes while seeking lodgings after serving as a military physician in Afghanistan. His steady temperament balances Holmes's more edgy nature. Intelligent enough to appreciate Holmes's genius, strong enough to provide muscle when needed, courageous enough to follow Holmes into any adventure, and unwavering in his loyalty, he is an ideal companion. As a physician, his skills are often useful when people are injured. Watson narrates nearly all of Holmes's adventures, representing the readers by asking the questions they would want answered and often remaining in the dark alongside them due to Holmes's habit of keeping his plans secret until he sees whether they succeed.

Numerous critics have highlighted the parallels between Holmes and Watson and their creator, Arthur Conan Doyle. In reality, Conan Doyle occasionally utilized detective methods akin to those of Holmes to unravel perplexing crimes. In his most renowned case, he demonstrated that George Edalji, a lawyer, had been unjustly convicted of a crime he couldn't have committed. Conan Doyle used evidence like Edalji's astigmatism and the distinct differences between the mud on roads and fields to conclusively prove Edalji's innocence and identify the true culprit — an act of deduction that Holmes himself would be proud of.

Moreover, Dr. Watson shares several traits with Conan Doyle. Both were robust men who remained physically active throughout their lives. Both served as physicians overseas. Watson's tall and thick-necked appearance closely matches Conan Doyle's own description. However, readers should not overemphasize the similarities between the characters and Conan Doyle. Holmes and Watson are well-crafted characters with unique attributes. For example, Conan Doyle did not share Holmes's fascination with music or his drug addiction, nor did he have Watson's military background. Both characters embody Conan Doyle's vision of modern knight-errantry, where individuals use their skills to assist others in distress.

Stapleton exemplifies Conan Doyle's archetypal villains who exploit the innocent. Having altered his name at least twice, he is a distant relative of Sir Henry Baskerville. Described as a "small, slim, clean-shaven, prim-faced man, flaxen-haired and lean-jawed, between thirty and forty years of age," he is an eccentric naturalist and a respected insect expert. Though physically unimposing and seemingly too frail and innocent to be a villain, his mind is exceptionally sharp. He meticulously devised a plan, using an old legend about a curse on the Baskervilles to commit murder without directly harming his victims.

Stapleton brings a gigantic hound to the Grimpen Mire and releases it on the moors at night. He applies phosphorus to its lips and the area around its eyes, making it glow in the dark. This terrifying appearance frightens neighbors who see it, adding credibility to the ancient legend that due to the sins of Hugo Baskerville in the 1600s, a hellish hound seeks vengeance on his descendants. The hound is a chilling figure that keeps much of the narrative of The Hound of the Baskervilles balanced between the supernatural and the mundane.