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The Hound of the Baskervilles: Myth and Legend of the Curse

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The Hound of the Baskervilles: Myth and Legend of the Curse
The Hound of the Baskervilles

The Hound of The Baskervilles begins at 221B Baker Street, London, England. This story is told by Watson, as he and Sherlock Holmes are asked to investigate the mysterious death of Sir Charles Baskerville. This legend leads one to believe that the Baskerville estate and family is cursed by a great black hound, but Watson and Mr. Holmes are determined to prove this curse to be no more than an old tall tale. With only one heir left in the Baskerville family remaining, Holmes and Watson must work tirelessly to solve this mystery before the last family heir meets the same fate as the others.
Sir Charles Baskerville and Sir Henry have both lived with the legacy of their family name. Sir Charles Baskerville’s death seems suspicious and Dr. Mortimer fears that Sir Henry Baskerville, the only known surviving heir, will have the same fate if the death of Sir Charles is not investigated. He is worried the curse of the hound in the death of Hugo Baskerville, that looms over this family, may also cause the untimely end to another life. The legacy of the curse has caused the Baskerville reputation to be that of a family cursed by a hell hound.
Once in London Sir Henry finds Baskerville Hall in near disrepair. This is a symbol of the family’s past. Sir Henry would like to rebuild his family home along with trying to discredit the curse that follows his family’s name. This decision will cause him to cross paths with Jack Stapleton whom we find out at the end of the book is in fact another member of the Baskerville family. Stapleton is also attempting to escape his past as a criminal but can only do so through further criminal activity, like killing the heirs of Baskerville Hall, in order to inherit their legacy. His criminal activity is easy to cover given the legend of the curse that has long followed this family. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are able to discredit the curse once they are aware of the connection between Stapleton and the Baskerville family.
The Hound of the Baskervilles is a classic Sherlock Holmes mystery. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s books always have underlying meaning. In the Hound of the Baskerville it would be that no one can escape their past. Whether it is their own personal past or that of past generations like in the story. Only you can choose how you will handle it. How convenient for Jack Stapleton, he had the curse of the Hound of the Baskerville to help him try to deal with and cover up his past.

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