The Hound of the Baskervilles: Chapter 8; Qs. & Ans.

Topics on Chapter 8

Topic 1 : First Report of Dr. Watson to Sherlock Holmes about the romantic relationship between Sir Henry and Miss Stapleton.

ü Dr. Watson sends his first report to Sherlock Holmes about the developing romantic relationship between Sir Henry and Miss Stapleton.

ü Dr. Watson is not happy with this development between them because he is very much concerned about the safety of Sir Henry, who is already at risk there.

ü Sir Henry is really captivated by the beauty and charms of Miss Stapleton. According to Dr. Watson’s observations, it is Sir Henry’s being young and his loneliness at the Baskerville Hall which has made Sir Henry show a lot of interest in her.

ü Another thing that Dr. Watson notices is that there is a lot difference between the temperament of Mr. Stapleton and his so called sister.

ü Miss Stapleton also shows very much interest in Sir Henry Baskerville.

ü Another thing worth mentioning here is that Mr. Stapleton does not approve of such type of relationship. Watson has seen Stapleton feeling irritated whenever he found Sir Henry and his sister engaged in conversation.

Topic 2: Dr. Watson’s visit to the Yew Alley:

ü We come to know about Dr. Watson’s visit to Yew Alley Through his report sent to Sherlock Holmes. Dr. Mortimer, who had come to have lunch with Sir Henry and Dr. Watson, takes them to Yew Alley. They watch the place where Sir Charles had met with his tragic death.

ü The place seems to cast a shadow of gloom on the place as they walk through the passage that seemed to be like a tunnel because there were high walls of hedges on the both sides.

ü Dr. Watson observed very minutely the place where Sir Henry seemed to have been waiting for someone. He had dropped ashes from his cigar two times there.

ü It was the place where Sir Charles seemed to have seen something frightful coming towards him, which had made him run towards the moor.

ü Dr. Watson thinks that the terror and fatigue must have caused Sir Charles’ heart failure.

ü This visit makes Dr. Watson ponder over a few necessary points. He wonders as to what that ‘terrible’ object could be.  It could be a ‘sheep-dog’ of the moor or some phantom hound or something in human flesh and blood.

ü In this way, Dr. Watson’s visit to the Yew Alley proves to be very important. It makes his belief that there must be some human being causing danger to Sir Henry’s life. The same person also is responsible for Sir Charles’ tragic death.

ü Topic 3:

The reasons leading to Dr. Watson’s doubts on Mr. Barrymore:

ü Not only Doctor Watson, but Sherlock Holmes and even Sir Henry suspected on Mr. Barrymore at least up to the middle of the novel.

ü There were certain reasons for that. The first reason is that his face had also black beard on it like that of the man in the cab stalking Sir Henry in London.

ü The second reason is that Mr. Barrymore decides to leave Baskerville Hall at the arrival of Sir Henry there. He gives unsatisfying reasons for his decision.

ü The third reason which Makes Dr. Watson and even Sir Henry suspect him more strongly than before is that he tells lie about the woman who kept on sobbing the previous night while his wife’s eyes were red and swollen.

ü Dr. Watson also comes to know from the Grimpen postmaster that the telegramme was received by Mrs. Barrymore, not Mr. Barrymore.

ü Another reason that makes Sir Henry and Dr. Watson confident in their suspicion on him is that Barrymore was found walking at night with a burning candle in his hands and waving it to and fro in an empty room.

ü These are the reasons that make him a victim of suspicion.