Chapter two
1.
The curse
of Baskervilles
Detail: Baskerville had been under the effect of the
curse since the time when Hugo Baskerville (senior) had done a heinous deed. He
was a cruel and wicked type of person. Once he got obsessed with the idea of
possessing the daughter of a farmer, living there at some distance. She avoided
him as she already knew about the bad reputation of Hugo Baskerville, the
senior.
One day, he kidnapped the girl and made her captive in an
upper chamber, while, he along with his wicked and idle friends, started
singing, shouting and enjoying wine as usual.
The girl was so much terrified that she found no way to
escape. At last, she took a great risk and climbed down from the room with the
help of an ivy.
Hugo Baskerville was mad with anger to find the room empty. He
gave the scent of her handkerchief to the hounds and let them loose on her. He
also chased her on his black mare. His thirteen friends also followed, who
later found the dead bodies of the girl and Hugo. They also found the most
frightening and blood curdling thing there. They saw that a hound like black
beast tore Hugo’s throat. Since then the black hound- like beast became a
nightmare for the Baskervilles.
2.
The
circumstances that led to Charles Baskerville’s death and some stories related
to it.
Detail: Dr.
Mortimer was Sir Charles’s medical attendant. He knew that the latter suffered
from poor health and fits of nervous breakdown because of the constant fear of
the legend of the hound-like beast.
Sir Charles was habitual of having a short walk near his
residence after eating his dinner. One day before he was to leave for London,
he had come out of the main gate to have a stroll. It was a horrible and last
night for Sir Charles. His dead body was found by a servant at some distance
from the gate. This was published in a newspaper.
As there was
no mark of injury on his body, it was concluded that he had died of
heart failure.
But Dr. Mortimer had noticed something strange at some
distance from the dead body of Sir Charles. He had seen the footmarks of a
hound-like beast.
There was a different story made about the footmarks of the
beast. Barrymore remarks that Sir Charles’s footprints had changed character
near the moor gate. It seemed that Charles had walked on his toes. Another
story reveals that a drunken gipsy had heard the cries of Sir Charles.
3.
The
facts hidden or not revealed to police by Dr. Mortimer
Detail: There were
several facts that were not revealed to the police by Dr. Mortimer. He reveals all
these details to Sherlock Holmes. He tells him that Sir Charles usually had the
company of Mr. Frankland and Mr.
Stapleton, the only educated persons in that area. Dr. Mortimer also explains
to Sherlock Holmes as to how Sir Charles was obsessed with the fear of the
legendary hound. It always kept haunting his mind and, as a result of it, he
suffered from frequent nervous breakdown. Dr. Mortimer had consulted Stapleton
and decided to suggest Sir Charles to go to London so that he might feel
relaxed from the stress and depression caused by the fear of the hound.
Dr. Mortimer also
reveals another thing to Sherlock Holmes that it was only three weeks before
his death that Charles had given him the secret manuscript. He also adds that
he had seen the footprints of a gigantic (big in size) animal, a little
distance away from Sir Charles dead body.
4.
Why
did Sir Charles give the manuscripts to Dr. Mortimer? When? What do you think
about their relationship?
Detail: Sir Charles gives the
manuscript to Dr. Mortimer just three weeks before he died. The text of the
novel shows that he was under the constant fear of the hound. Three weeks ago,
Sir Charles saw a gigantic animal going when he was standing at the gate of his
mansion. He froze in fear to see the dreadful beast. It had a very deep effect
on Sir Charles’ mind. So Dr. Mortimer had to stay with him that evening and it
was the time when Sir Charles thought it wise to hand over that manuscript to
Dr. Mortimer. Since that day, the manuscript was under the safe custody of Dr.
Mortimer. This event also shows as to how Sir Charles trusted Dr. Mortimer. It
was a relationship of trust and friendship between them. Dr. Mortimer kept the
trust intact and he was now more worried about the new heir Henry Baskerville’s
safety.
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