3.3.4 - The Dying Detective by Arthur Canon Doyle

Book Back Questions

1. What disease is Holmes supposed to be suffering from and what are the symptoms?

Holmes is supposed to be suffering from a rare and deadly Asian disease which he claims to have contracted during a case at Rotherhithe. According to Holmes, the disease is highly contagious, and therefore Watson is warned not to come near him. Holmes appears very weak, pale, and gaunt. He has neither eaten nor drunk anything for three days. He lies helplessly in bed and behaves strangely. He becomes violent when Watson touches the little ivory box. He speaks with difficulty and gives many unusual instructions. All these signs make Watson believe that Holmes is dying. The illness appears serious and fatal, creating fear and urgency. However, these symptoms are later revealed to be part of Holmes’s clever plan.

2. How was Culverton Smith associated with Holmes?

Culverton Smith was associated with Holmes through suspicion and hostility. Smith was not a doctor but claimed to be an expert on the rare disease from which Holmes was supposedly suffering. Holmes and Smith were enemies because Holmes had earlier cast suspicion on Smith in connection with the murder of his nephew, Victor Smith. Smith disliked Holmes deeply for this reason. Holmes deliberately asked Watson to bring Culverton Smith to Baker Street, knowing that Smith would come out of curiosity and pride. Smith had also sent Holmes a small ivory box containing a sharp spring infected with the disease. Thus, Culverton Smith was closely linked to Holmes as a suspect, enemy, and finally as a criminal exposed by Holmes’s clever trap.

3. How did Holmes give the appearance of a patient who was dying?

Holmes gave the appearance of a dying patient through careful planning and acting. He starved himself for three days to look weak and exhausted. He used substances like vaseline, belladonna, rouge, and beeswax to make his face look pale, sunken, and unhealthy. He lay in bed pretending to be helpless and refused food and water. He warned Watson not to touch him, claiming the disease was contagious. He behaved strangely and angrily when Watson touched the ivory box. He also demanded dim gaslight and acted as if he had little strength left. All these actions convinced Watson and Culverton Smith that he was truly dying.

4. Sketch the character of Holmes.

Sherlock Holmes is shown as extremely intelligent, bold, and clever. He is a master of disguise and planning. Even while pretending to be dying, he carefully controls the situation. He thinks far ahead and uses his illness as a trap to expose Culverton Smith. Holmes is fearless and ready to take risks to catch a criminal. He is observant and cautious, as he never opens his mail without checking it. He also shows great confidence in his intellect. Holmes may appear rude or strange, but his actions are always purposeful. His ability to deceive even Dr. Watson proves his brilliance. Thus, Holmes is portrayed as a brilliant detective with sharp intelligence and strong determination.

5. Justify the title “The Dying Detective”.

The title “The Dying Detective” is justified because the story revolves around Holmes pretending to be on his deathbed. For most of the story, Holmes appears to be seriously ill and close to death. Everyone, including Watson and Culverton Smith, believes that he is dying from a deadly disease. This false appearance plays a crucial role in the story. Holmes uses this condition to trick Culverton Smith into confessing his crime. Although Holmes is not actually dying, his role as a dying man is central to the plot. Thus, the title reflects the main situation of the story and highlights Holmes’s clever deception.