Quotation: “Let us look at the matter clearly and fairly. I suppose that you will admit that the action is morally justifiable, though technically criminal” (Conan Doyle 3).
Comment: The immediate thing I noticed regarding this short story was the characteristics it shows of a classic detective story. From the situation of a troubled woman with a man come to rescue, to the risk of morals for the greater good. These tropes are found through looking at Conan Doyle’s work with a structuralist perspective. If we look to other detective stories we could draw connections between Conan Doyle’s narrative and others. Specifically looking at this quotation, committing questionably moral acts for the benefit of others is a literary trope that is played out in many books, movies, and shows today. Take the show “Dexter”, a man who kills criminals to keep them from committing further crimes.
Question: What are the elements of this literary trope? Why do we find it to be so popular throughout media, is it because it is relatable to society?
