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thefisherqueen · 4 months

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Sherlock Holmes: The Three Gables

Catching up with Letters from Watson today, so I'm reading The Three Gables short story now. This one is supposedly especially racist. I still want to read it: I want a whole picture of what Doyle wrote, not just the palatable. Going to focus this reading on the ways the racism presents in this story, because I think it's important for white people like me to do that. If we want the joy of reading older literature, we also need to face the nasty. I'm open, of course, to any corrections and additions, and will also look into what people have already written about it

First note: already sure I'm going to confuse this title with The Three Garridebs. Way too similar

I don't think that any of my adventures with Mr. Sherlock Holmes opened quite so abruptly, or so dramatically, as that which I associate with The Three Gables. Didn't ran one client ran into the living room of Baker Street and then faint? Not sure how this one could be more dramatic

If I had said that a mad bull had arrived it would give a clearer impression of what occurred. The door had flown open and a huge negro had burst into the room. He would have been a comic figure if he had not been terrific, for he was dressed in a very loud gray check suit with a flowing salmon-coloured tie. His broad face and flattened nose were thrust forward, as his sullen dark eyes, with a smouldering gleam of malice in them, turned from one of us to the other. “Which of you gen'l'men is Masser Holmes?” he asked. *Sighs* ok, this is already so bad. Note the direct linking of the apprearance and dress of a black man to both comedy and perceived threat. Also note the unnecessary written down manner of speach, which puts extra attention to it. Exaggerating and making fun of the way people talk is often part of racist and classist narratives. The portrayal is also often inaccurate, for '*gasp* people making fun of other's manner of speech generally don't have an understanding for its grammar and nuances

“Oh! it's you, is it?” said our visitor, coming with an unpleasant, stealthy step round the angle of the table. “See here, Masser Holmes, you keep your hands out of other folks' business. Leave folks to manage their own affairs. Got that, Masser Holmes?” “Keep on talking,” said Holmes. “It's fine.” “Oh! it's fine, is it?” growled the savage. “It won't be so damn fine if I have to trim you up a bit. I've handled your kind before now, and they didn't look fine when I was through with them. Further stereotyping of the black man: violent, a growling savage, even his very step is described as unpleasant

aren't you Steve Dixie, the bruiser?” “That's my name, Masser Holmes, and you'll get put through it for sure if you give me any lip.” “It is certainly the last thing you need,” said Holmes, staring at our visitor's hideous mouth. What the hell. This goes way beyong racist stereotyping: this is straight up nasty racist insult of physical appearance

“Yes, you'll tell the magistrate about it, Steve,” said Holmes. “I've been watching you and Barney Stockdale—” “So help me the Lord! Masser Holmes—” “That's enough. Get out of it. I'll pick you up when I want you.” “Good-mornin', Masser Holmes. I hope there ain't no hard feelin's about this 'ere visit?” To me, this reads like another aspect of racism in narratives: the power fantasy of the white man. Notice how this black man, who was just threatening Holmes, now cowers before him and listens to his command

“I am glad you were not forced to break his woolly head, Watson. I observed your manoeuvres with the poker. But he is really rather a harmless fellow, a great muscular, foolish, blustering baby, and easily cowed, as you have seen. He is one of the Spencer John gang and has taken part in some dirty work of late which I may clear up when I have time. His immediate principal, Barney, is a more astute person. Further racist stereotyping: the framing of a black person as all muscles and no brains

“But why do they want to intimidate you?” “It is this Harrow Weald case. It decides me to look into the matter, for if it is worth anyone's while to take so much trouble, there must be something in it.” The rule still applies: the more danger there is for Holmes, the more he is interested

I had always wanted to travel, and the bargain was so good a one that it really seemed that I should be my own mistress for the rest of my life. This is an interesting sentence: to be one's own mistress. I assume that it means that she can be financially independant and does not need to remarry?

Holmes raised his hand for silence. Then he strode across the room, flung open the door, and dragged in a great gaunt woman whom he had seized by the shoulder. She entered with ungainly struggle like some huge awkward chicken, torn, squawking, out of its coop. “Leave me alone! What are you a-doin' of?” she screeched. Doyle, proud of himself: I'm acing that degree in black people speach

Now we have got so far, you may as well give the name and earn the tenner.” “I'll see you in hell first.” Omg. Badass line from this lady. Tell that white man that your loyalty cannot be bought for a mere ten pounds

Theory time: my guess is that the last inhabitant of the house used it as a base for smuggling. Or, at least the servants did. When they died or moved away suddenly, the smugglers did not have the chance to move supplies out. We've not seen opium smuggling so far, maybe that is the case this time?

Is that lawyer of yours a capable man?” “Mr. Sutro is most capable.” “Have you another maid, or was the fair Susan, who has just banged your front door, alone?” “I have a young girl.” “Try and get Sutro to spend a night or two in the house. You might possibly want protection.” Imagine being a lawyer and being asked by a widow client for a sleepover because she wants to feel protected. Bless Holmes' asexual heart for not realising how suggestive that sounds

Holmes to his client: I've gotten a former army doctor to share my rooms, he makes me feel so protected and safe ❤️ you should try it! His client: Wtf

As we passed through the hall Holmes's eyes, which missed nothing, lighted upon several trunks and cases which were piled in a corner. The labels shone out upon them. “‘Milano.’ ‘Lucerne.’ These are from Italy.” “They are poor Douglas's things.” “You have not unpacked them? How long have you had them?” “They arrived last week.” My theory is already wrong, lol. I should know better by now than forget about a clue like the dead son. He was of course mentioned for a reason

It was quite evident that The Three Gables was under very close surveillance, for as we came round the high hedge at the end of the lane there was the negro prize-fighter standing in the shadow. We came on him quite suddenly, and a grim and menacing figure he looked in that lonely place. Holmes clapped his hand to his pocket. “Lookin' for your gun, Masser Holmes?” “No, for my scent-bottle, Steve.” I did not realise that Holmes meant "I don't like the smell of you" literally. Add to racialized descriptions of this character: smelly, grim, menacing. Also notice how Holmes calls Dixie by his first name - something he never does, not even with his worst enemies like Moriarty and Milverton. I'm sure this would have been a highly impolite and infantilising thing to do back then

“Well, just bear in mind, Steve, that the lady in that house, and everything under that roof, is under my protection. Don't forget it.” Holmes idea of protection: let a lawyer sleep there

“I've got him thoroughly frightened for his own skin, Watson,” Holmes remarked as we walked on. “I think he would double-cross his employer if he knew who he was. Sure, Holmes. What do you want to do him next - call you master?

I saw no more of Holmes during the day, but I could well imagine how he spent it, for Langdale Pike was his human book of reference upon all matters of social scandal. This strange, languid creature spent his waking hours in the bow window of a St. James's Street club and was the receiving-station as well as the transmitter for all the gossip of the metropolis. He made, it was said, a four-figure income by the paragraphs which he contributed every week to the garbage papers which cater to an inquisitive public. If ever, far down in the turbid depths of London life, there was some strange swirl or eddy, it was marked with automatic exactness by this human dial upon the surface. Holmes discreetly helped Langdale to knowledge, and on occasion was helped in turn. Why am I not surprised by Holmes being on good terms with a master of gossip

Please come out at once. Client's house burgled in the night. Police in possession. — Sutro. Holmes whistled. “The drama has come to a crisis, and quicker than I had expected. There is a great driving-power at the back of this business, Watson, which does not surprise me after what I have heard. This Sutro, of course, is her lawyer. I made a mistake, I fear, in not asking you to spend the night on guard. This fellow has clearly proved a broken reed. He was a LAWYER Holmes. Literally an untrained, unprepared, uninformed civilian who likely never even touched a weapon once. What did you expect

Oh. Seems like the lawyer was not even present.

They must have known the house to an inch. I was conscious for a moment of the chloroform rag which was thrust over my mouth, but I have no notion how long I may have been senseless. When I woke, one man was at the bedside and another was rising with a bundle in his hand from among my son's baggage, which was partially opened and littered over the floor. They attacked this lady in her very bedroom, while she was sleeping. I cannot help but think, considering the rest of the story, that this is a thinly veiled reference to sexual assault and the way that men of colour were (and sadly only too often still are) perceived as a particular threat to white women

Sounds to me like the burglars got their hands on the diary of the client's son. On the torn page, he tells of a woman who had him attacked and that he is intent on revenge. Possibly the same woman that Susan reffered to? I guess that, in his search for revenge, he has gathered some incrimating material and that the burglars were out to get it back

“Now, Watson, we are at the last lap of our little journey,” said Holmes when we were back in the roar of central London once more. “I think we had best clear the matter up at once, and it would be well that you should come with me, for it is safer to have a witness when you are dealing with such a lady as Isadora Klein.” A female villain! Exciting. Her name is Dutch, not sure if that says anything

She married the aged German sugar king, Klein, and presently found herself the richest as well as the most lovely widow upon earth. Then there was an interval of adventure when she pleased her own tastes. She had several lovers, and Douglas Maberley, one of the most striking men in London, was one of them. It was by all accounts more than an adventure with him. He was not a society butterfly but a strong, proud man who gave and expected all. But she is the ‘belle dame sans merci’ of fiction. When her caprice is satisfied the matter is ended, and if the other party in the matter can't take her word for it she knows how to bring it home to him.” Now that is some juicy gossip. Holmes pretents to be suprised that Watson doesn't know her but I'm sure Holmes had heard none of it before consulting with that gossip master. He does not seem the type to know who the latest hottest lady is

I have too much respect for your intelligence to do so—though I confess that intelligence has been surprisingly at fault of late.” “How so, sir?” “By supposing that your hired bullies could frighten me from my work. Surely no man would take up my profession if it were not that danger attracts him. Delighted that we have a full on confession that danger attracts Holmes! At least he's self-aware?

Knowing that the gang was just acting out this woman's orders somehow makes their racist treatment the more insulting. All those descriptions of them being threatening and violent - and they were only a pawn to this woman?

She broke into a ripple of laughter and walked to the fireplace. There was a calcined mass which she broke up with the poker. “Shall I give this back?” she asked. So roguish and exquisite did she look as she stood before us with a challenging smile that I felt of all Holmes's criminals this was the one whom he would find it hardest to face. However, he was immune from sentiment. “That seals your fate,” he said coldly. Aroaceness for the win :) (Watson still doesn't understand it)

But what did he do then? Could I have believed that a gentleman would do such an act? He wrote a book in which he described his own story. I, of course, was the wolf; he the lamb. It was all there, under different names, of course; but who in all London would have failed to recognize it? I have to admit, that is a clever way to take revenge. An rather genius twist to the usual blackmail

Sherlock Holmes shrugged his shoulders. “Well, well,” said he, “I suppose I shall have to compound a felony as usual. How much does it cost to go round the world in first-class style?” The lady stared in amazement. “Could it be done on five thousand pounds?” “Well, I should think so, indeed!” “Very good. I think you will sign me a check for that, and I will see that it comes to Mrs. Maberley. You owe her a little change of air. Meantime, lady”—he wagged a cautionary forefinger—“have a care! Have a care! You can't play with edged tools forever without cutting those dainty hands.” Who needs the police if you're Sherlock Holmes, apperently. The gang will be arrested for the burglary, while their rich white lady employer gets off with paying a sum of money

Whew. That's done. That was indeed an astounding amount of racism for one short story. Doyle really sat down and said 'let's be so mean about black people' here. The most infuriating thing is, in my opinion, that the racism in this story stays totally unchecked and unchallenged. Sometimes before, we've seen characters make really racist accusations, but often those characters were proven wrong in the story. This story reminded me of Thor Bridge. Not are the descriptions and the behaviour of Holmes very racist, the racialized characters themselves are shown as actually malicious themselves, they have no hero counterpart, and they get no sympathic redeeming story. I guess that Dixie stops being a threat? But he only does that by basically submitting to Holmes, which is obviously Not Great

#letters from watson #sherlock holmes #the three gables #long post #racism #antiblackness #n slur

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