Examples Of Greed In The Hound Of The Baskervilles

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Sherlock Holmes returns again in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s, The Hound of the Baskervilles. Trying to solve the mysterious case of Sir Charles death and the tale of the vicious hound, he is accompanied by Dr. Watson, Dr. Mortimer, and Sir Henry. Each character goes through a straining, hostile series of events in Dartmoor and Baskerville Hall, before revealing the truth of the dark hound. Throughout this bewildering adventure, the theme of greed is a powerful motivator is developed via the self-centered, craving mind of Stapleton and the intricate relationships formed between characters. For example, Dr. Mortimer introduces the legend of Hugo Baskerville. The author depicts the striking tale through a manuscript, stating: “... this Hugo came to love… but the young maiden… feared his evil name… so he stole down upon the farm and carried off the maiden…” (13-14). Hugo was awfully selfish, and an agnostic man. He craved love so …show more content…

The text proves the guiltiness and motivates of Stapleton, when it states, “... only two lives intervened between him [Stapleton] and a valuable estate… he meant in the end to have the state, and he was ready to use any tool or run any risk for that end.” (225). Stapleton turned out to be the suspected criminal, and the true cause behind his motives, suddenly became very visible. He was entirely motivated by greed, and that is seen throughout the entire novel. When one considers the story of Hugo Baskerville, the relationship between Henry and Beryl, and the charisma of Stapleton, it is very apparent that greed is a powerful motivator. Although greed may motivate someone to work deeper, tougher, and achieve glory, it is never fully fulfilled. The greed is never satisfied, and people begin to hurt others for their own well-being. “Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction.” -Erich