It has always seemed to me that so long as you produce your dramatic effect, accuracy of detail matters little. I have never striven for it and I have made some bad mistakes in consequence. What matter if I hold my readers?
Arthur Conan DoyleRead
You say that your fare told you that he was a detective?" "Yes, he did." "When did he say this?" "When he left me." "Did he say anything more?" "He mentioned his name." Holmes cast a swift glance of triumph at me. "Oh, he mentioned his name, did he? That was imprudent. What was the name that he mentioned?" βHis name," said the cabman, "was Mr. Sherlock Holmes.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the importance of identity and the implications of revealing one's name.
In this excerpt from Arthur Conan Doyle's work, the interaction between the cabman and Holmes underscores the significance of names in establishing identity and the risks that come with self-disclosure in a detective narrative. The mention of Sherlock Holmes' name not only reveals the detective's presence but also hints at the reputation and consequences that come with being known in a world of mystery and intrigue.
Themes
IdentityNameDetectiveSelf-DisclosureReputation
In practice
Example use cases
In a writing workshop discussing character development.
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I could not rest, Watson, I could not sit quiet in my chair, if I thought that such a man as Professor Moriarty were walking the streets of London unchallenged.
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It seems very strange ... that in the course of the world's history so obvious an improvement should never have been adopted. ... The next generation of Britishers would be the better for having had this extra hour of daylight in their childhood.
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