Language
The language employed in the short story “The Red-Headed League” by Arthur Conan Doyle is rather complex and displays the characteristics of the Victorian era, and can seem quite pompous at times. However, the language does not impede the overall understanding of the text but adds to its charm. When focusing on the language of the story, you should also pay attention to:
- Imagery
- Repetition
- Similes
- Allusions
- Symbols
Imagery
Imagery is employed quite often in the text, and it is one of the most important linguistic features used by Arthur Conan Doyle in the story. The term “imagery” refers to descriptive passages that have the role of creating vivid images in the minds of the readers. Here is one example of visual imagery related to Jabez Wilson’s appearance:
Our visitor bore every mark of being an average commonplace British tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey shepherd’s check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as an ornament. ...
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Repetition
Repetition is yet another important feature of the language employed by Arthur Conan Doyle in the story. The word “clay” (related to the name of the criminal John Clay) is inserted a few times in the story and repeated throughout, like a leitmotif...
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Symbols
Symbols are what give the story more depth and charm. The red hair is a symbol of the bizarre and unusual since it is a peculiarity in the world in which the characters live. Not many men in London are naturally red-haired, so this is why John Clay finds it easy to trick Jabez Wilson. In the story, the red hair may be seen as a pun on the words “red herring”;
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