Narrator and point of view

“The Red-Headed League” by Arthur Conan Doyle is narrated by Watson, who is a first-person narrator. Still, Watson’s focus is less on himself and his deeds and more on Sherlock Holmes and the mysteries he solves. This is why this type of narrator is sometimes called a “peripheral narrator”. His role is to represent the readers’ questions regarding the development of the action, but also to allow the main character – Holmes – to explain how the mystery is solved. He can also be considered a supporting character.

Note that Jabez Wilson is another first-person narrator when he renders the story of how he came to be tricked into believing in the existence of the Red-Headed League.

Both Watson and Wilson have limited points of view regarding what happens. Wilson is unaware of the true identity of Spaulding and has no idea why he was tricked into...