Compare and Contrast Essay: Study in Pink vs. Study in Scarlet

📌Category: Books, Detectives, Entertainment, Literature, Series, Television
📌Words: 888
📌Pages: 4
📌Published: 12 April 2022

“Oh! A mystery is it?" I cried, rubbing my hands. “This is very piquant. I am much obliged to you for bringing us together” (Doyle 8). This reaction by Watson towards Holmes initiated the beginning of an exotic friendship. *A Study in Scarlet written by Conan Doyle is a mysterious yet intriguing book that was published in 1887. Succeeding a modern remake of this book is “A Study in Pink,” by BBC in Sherlock. A show inspired by a book is a typical occurrence but the interpretation made by BBC leaves an unforgettable impression. These two-story outlines are distinct in numerous ways because of the characters introduced and their motive, the setting of events that occurred, and the mystery behind the title change. The complexity of a character is what builds an intriguing story. Even though “A Study in Pink” and *A Study in Scarlet had a change in characters filled with different motives, the story outlined stayed baffling with the same goals in mind. In “A Study in Pink” Holmes had a brother named Mycroft who was always in opposition and some of the other detectives weren’t found in A Study in Scarlet. Additionally, the total number of victims assassinated as well as what lead to their death differ. The logic the killer had behind their deaths was contradicting. In A Study in Scarlet clearly, Jefferson Hope killed Enoch Drebber and Joseph Stangerson in revenge for his love, Lucy Ferrier. As can be seen, “‘Rache,’ is the German for ‘revenge;’…” (Doyle 17). This is the conclusion Holmes had while examining the crime scene. Meanwhile, in “A Study in Pink” the cab driver killed his victims because of the investment he receives from a mysterious man named Moriarty. When the word ‘Rache’ was found in the crime site, Holmes didn’t see any significance towards the name and believed that it was supposed to spell Rachel. These are minor changes within the show and the book but the emotions they bring out are the biggest difference. The setting is the key to building the foundation of an elaborate plot. The original book was published during a different era than the show which is set in the modern-day. Because of the different times, the show had more advantages compared to the book. With the help of technology the mystery in “A Study in Pink” compared to A Study in Scarlet didn’t go through the hassle of finding information through letters or telegraphs as well as relying on people. The method that Sherlock used in the book to draw in the thief compared to texting gives a transparent appearance toward the investigation. Holmes established a brilliant trap by using advertisement to lure the murder. Since the news was the quickest way to retrieve information, Holmes claims, “He would eagerly look out for the evening papers in the hope of seeing it among the articles found” (Doyle 21). This difference in communication shows the different realities of retrieving information compared to having it all in one device. In addition, the location where Watson met Stamford gives you information on their personalities as well as their friendship. In A Study in Scarlet*, Doyle mentions that Criterion Bar is where these old companions met while in the tv show they met at a park. The location of where the meeting took place creates an intimate atmosphere which shows that it was an intentional modification. To conclude, the alterations in the setting set different moods that created a different perspective towards the story. Finally, the most important part of a book is the title that draws you in. It is obvious that the creator of a *study in pink purposefully chooses this title to lure the reader by giving enough information without spoiling the story. This title is a perfect fit for the remake of “A Study in Pink” since it revolves around the death of the woman in pink. Even though there were three victims the attention was drawn to this lady which in this case her color choice lead to the solving of the mystery. In A Study in Scarlet, the title has a deep meaning underlying the story. The following quote proves so, “I might not have gone but for you, and so have missed the finest study I ever came across: a study in scarlet, eh?” (Doyle 20). This is when the title is first mentioned in the story but Holmes keeps ongoing, “There’s the scarlet thread of murder running through the colourless skein of life, and our duty is to unravel it, and isolate it, and expose every inch of it” (Doyle 20). Scarlet is the color red which in this case connects to blood and the mystery it has brought. Just paying close attention to a title can lead you to grasp the main idea of a story. In conclusion, paying attention to a character’s trait, the location of the story, and the title can change the attitude towards the story even with the same plot. The different alterations that were made between A Study in Scarlet and “A Study in Pink” changed the mood and the message perceived. It can be seen through the killer's motives in which a unique plot was created leaving the feeling of agony yet a sense of remorse towards the murder. The show by BBC changed and added events to draw attention to a certain age group which is beneficial towards the company. The book's narrative isn’t as relatable that’s why the adaptations in the show enhanced the desire to know more of the man behind a mysterious talent. The elaborate plot twists of these stories proved that changes within a storyline show the possibility and capability of the story staying compelling while being unique.

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