The Hound of the Baskervilles

by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Is Dr. John Watson a reliable narrator in Arthur

Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles? 
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"Is Dr. John Watson a reliable narrator in Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles? "
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narrator-in-arthur-3048841. Accessed 26 Jan. 2023.

Expert Answers
As is the case with most Sherlock Holmes stories, The Hound of Baskervilles is narrated by Dr. John
Watson—Sherlock Holmes's assistant, close friend, and trusted companion.

One characteristic that makes Watson a reliable narrator is his way of describing the characters or
situation at hand. His descriptions are accurate and detailed, and readers have no problem
understanding who and what they're dealing with. For example, in the very first chapter, when they
meet Dr. Mortimer in person, Watson describes in detail how he perceives the man:

The appearance of our visitor was a surprise to me, since I had expected a typical
country practitioner. He was a very tall, thin man, with a long nose like a beak, which
jutted out between two keen, gray eyes, set closely together and sparkling brightly from
behind a pair of gold-rimmed glasses.

Watson also manages to describe Holmes's peculiar character, as well as his deductions,
investigative methods and conclusions, quite authentically. He certainly rarely misses a chance to
praise his friend. Even so, he is not often biased and never exaggerates. Instead, he keeps the
storytelling informative, interesting, easy to follow, and captivating. For example, in chapter 14,
Watson tells the readers what he thinks is one of Holmes' greatest flaws:

One of Sherlock Holmes's defects—if, indeed, one may call it a defect—was that he was
exceedingly loath to communicate his full plans to any other person until the instant of
their fulfilment.
Watson is also relatable, as readers are just as bewildered as he is when it comes to understanding
the unique ways Holmes's mind functions. His narrative reliability grants readers a chance to solve
the mystery themselves.