The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Fiction | Short Story Collection | Adult | Published in 1892

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“The Red-Headed League”Chapter Summaries & Analyses

“The Red-Headed League” Summary

When Watson visits Holmes during the fall, he finds the detective in conversation with an elderly, stout, red-headed pawn shop owner. The doctor describes him as “an average commonplace British tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow” (29). The man, Jabez Wilson, has come to Holmes with an unusual case. Some months ago, Wilson was hired by a group, calling itself the Red-Headed League, purportedly set up by an American millionaire with the express purpose of helping out red-headed men. When Wilson goes to apply, there is a long line of people, but he nevertheless is selected for the position. His task is to come to the office every day in the morning and copy the encyclopedia for a few hours. The pay is very generous, with the only stipulation that he must show up every day. Understandably, Wilson is glad of this opportunity and follows the rules faithfully. When the office closes completely and without notice, the man is anxious to find out what happened.

After asking some clarifying questions about Wilson’s business and assistant, Holmes realizes that the job was a ruse meant to get the man out of his shop. In reality, his employee, John Clay, is a criminal mastermind. Together with Watson, the detective strolls around Wilson’s neighborhood and even asks for directions from the assistant. As a result of these inquiries, Holmes deduces that the criminal has been digging a tunnel from the shop’s basement to the bank vault located at the building’s back. The detective discovers all this on the day of the intended robbery, so Holmes, Watson, the bank manager, and a police detective are able to apprehend the criminal in the act. They descend to the vault at night and wait in the dark until Wilson’s assistant appears through a hole in the floor.

“The Red-Headed League” Analysis

The second story in the collection comes closest to presenting a villain worthy of Holmes and a precursor of the infamous James Moriarty. John Clay is educated, intelligent, ruthless, versatile, and from a high social class. He is still bested by Holmes but retains his cool even in defeat. Holmes talks about him almost admiringly, as he evaded both the detective and the police for a long time. Such an attitude confirms Holmes’s penchant for appreciating intelligent people even if they are on the wrong side of the law. This is one of the rare stories where Holmes actively seeks help from and cooperates with the police.

A new aspect of Holmes’s character is revealed when he insists on going to a concert before getting ready to apprehend the would-be robbers. Watson remarks that he is also a composer, indicating that the detective possesses a creative side. These details potentially indicate that Holmes is not as emotionless as he appears to be. Music in the 19th century was thought to have transformative powers, impacting an individual’s emotions and thought processes. It could also be linked to sexuality, especially when performed by women. Holmes’s enjoyment and mastery of music could stand in for his emotional and sexual sides.

This is also the first case in the collection involving a member of the lower classes. Watson’s somewhat condescending attitude is expressed through the words “obese, pompous, and slow” (29). Such an observation is not confirmed by the man’s actual conversation and behavior, implying a certain class bias on Watson’s part. This is important to note as most direct observations of various clients and victims are made by Watson, hence, the readers’ first impressions are shaped by his words.

Typical of most Holmes stories, “The Red-Headed League” offers many clues throughout the text only to reveal the truth at the very end. Like Watson, the readers are left in the dark until the moment in the bank vault. This strategy helps build anticipation and makes the confrontation scene feel more unexpected and immediate. Another typical element is the lack of police involvement up to the point when Holmes decides to approach the authorities. Most stories featuring the detective are either outside the police’s purview or have not been identified as crimes.