Paper Example on Destructiveness of Drug and Alcohol

Introduction

Drugs, alcohol, and feminity are factors that have significantly dominated the 21st century. In the same way, they were rampant during the 1890s. Admittedly, they have ruined the lives of talented and successful people. Therefore, this paper provides an analysis of the theme of drugs and alcohol, and the theme of feminity as presented by Doyle in the Holmes stories. Further, the article shows how these issues are still relevant in contemporary society. The paper argues that Doyle presents drug and alcohol as destructive and women as vulnerable and dependent.

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Drugs and Alcohol

The author presents alcohol and drugs as destructive to the lives of the users and surrounding. The novel shows the use of drugs in two forms. In the first form, he implies cocaine use by Holmes. For example, in the first story, "a Study in Scarlet," the readers establish that Holmes could be using drugs. For example, in the bar, a mutual acquaintance to Dr. John Watson who has just returned from Afghanistan describes Sherlock Holmes as a person who would take the most recent alkaloid to have an experience of its effects (Doyle and Doyle 9). The alkaloid is a natural organic compound which contains alkaline. The substance has physiological effects because it includes compounds like morphine, cocaine, caffeine, opium, and strychnine. Here, Holmes' problems with drugs are implied. In the same passage, Holmes fails to tell his subjects regarding the presence of alkaloid in experimentation. He does this because he would like to see the physiological effects of the compound. Apart from highlighting the dilemma of drugging subjects in a scientific experiment, it also shows that Holmes uses the drugs yet he does not consider it drugs because he does not experience the physiological effects.

Similarly, in the "A Scandal in Bohemia," the reader understands that cocaine use by Holmes significantly influences the activity of his brain and Bohemian lifestyle. In the story, characters like Watson describes Holmes's drug use as a moral weakness. Consequently, in the subsequent episodes, he urges Holmes to quit cocaine (Doyle and Doyle 195). Similarly, the novel shows how drugs and alcohol have destroyed the lives of noble people. For example, the wife of Dr, Watson has come to Baker Street because her husband is an addict to opium which has made him go missing. After she finds him, she gets him out of opium and tells him to go home. In the same way, in the story, "The Blue Carbuncle" another character called Henry Baker, is a drunkard.

At the time the stories, "a Study in Scarlet," "A Scandal in Bohemia," and "The Blue Carbuncle," were being written, there was an epidemic of opium addiction in London. Although it was legal to sell the drug, the dens were full of crimes. Therefore, people had a negative attitude towards it. In the contemporary world, alcoholism and drug abuse are still among the most dangerous activities (Joyce 79). The problems are prevalent among young adults who are interested in the hype of keeping up with peers. Consequently, the number of sicknesses related to alcohol and drugs have been significantly increasing. Similarly, cases of alcohol poisoning have led to the destruction of the lives of young people.

Women and feminityThe Holmes stories present women as vulnerable and dependent. A vast majority of women in the novel are victims of circumstances and men. For example, in the "The Copper Beeches," the family of Miss Rucastle locks her up. Similarly, in the "A Case of Identity," Mary Sutherland's stepfather rejects her suitors by stating that women should be content in their family circles (Joyce 81). The two scenarios show that women are not allowed to make choices event in their personal lives.

However, some women rise above others to show that the vulnerability of women should not be interpreted to be a weakness. For example, Irene Adler, in "The Noble Bachelor," appears to have the freedom to go wherever she wishes and marry whomever she desires (Joyce 82). She is an actress, a profession that allows her to move all over the world. Similarly, in the same story, Dora seems to be capable of taking care of herself because she was brought up in a mining camp until she reached twenty years.

Although the society has made steps in embracing the power of feminity compared to the community in the setting, there is still more that can be done to ensure equality and respect for women's choices. For example, women are still facing brutalized institutional discrimination (Joyce 84). Consequently, they are still earning less compared to their male colleagues. Similarly, cases of domestic assaults and rapes have been increasing.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the purpose of this paper was to explain the theme of drug and alcohol, and the theme of feminity. The article has shown that the novel presents the use of drugs and alcohol as destructive to users and their environment. Similarly, the findings indicate that the novel presents women as vulnerable and dependent. However, some people provide hope through challenging the status quo related to alcohol and drugs, and feminity.

Works Cited

Doyle, Arthur Conan, and G. Doyle. The Original Illustrated Sherlock Holmes. Chartwell Books, 1976.Joyce, Stephen. "Authentic in Authenticity: The Evolution of Sherlock Holmes on Screen." Journal of Popular Film & Television, vol. 45, no. 2, Apr. 2017, pp. 79-89.