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Comparing and Contrasting "The Black Veil" by Charles Dickens and "The Adventure of the

Cardboard Box" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Literacy on this view refers to the capability to read and write as well as to comprehend

and analyze written texts. This skill enables readers to read across different categories of books

such as literature and other genre books. Scholars commonly categorize literature as high art due

to its aesthetic appeal, complexity, and focus on significant themes. On the other hand, there is

genre fiction which is considered to be a low culture, providing the audience with entertainment

and following the principles of certain genres. In this essay, I will analyze the strengths and

weaknesses of the short story “The Black Veil” by Charles Dickens and “The Adventure of the

Cardboard Box” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. We will also discuss whether it is fair to

differentiate between literature and genre fiction.

“The Black Veil” is a short story written by Charles Dickens that revolves around a

mysterious woman who turns to a young doctor for assistance. A woman with a black veil asks

the doctor to help a man in urgent need, who is revealed to be her son (Dickens 1). The narrative

is centered around the aspects of motherly love, sacrifice, and the subject of motherhood as well

as the general human experience. To raise the stakes, enhance the theme, and build emotion,

Dickens uses gothic elements. The thematic content of the story is also deep and emotionally

charged which helps the reader to feel the inner struggle of the main character, especially the

mother. Furthermore, Dickens’ setting contributes to the creation of tension and mystery, thus
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creating a loyal audience. His portrayal of the characters also helps the readers to comprehend

the reasons as well as the feelings of the characters. However, one downside of the book is the

slow narrative structure, which could be off-putting to some readers. It is also possible to predict

what will happen in the plot, which may detract from the narrative’s tension.

On the contrary, “The Adventure of the Cardboard Box” is detective fiction of Sherlock

Holmes and it was written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This involves Holmes and his partner Dr.

Watson solving the dreadful crime of in a mysterious case of two human ears cut off at the scalp

being sent in a cardboard box. This work is enriched with the shades of jealousy, infidelity, and

bosses’ cruel sides of character. It may be noted that Doyle’s narrative structure is centralized in

logical deductions, suspense driven intense concentration on solving the crime. Considering the

main elements of the genre, one can note that the narrative is rather intriguing and the readers

tend to find out more and more about the case, Moreover, the author focuses on the main aspects

of the genre, namely on the detection of the crime and, at the same time, the methods, which

Holmes applies, disclose the writer’s ability to present the hetero-material and logical thinking

(Doyle 1). A main strength of this tale is the juxtaposition of the two main characters, Holmes

and Watson; the element of light-heartedness is inserted into the experience. Nevertheless, the

characters, especially the antagonists, could be a little stereotyped and mostly act as plot devices.

Interestingly, unlike some books it follows a slightly traditional plot, meaning that at times it

does not seem as creative to some people.

In “The Black Veil” and “The Adventure of the Cardboard Box” the authors build

suspense and capture the attention of their readers through their plots. Nonetheless, they greatly

differ in their setup and issues handled. While reading both stories, it is apparent that Dickens’

work is more inclined towards the descriptions of emotions and psychological state of the
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characters, whereas Doyle’s work is more of rational detection of the crime. Dickens’ major

achievement is that he is capable of touching the audience’s feelings and developing the mood,

thus making a story rather human. On the one hand, Doyle is much better at the intricacies of the

plots and applying rather strict planning as for the detective narratives, which seem to dominate

the majority of works dedicated to the genre. Thus, in contrast to Dickens’ heroes, Doyle’s

characters may be too plain at times and seem to be created just to advance the story. However,

the counterpart between Holmes and Watson gives a rich subtext and humanity to Doyle’s story.

The division between literature as art and genre fiction as low art has been considered by

critics for decades. Literature as a form of written work is appreciated for its aesthetics, themes,

and portrayal of humanity, while a genre is perceived as stereotyped and meant purely for fun.

However, this distinction can be problematic. By analyzing “The Black Veil” by Nathaniel

Hawthorne and “The Adventure of the Cardboard Box” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the reader

can conclude that stories belonging to the sphere of the genre are capable of being truly artistic.

As formulaic as Doyle’s story is, there is masterly plotting and a realistic portrayal of human

nature through a detective story (Doyle 1). In the same manner, Dickens’ story is quite

emotionally and thematically charged, yet one finds gothic allegories inherent to the genre. The

division of literature and genre fiction into two distinct categories overlooks how the two can

complement each other. Thus, it is possible to say that genre fiction may introduce readers to

difficult themes and issues, whereas literature may use elements of the genres.

When comparing “The Black Veil” by Charles Dickens and “The Adventure of the

Cardboard Box” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, one can look at the merits and demerits of both

stories and how they embody the features of literary works and detective fiction. While Dickens

seems to focus more on the depth of feeling and the depiction of the characters, Doyle offers a
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more complex and rational storyline. The division of literature and other forms of writing as

legitimate art and genre fiction as low art is not fully warranted, as both can be meaningful and

artistic. Acknowledging the fact that different approaches may overlap and complement each

other may help broaden a reader’s perspective of the written piece.

Works Cited

Dickens, Charles. The black veil. Lindhardt og Ringhof, 2022.

Doyle, Arthur Conan. The adventure of the cardboard box. Xist Publishing, 2016.