A Case Of Identity

Commitment to moral virtue was characteristic of English popular culture during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901), but it saw a noticeable decline toward the end of the century as artists and thinkers examined more deeply the sinister facets of the British Empire. In the shadow of the industrial decadence of the age, poets like Matthew Arnold began to draw upon the sentiment of a withdrawal of faith. This change of outlook—this dark cloud of doubt and disillusionment—is an earmark of Late Victorian literature and poetry. This literary period spanned roughly from the 1870s to Victoria’s death and the beginning of the 20th century (which would be the most violent century in recorded history). The decidedly darker tone is apparent in Conan Doyle’s writing and in this story particularly.

“A Case of Identity” presents less than an ideal fiction. Although logic and independent thought solve the mystery and Enlightenment rationalism wins the day, readers are meant to feel a sense of not-quite-rightness; Miss Sutherland remains fooled by her depraved stepfather; Holmes could (and almost certainly should) tell her but refuses on the grounds that this case was little more than a diversion; and in the end, Windibank the scoundrel gets away.