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Definition of Motif
A motif is an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature. Motifs, which are often collections of related symbols, help develop the central themes of a book... read full definition
A motif is an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature. Motifs, which are often collections of related symbols, help develop the... read full definition
A motif is an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature. Motifs, which are often collections of... read full definition
Motifs
Explanation and Analysis—Exoticism :
In "The Adventure of the Speckled Band," Dr. Grimesby Roylott is closely associated with Eastern aesthetics. As a result, the story portrays him as an "exotic" figure, not only in his appearance and habits, but also in his chosen method of murder. This motif of exoticism makes the crime appear even more sinister and outrageous. Describing his violent tendencies, Helen observes that Dr. Roylott has been heavily influenced by his time in the "Orient":
Violence of temper approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been intensified by his long residence in the tropics.
In accordance with contemporary British portrayals of colonial India, the East is depicted as exotic, potentially corrupting, and a site of greater proximity to the passions. In Dr. Roylott's case, his time in India has apparently heightened his "violence of temper" to the point of committing murder. Moreover, Dr. Roylott's murder weapon of choice—a swamp adder—dates from his time in India. The suggestion that Dr. Roylott's murderous nature is the result of the corrupting influence of an exotic culture serves to heighten the reader's impression of the crime as outrageous and beyond the ordinary English imagination; that is, in Watson's words, "singular."
Related Themes:
