Review of the New Catacomb Short Story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Review of the New Catacomb Short Story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The New Catacomb is a short story written by one of the famous Author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The new catacomb short story tells about two friends named Dr. Julius Burger and well-known English Student named Kennedy. They are two rival archeologists who go together to Rome to looking for the invention. When Burger discovers the new catacomb in Rome, Kennedy asks him to tell it. Burger will tell it if Kennedy tells about his love affair with a woman named Miss Mary Saunderson. Kennedy tells it and Burger will take Kennedy to new catacomb. When they arrive at the new catacomb Burger let Kennedy in the catacomb with no light and Kennedy died. That is because he angry with Kennedy because he had affair with Miss Mary Saunderson. Miss Mary Saunderson is the couple of Burger and they have marriage. Two months after that, the report from European press said that Burger has discover the new catacomb but his friend Kennedy disappear suddenly in his room in the Corso.

 This story is started when there are two archeologists that came to Rome to find the new discovers. They are Burger and Kennedy. Kennedy is the rich young English and Burger is German-Italian man. They are friend but the also the rival in archeology. When Burger tells about the new discover that he had found, Kennedy curious and really want to know it.Kennedy promises will not write any report and will not tell anybody body about it. He  asks Burger but Burger said that he will tells it if Kennedy tells his love affair with the woman named Miss Mary Saunderson. First Kennedy doesn’t want to tell it. After Burger said that he wants to go back to home, finally Kennedy tells his story with Miss Mary Saunderson. Kennedy tells that she is from Twickenham England. She is a beautiful girl but Kennedy cannot love her. When Burger asks why he can’t lover her, Kennedy tells that the girls was engaged and he lets her for three weeks. After Kennedy tells his love affair, Burger tells that there is no use to describe where the new catacomb is, it will be better to take Kennedy there. Then they make an agreement to meet at the Gate of the Appian Way at midnight.

They meet at the Gate of the Appian Way at the midnight and they start to go to the new catacomb. By walking, they finally arrive at a solitary wooden cow-house. They step in the house. In the house there is a secret way and they go in there. The way is so complicated and they finally arrive in the new catacomb. Then Burger said that there are over two thousand wrong turnings between the catacomb and the stairs. It will be difficult to get out from this. The odds are two thousand to one even if he had a light. Kennedy very happy to see it and he said that that was the most interesting.

Burger turns off the lantern. It seems dark. He asks Burger to give a light. But Burger doesn’t want to do that. Burger tells Kennedy that there are two things that Kennedy really likes to. The first is adventure and the second is obstacle to surmount. Burger said the adventure is how Kennedy gets out of the catacomb and the obstacle is the darkness and two thousand wrong turns. Burger wants to let Kennedy in the catacomb alone. Before he let Kennedy, Burger said that Miss Saunderson was engaged with him.

Some two month after the accident. The European press writes that there is one of the most interesting discoveries that had found by Dr. Julius Burger. Some months ago, Mr. Kennedy disappeared from his room and he found in the heart of the new catacomb.

Comment:

I have to say that this short story is really suggested to be read. In the beginning I just think that Burger and Kennedy will find the new catacomb together. But the end of story me make shocked.  This is not only about the discovery of the new catacomb but also the revenge of Burger because Kennedy has a love affair with Miss Marry Saunderson. Really enjoy to be read.

Analysis:

Point of view in this story is third person point of view

The characters in this story are Dr. Julius Burger, Kennedy and Miss Mary Saunderson. The characteristic of Dr. Julius Burger is from curious blend. His father from German and his mother from Italy, He has blue eyes and it is so frank, Sun-browned face, clean-shaven jaw, his smile is so honest, actually he comes as a poor student to Rome after his hard work he become success and has a same level with his companion (paragraph 2) But I think he is not always a good man because he want to have revenge to Kennedy who has a love affair with his couple named Miss Mary. He also lies with Kennedy that says he meet with Miss Mary once or twice. Kennedy is a handsome man. He has white forehead, aggressive nose and sensual mouth. He came from English. He is the rich man (paragraph 1). Kennedy not really a good man because he has a love affair with his friend’s couple. The last character is Miss Mary Saunderson. She is from Twickenham, England (page 7).

The settings:

1.      Place: Kennedy’s lodging, the Gate of the Appian Way, the road to the new catacomb, the new catacomb.

2.      Time: evening until midnight

Climax of this story is when they were in new catacomb and Burger let Kennedy alone.

I don’t find the foreshadowing because this story is full of surprises