Question

Research, evaluate and critique a journal article relevant to managerial communication.

Thereafter, you are required to summarise the article based on your own interpretation; not a regurgitation of the article. • The entire assignment should not exceed 10 pages, inclusive of the reference page.

Answer 1

THE FINAL PROBLEM _ BY AUTHUR CONAN DOYLE

The final problem is a tale not of detection but of rivalry and pursuit.

Holmes arrives at Dr. John Watson's residence one evening agitated and nervous with his knuckles bleeding. Homes had narrowly escaped from three attempts to murder him which homes thinks that has been planned and orchestrate by the evil criminal mastermind of London Professor Moriarty.

Homes confides in Watson by telling him that Moriarty is the “Napoleon of crime” and sits motionless like the spider in the web, he merely plan and controls the criminal organizations and is very well informed. Only eradication of Moriarty would give him peace and satisfaction. Moriarty is the criminal genius behind a highly organized and extremely secret criminal force and Homes intellectual equal. Homes believes that only by uncovering Moriarty operation would he reach the pinnacle of his success.

However Homes have already give enough evidence to the police to go capture the criminals and he believes that he should escape to the continent. Holmes asks Watson to come to the continent with him, giving him unusual instructions designed to hide his tracks to Victoria station. Following which he himself leaves Watson’s house by climbing over the back wall in the garden in order avoid being seen.

The next day Watson follows the instruction of Homes and finds himself waiting in the first class coach for his friend Homes but only finds an elderly priest, who make it apparent that he is Homes in disguise. As the train pulls out of Victoria, Holmes spots Moriarty on the platform, apparently trying to get someone to stop the train.

On knowing that Homes and Watson were surely being tracked by Moriarty they make a change in route thorough Canterbury. As they are waiting for another train to Newhaven a special one-coach train crosses through Canterbury, as Holmes suspected it would. Holmes and Watson are forced to hide behind luggage as they feel the Prof has hired the coach to overtake homes.

Having made their way to Brussels, the following Monday Holmes receives a message that most of Moriarty's gang have been arrested in England and recommends Watson return there now, as the detective will likely prove to be a very dangerous companion. Watson, however, decides to stay with his friend. Moriarty himself has slipped out of the grasp of the English police and is obviously with them on the continent.

Holmes and Watson's journey takes them to Switzerland where they stay at Meiringen. From there they fatefully decide to take a walk which will include a visit to Reichenbach Falls, a local natural wonder. Once there, a boy appears and hands Watson a note, saying that there is a sick Englishwoman back at the hotel who wants an English doctor. Holmes realises at once it is a hoax although he does not say so. Watson goes to see about the patient, leaving Holmes by himself.

Upon returning to Meiringen, Watson finds that the innkeeper has no knowledge of any sick Englishwoman. Realizing at last that he has been deceived, he rushes back to Reichenbach Falls but finds no one there, although he does see two sets of footprints going out onto the muddy dead end path with none returning. There is also a note from Holmes, explaining that he knew the report Watson was given to be a hoax and that he is about to fight Moriarty, who has graciously given him enough time to pen this last letter. Watson sees that towards the end of the path there are signs that a violent struggle has taken place and there are no returning footprints. It is all too clear Holmes and Moriarty have both fallen to their deaths down the gorge while locked in mortal combat. Saddened, Dr. Watson returns to England. The Moriarty gang are all convicted on the strength of evidence secured by Holmes. Watson ends his narrative by saying that Sherlock Holmes was the best and the wisest man he had ever known.