The Red-Headed League Symbols

Bank Cellar

The darkness of the bank cellar represents how all of Sherlock Holmes’ accomplices—John Watson, Detective Jones, and Mr. Merryweather—are figuratively “in the dark,” ignorant of the true nature of the…

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Red-Headed League

The titular Red-Headed League is the literal red-herring of the story, and it symbolizes the consequences of getting too caught up in appearances. Criminals John Clay and Archie invented the league as a ruse to…

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