Sir Charles Baskerville believed the legend of the Hound
of Baskerville, and it lead to his death. When he saw a hound coming his way, he
thought the legend was true and died of fright.
Holmes does
not believe the story. In fact, when Dr. Mortimer brings it to him he says it is
interesting only “to a collector of fairy tales” (p. 11). It is facts that Holmes
wants, and he does take the case because he wants to find out who is exploiting the
legend and how, and of course why.
Sir Henry does not
completely believe the legend, and he takes up his home in the moor. However, he is
nervous and worried because he thinks someone is trying to kill him like Sir
Charles.
Watson does not believe the story, but Stapleton
pretends to. Stapleton of course needs to urge the story
along.
Stapleton may fall in with such a superstition,
and Mortimer also; but if I have one quality upon earth it is common-sense, and nothing
will persuade me to believe in such a thing. (p.
69).
More importantly, Watson
believes that believing in the legend is beneath him, and he would be letting Holmes
down if he believed it.
To do so would be to descend to the level of
these poor peasants, who are not content with a mere fiend dog, but must needs describe
him with hell-fire shooting from his mouth and eyes. Holmes would not listen to such
fancies, and I am his agent. (p.
69)
Of course, the locals
seem to view the legend as just a legend. They believe it as people would any ghost
story, as a diversion.
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