In "The Adventure of the Speckled Band," Doyle uses the description of Julia to build a mood of fear and panic. This is best shown in Helen's recollection of Julia's death in which she is described as being "blanched with terror" as she confronted the end of her life. Words like "groping," "swaying," "writhed" and "convulsed" reinforce this idea of panic alongside the image of Julia "shrieking" her final words. More generally, the violent and unexpected nature of her death also adds to the creation of this overall mood.
There is, however, another important aspect to this consider when analysing this mood. By creating a mood of fear and panic, Doyle is also building suspense ahead of the story's unfolding. Thanks to her description, the reader suddenly wants to know more about Julia's demise: what caused her to convulse, why did she mention the "speckled band" and was she alone in her room? By hinting at murder, Doyle cleverly keeps the reader guessing at what is to follow.
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