Selden, the so-called ‘Notting Hill murderer’, meets his tragic end in The Hound of the Baskervilles primarily due to the terrifying legend surrounding the Baskerville estate. After escaping from prison, Selden takes refuge on the moors, believing he is safe from capture. However, his fate takes a sinister turn when he is mistaken for Sir Henry Baskerville.
One fateful night, Selden wanders into the moorlands and encounters the legendary phantom hound that haunts the Baskerville family. The creature, a manifestation of the Baskerville curse, is a deeply ingrained part of the local folklore. In a terrible twist, Selden’s presence on the moors leads to his demise when the hound attacks him, believing him to be Sir Henry due to his similar build.
This incident underscores the broader themes of fear and the supernatural that run throughout the novel. It highlights how the myth of the Baskerville hound can affect not just the highborn but also the lowly, illustrating the indiscriminate nature of fate and fear in the rugged landscape of Dartmoor.