Here's a breakdown of her significance:
Her Connection to the Case:
* The Victim: Laura Lyons is the woman found dead on the moor, seemingly a victim of the hound. Her death sets the story in motion, prompting Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson to investigate.
* Suspect: She is initially suspected as a potential victim of the Baskerville curse, as she was a young woman in the vicinity of the hound's supposed hauntings.
* Intrigue: Her relationship with Sir Charles Baskerville, the previous victim of the supposed hound, becomes a key area of investigation.
Her Role in the Mystery:
* Love and Deception: Laura was engaged to Frankland, a local man, but was having an affair with Sir Charles Baskerville. The affair was hidden, creating a motive for potential suspects.
* A False Trail: The initial investigation leads to the suspicion that Laura was the target of the hound and that her death was a case of mistaken identity.
* The Key to the Solution: While her death is initially attributed to the hound, it is ultimately revealed that she was murdered by Stapleton, a manipulative and cunning character.
Her Impact:
* Motivating the Investigation: Her death is the catalyst for the entire investigation, driving Holmes and Watson to unravel the mystery.
* Symbolic of the Curse: Laura's tragic fate, even though it is not related to the curse itself, adds to the atmosphere of fear and superstition surrounding the Baskerville family.
* A Victim of Circumstances: While she was a victim of deception and manipulation, she was also a complex and flawed character, entangled in a web of love, betrayal, and ultimately, death.
In essence, Laura Lyons is a tragic figure who serves as the central element in the mystery surrounding the Hound of the Baskervilles. Her death, initially shrouded in mystery, becomes the key that unlocks the truth about Stapleton's dark secrets and the real nature of the "hound."