Introduction and Conclusion

In What Ways is Sherlock Holmes the embodiment of Victorian Ideas of Progress?

“You are yourself not luminous, but a conductor of light”

The Victorian era was a time of great scientific advance, during which there were several scientific inventions and discoveries. Sherlock Holmes uses scientific vocabulary such as “a conductor of light,” this shows that he uses scientific methods throughout the novel, therefore Holmes can be considered an embodiment of Victorian ideas of progress and can be compared to a scientist. Although the above quote is said by Holmes to Watson, it could be interpreted that Holmes is “luminous” as he illuminates the darkness in people’s minds and crimes, such as the Hound of the Baskervilles that other, less scientific detectives are unable to. The reason that Holmes tells Watson that “you are yourself not luminous” may be because he believes that he is luminous. Holmes uses his clear and logical mind to destroy myths with his scientific method. He also uses forensic methods to solve complex crimes and mysteries, similar to a scientist. Holmes uses tools like a scientist to analyze data that he has gathered and so then he can deduce information from this and take important facts to focus on and solve complicated problems. Conan Doyle’s creation, Sherlock Holmes, can therefore, be likened to a leading scientist such as Darwin, who attempted to destroy the Genesis theory using his idea of evolution.

Many would conclude that the greatest and most significant scientific and mechanical breakthroughs, discoveries and inventions were uncovered in the Victorian era. Many new types of science and a better understanding of diseases were developing. Conan Doyle tries to show this contemporary interest in science many times throughout his novel, for example, here, when Doctor Mortimer and Holmes are discussing phrenology.

“I presume doctor that you could tell the skull of a Negro from that of an Esquimaux?”

Phrenology was a new type of science which was the study of brain size in relation to the size of the skull. This shows that Conan Doyle tries to include ideas about advances in science at the time this was written.

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Although the Victorian period was an era of scientific revolution, it was also an age of mechanical development, for example, one of the most famous engineers of all time, Brunel lived in this age. Brunel was most noted for his revolutionary bridge designs and his design of train lines throughout the country. People were fascinated by this way of travel and the speed that people and goods could be transported from one place to another. This further promoted the idea of using science to solve problems in people’s lives. Holmes could be considered a problem solver such as Brunel as he uses his methodical approach to solve problems and crimes. It can be seen, in this particular example, that Holmes uses his methodical approach when he is told about the curse of the Baskervilles, this is when Watson tells us that it was essential for Holmes to be in “seclusion and solitude” so that he could,

“Weigh every particle of evidence, construct alternative theories, and balance one and other against each other.”

This shows that Holmes works methodically and that he uses “intense concentration” to help him to “Make his mind up to which points were essential and which immaterial.”

However, Holmes does not only have a methodical approach to solving crime, but a scientific approach that many other detectives do not possess. This scientific approach to problem solving is shown numerous times throughout the novel; an example of it is when Holmes is analyzing the walking stick in the opening chapter. He is able to draw many conclusions about the owner of it very quickly; an example of one of these is that the owner is “a middle aged, family practitioner.” This shows that Holmes is able to collect data, in this case about the man, by analyzing something given to him, like a scientist would be able to. An example of such scientist is Darwin. Darwin would use his scientific skills, just as Holmes does, but would apply them to looking at a disease under a microscope or when analyzing information that he has collected.

Not only can Holmes be likened to a leading scientist such as Darwin in terms of method, but also in the sense that they both attempted to destroy myths. Darwin tried to destroy the Genesis theory with his idea of evolution and this fatally wounded religious beliefs in Victorian society. Holmes on the other hand, successfully destroyed the myth of the hound of the Baskervilles.

From the moment that Doctor Mortimer told him about the curse of the Baskervilles, he believed that there was a rational explanation for it. This is shown when Doctor Mortimer finishes telling Holmes about the curse and he asks Holmes what he makes of the story, Holmes replies that he thinks that it may be interesting “to a collector of fairy tales,” in other words, he does not believe it. This undermines the myth, but also undermines Mortimer. This is because Mortimer believes passionately in the Hound of the Baskervilles and Holmes tells him that it would be interesting to a fairy tales collector. From this quote alone, we can see that Holmes does not believe in the curse and that he thinks there is a scientific explanation for it. It is also interesting to note that Holmes does not focus on the hound, but on the owner of this dog. When he sends Watson to Baskerville hall, with Sir Henry Baskerville, he tells him to report back on “the relations between young Baskerville (Henry) and his neighbours.” This shows that Holmes does not think that the hound is a supernatural phenomenon that is capable of working alone, but that it has a master who controls it; therefore he is suspicious of the locals. This also makes Holmes seem as though he is not a superstitious character, but a logical one. This is because he does not believe in the ‘curse’ that every one else does.

Holmes does not only use his clear and logical mind to solve crimes, but he uses a wide range of forensic methods. An example of such method is when he uses typology. He uses this when Sir Henry Baskerville receives a note from an anonymous source saying “As you value your life or reason keep away from the moor.” Holmes realises very quickly that the words have been cut from a newspaper and stuck on a piece of paper. He is then able to deduce from the type of the text that the words have been cut from the Times newspaper. He then deduces more information from it by saying that it had been cut in a hurry using a “pair of short bladed scissors” and the person who sent it was an “educated man,” this is because he reads the times and that he was possibly the man who was following them earlier. This shows that Holmes uses forensic skills to aid him so that he can draw as much as possible from a certain piece of information that he is given or that he has gathered.

Holmes gathers this data by using many different tools. These tools are not only objects but are people. An example of a tool that Holmes uses is a “convex lens.” He uses this when he is examining the stick that the unknown visitor has left. This is so that he can see the smaller details on the stick which may not be visible to the naked eye. After looking at the stick through the lens, he tells Watson that his conclusions were “erroneous.” This means that Holmes has clearly found other positive results. These results may not have been visible at a quick glance, such as the bite marks on the stick. Holmes can then expand on these ideas and learn more about the owner of the stick. This method is a bit like a scientist’s method. This is because a scientist also uses magnifying tools, such as a microscope to view things that are not visible to the naked eye, for example, cells.

Watson could also be considered a tool that Holmes uses. He uses Watson to collect information and facts such as when he sends him to Baskerville Hall and tells him “I wish you simply to report the facts in the fullest possible manner to me.” This makes Watson seem as though the only use that he is to Holmes while at Baskerville hall, is as a reporter of facts. It makes Watson seem as though he is the ‘puppet’ and Holmes is the ‘puppeteer’. This means that Holmes is always in control and that Watson only gets informed about what he needs to know. This is shown when it emerges that Holmes has been watching Watson, Baskerville hall and everything that has been going on from the view of one of the prehistoric cave men’s huts, on the moor, however, Watson was under the impression that Holmes was in London.

Using these tools, Holmes is able to solve the curse of the Hound of the Baskervilles; however, he also uses methods which only a naturally good detective possesses. An example of a method that Holmes uses is his ability to see people’s faces, not the details surrounding it such as hair. This is shown when Holmes is having dinner with Stapleton and Watson. While eating, Holmes looks at a portrait on the wall and appears to be studying it in depth. Once Stapleton leaves the room, Holmes takes Watson for a closer look at the portrait, but Watson does not see anything. However, when Holmes takes a lamp and covers up the persons hair, he realises immediately that it is the face of Stapleton. Holmes tells Watson that his eyes “have been trained to examine faces and not their trimmings.” He then goes onto say that “It is the first quality of a criminal investigator that he should see through a disguise.” This shows us that Holmes is not only a good detective, but that he uses methods similar to a scientists. This is because scientists work in the same manner, for example, they examine things, make a prediction, test their prediction and then use the results to draw other conclusions. This method can also be seen when Holmes is talking about threads which connect his case together and probability. In this particular example, Holmes is trying to ascertain whether the person who was following him in London was Barrymore, so he sends a telegram to be delivered into “Barrymore’s own hands” and if Barrymore is not present, to send it back to London. Holmes also has a clear and logical mind as he has to juggle many different theories around and test them at the same time. This is shown when he says “We hold several threads in our hands…sooner or later we must come upon the right.”

For these reasons, Sherlock Holmes can be likened to a leading Victorian scientist such as Darwin; this is because they both destroy myths using a scientific method and also use forensic methods to help to destroy their theories they were concerned with. The tools that Holmes uses such as a “convex lens” also show that he uses a variety of different methods to solve crime. Using this information, Holmes can then use induction and deduction to solve complex problems and mysteries. Therefore, Sherlock Holmes can be considered for these reasons, an embodiment of Victorian ideas of progress.

By Andrew Foley