Arthur Conan Doyle has made Sherlock Holmes appealing to the audience by making Holmes realistic. A method he used was referring to previous cases. In the ‘Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist’ Holmes reminds Watson about a previous case that took place at Farnham ‘It was near there we took Archie Stamford the forger’ (The Solitary Cyclist pg 2). This also occurs in’ The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez’. Watson remarks on a previous case. ‘The famous Smith Mortimer came also within in this period’ (The adventure of the Golden Pince Nez pg 1). By adding previous cases us, the audiences are forced to believe that Holmes has a past we do not know about. This gives an added effect of realism. This also reassures the audience about law and order because we find out he has been successful before so we can rely on Holmes now.
Throughout the Sherlock Holmes series, Watson is narrator. By making Watson, the narrator Conan Doyle makes the audience respect Holmes. Conan Doyle has made Watson likeable. He is constantly in Holmes’s shadow. He is more prone to mistakes that Holmes. Watson is modest and humble. Generally, Watson is inferior compared to Holmes. Conan Doyle has Watson constantly praise Holmes. We end up agreeing because we identify Holmes. In the ‘Solitary Cyclist’ Watson comments on Holmes personality. ‘The strong masterful personality of Holmes dominated the tragic scene and all were equal puppets in is hand’ (The adventure of the Solitary Cyclist). Conan Doyle has not only made Watson praise Holmes, he has also made Stanley Hopkins a detective from ‘Then Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez’ admire him. ‘By George it’s marvelous’ Hopkins claims after Holmes would arrogant patronizing and impatient. Another reason Watson is a good narrator that Watson learns about the case at a rate we under stand. So putting Watson as a narrator is a good choice. We like and admire Watson; we admire Holmes
During the period when Sherlock Holmes was written, the police force was new. The public could not trust law and order yet. They needed someone they could trust. Arthur Conam Doyle created a character they felt fitted the criteria that the people wanted. Sherlock Holmes was moral, just, trusted and other truthful amongst other things. By putting Holmes as the main character, justice is always served. In the ‘solitary cyclist’, the villain goes jail. In the ‘golden Pince-Nez’, the assassin commits suicide. In the ‘final problem’ professor, mortirary falls off rein Bach falls. By finding the solution of the stories all the time the public trust the law and order more and more.
We also find morality in the stories Sherlock Holmes is consistently trying to safeguard his vulnerable clients. Or he carries out tasks asked as a final wish. In the ‘solitary cyclist’ we know he is moral because he says ‘it is out duty to see that no-one molests her’ (the solitary cyclists pg 13) Holmes says this after Miss Violet Smith writes a letter to him. In the ‘golden Pince-Nez’ when the lady murderer instructs Holmes to give her the letter to the Russian embassy he actually carries them out saying ‘Watson and I will drive to the Russian embassy together’ (the golden Pince-Nez pg 15) this gives the idea Holmes is respectful and very trustworthy.
Holmes has numerous qualities, which enable him to be a good person and detective. Arthur Conam Doyle has moulded a character that everyone likes. His most obvious characteristic is his skills of observation and deduction. He is able to tell certain routines or physical appearances just by trying or looking at something. In the ‘adventure of the solitary cyclists’ Holmes says ‘such an ardent cyclist must be full of energy’. (Solitary cyclists pg 1) just by looking in the state of Miss Violet’s shoes. Another example can be found in the’ golden Pince-Nez’ Holmes is given a piece of evidence and makes the following conclusion on the murderers appearance ‘wanted a women of good address attired like a lady. She has a remarkably thick nose, with eyes, which are set; close upon each other either side of it. She has a puckered forehead, a round peering expression and probably rounded shoulders’. These are indications she had recourse twice during the last few months. As her glasses are remarkable strength and as opticians are not very numerous there should be no difficulty in tracing her.’(The golden Pince-Nez pg 5). His talents are so advanced that they are like super powers.
By giving him these ‘abilities’ you can call him an early type super hero. However, it is not only there you can call him a super hero. Like all super heroes, Holmes helps the police. When in ‘the golden Pince-Nez’ Stanley Hopkins gives Holmes the main piece of evidence. Hopkins receives some enlightment about the assassin. ‘By George it’s marvelous!’ Cried Hopkins in an ecstasy of delight ‘to think that I had all that evidence in my hand and never knew it’ (the golden Pince-Nez pg 6). Conam Doyle make it sound like as id there was not Holmes law and order would not be maintained. Another quality of Holmes is his physical fitness. We find out tat Holmes is a swordsman and boxer. In the ‘solitary cyclists’ Holmes describes his talent in the sport of boxing. ‘You are aware that I have some proficiency in the good old British sport of boxing’ (The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist pg7). Another occasion also in ‘the Solitary Cyclist’ is when Watson compares himself to Holmes. ‘My sedentary life began to tell upon me and I was compelled to fall behind. Holmes however, was always in training for he had inexhaustible stores of nervous energy upon which to draw’ (The adventure of the Solitary Cyclist pg8). His good physical well-being is almost like super strength making him look more like a super hero. Holmes enjoys a good challenge. We know this because Watson says in the ‘Solitary Cyclist’ Holmes was immensely tickled by his adventure’. (The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist pg 7). By giving the right combination of characteristic, Conan Doyle has made Holmes the perfect person.
In various scenarios, Arthur Conan Doyle creates an atmosphere to suit the situation. .This is called pathetic fallacy. We can see his use of pathetic fallacy in the ‘Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez’. ‘The wind howled down Baker Street while the rain beat fiercely against the window’. (The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez pg 1). By using pathetic fallacy, it gives the reader an uneasy feel compelling them to read on. That is why so many people enjoy murder mysteries.
The Sherlock Holmes series was written when the murder mystery genre was quite new. Created by Alan Poe murder mysteries became preferred choice amongst readers. They became popular extremely quickly because it presented the audience with the view of vicarious thrill. This is when you get scared but knows you are in no real danger. Murder mysteries are still popular today in books and television. We always see programs like C.S.I and Midsummer Murders etc. consistently become hits
