Pre 1914 Prose: The Stories of Sherlock HolmesHow does Conan Doyle present Sherlock Holmes, the great detective, in his stories?
Pre 1914 Prose: The Stories of Sherlock Holmes
How does Conan Doyle present Sherlock Holmes, the great detective, in his stories?
My general impression of Sherlock Holmes is that he is a very mysterious, cunning and slightly deviant individual. He is cunning because he likes catching people out (by himself without anyone else knowing) so he can get all the credit and acts quite big headed too by showing off in front of his clients. As a reader he gives me the impression that he is selfish because he treats Dr Watson as a servant and accepts Watson to bow down to him all the time. He has respect for women but no respect for men, I think this is because he has soft spots for his female clients but I'm probably wrong because it's not in his nature to do this.
When Holmes meets Helen Stoner in "The Speckled Band" he is always using a language to show he is a detective "I observe that you are shivering" along with showing her who is boss "this is my intimate friend and associate Dr. Watson". Also while he meets Helen Stoner he is very polite "good morning, madam" whereas with men he would not talk as politely. He also tries to impress her "you have come in by train this morning, I see" he is self-indulgent. He shows her compassion (which is rare for Holmes to do) but it's sarcastic anyway " 'you must not fear' said he soothingly, bending forward and patting her forearm". He goes into out of his way to impress Miss Stoner by going into going into great (and pointless) detail about how he knew how she travelled there "You must of started early, and yet you had a good drive in a dogcart, along heavy roads, before you reached the station", weather or not he's got a soft spot for her I don't know but its highly unlikely as it's not in Holmes' nature to do so. Miss Stoner is baffled about how Holmes knew how she got to the meeting " 'There is no mystery, my dear madam' said he, smiling" which is also shows that Holmes is smug at this moment.
Once Holmes had listened to Miss Stoner's story he accused straight away of not telling him everything "Miss Stoner, you have not. You are screening your stepfather". He done this again by observing Miss Stoner but this time her wrist and not her clothes "The marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed upon the white wrist" this could of meant that she had been "cruelly abused" possibly by her stepfather. He sat down in his office, by "the crackling fire" and there was "a long silence" while he thought of the information he had gathered. He then asked Miss Stoner if it would be possible if they could "see over these rooms without the knowledge of your stepfather" which is conspiritual. When Miss Stoner said it was alright for them to do this asks Watson "you are not averse to this trip, Watson?" which is more like a statement of Holmes telling Watson what to do, this shows once again that Holmes is the boss and has full control of Watson. As Miss Stoner leaves she says "My heart is lightened already since I have confided my trouble to you" This is her thanking Holmes and saying to him you have made me feel at ease. When Miss Stoner arrived she was agitated "frightened eyes like those of a haunted animal" but when she left she wasn't "glided from the room" this can be said as Holmes' touch. Once Miss Stoner leaves Holmes tests how well Watson has been listening to the conversation by asking him "And what do you think of it all, Watson?"
When Holmes meets Miss Stoner's stepfather (Dr Grimesby Roylott) Holmes says to Roylott "my name, sir, but you have the advantage of me" and Roylott replies straight away with "I am Dr Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran" as Holmes said it patronisingly and has got strong powers of observation. Holmes is always polite and charming even with people he doesn't particularly get along with (mainly men) "Pray take a seat". When Roylott asks Holmes about his stepdaughter hr quickly diverts the subject by politely saying "It is a little cold for the time of year", so Roylott furiously ...
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When Holmes meets Miss Stoner's stepfather (Dr Grimesby Roylott) Holmes says to Roylott "my name, sir, but you have the advantage of me" and Roylott replies straight away with "I am Dr Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran" as Holmes said it patronisingly and has got strong powers of observation. Holmes is always polite and charming even with people he doesn't particularly get along with (mainly men) "Pray take a seat". When Roylott asks Holmes about his stepdaughter hr quickly diverts the subject by politely saying "It is a little cold for the time of year", so Roylott furiously answers back with no manners at all. Homes then replies "imperturbably" (not bothered). Roylott obviously doesn't like Holmes and describes him as a "scoundrel" and also has a reputation of being a "meddler" and Holmes likes this. Every time Roylott mentions something about Holmes, Homes' "smile broadens as if he likes the fact he's got a reputation, Roylott hates him and he has got a sense of smugness about the whole thing. Holmes starts being sarcastic to Roylott to try and expose his bad side "Your conversation is most entertaining" which works and annoys Roylott even more, then Holmes even tells him to get lost in a way "when you go out close the door, for there is a decided draught" and isn't giving Roylott the reaction he is trying to get out of Holmes. Roylott refuses to leave Holmes's office and won't without his "say". He tells Holmes that he is a "dangerous man to fall foul of". Once Roylott finally leaves the room Holmes gives out yet another sarcastic comment "He seems a very amiable person". Before Roylott left he bent Holmes' poker for his fire, Homes ids a man of great strength as he bends the poker back "with a sudden effort". Holmes now gives out another one of his sarcastic comments about Roylott "and I only trust that are little friend will not suffer from her imprudence" (he really hates Roylott but tries to screen it) Holmes is describing Roylott as a brute. Holmes can't work on an empty stomach so he says to Watson "And now, Watson, we shall order breakfast" and afterwards they will go and collect some "data" (scientific language) from Miss Stoner's house.
In the "Red-Headed League" Holmes doesn't treat Mr Jabeez Wilson with the same respect as Miss Stoner but with more respect than Dr Grimesby Roylott as he talks about most of Mr Jabeez Wilson's past and his life and which is very long and full of lots of different triumphs and at the end says it is nothing "I can deduce nothing else" which is very insulting, before the list he patronises Watson "He Shook his head with a smile". Holmes starts observing Mr Jabeez Wilson to try to show off like he does in "The Speckled Band" and to find out where he has been, Mr Jabeez Wilson is startled by this "How in good fortune did you know all of that?" Homes answers to that with his observation "Your hands my dear sir, your right hand is quite a size larger than your left. You have worked with it and the muscles are more developed". Mr Jabeez Wilson previously was a "freemasonry" which is large group of people who do things for each other which involve their jobs. He observes Mr Jabeez Wilson a lot, it's almost like forensic evidence "and the left cuff with a smooth patch near the elbow where you rest it upon the desk". Homes just keeps on coming up with new qualities "the fish which you have tattooed immediately above your right wrist could only have been done in China" so he is an expert on tattoos now as well. Then he starts talking about totally irrelevant information "the trick of staining the fishes' scales a delicate pink is quite peculiar to China" just to show off whereas all along he could of just said that he had been to China. The meeting between Miss Stoner is similar to this meeting as we see Holmes exhibiting his powers of observation in which case can be said he is showing off but it is also possible that Holmes does this to put his clients' mind at rest.
In "The Man with the Twisted Lip" shows his unusual abilities as a detective by going in disguise to an opium place and not even being recognised by his companion Watson "As I passed a tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my skirt, and a low voice whispered 'walk past me, and then look back at me' ". Even when Watson looks back at Holmes he still doesn't recognise him but once he did he was greatly shocked to see his friend Holmes there as he did not know he was undercover "It took all my self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of astonishment". Holmes is able to change his appearance in an instant and he is a master of disguise this another one of his qualities and an advantage of him being a detective and this amazes Watson "His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire, and grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes." Holmes shows his acting abilities that he can take on any role by giving Watson a "slight motion" to approach him, Holmes instantly "turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided into a doddering, loose-lipped senility". Holmes does not respect Watson's marital commitments and accepts him to bow to him "If you will wait outside, I shall be with you in five minutes" and Watson knows he is under Holmes's powers "it was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes's requests, for they were always of exceedingly definite, and put forward with such an air of mastery" which is kind of like Watson bowing down to Holmes which is what Holmes has always wanted. On the way back Holmes is showing that he is not o.k in his disguise "For two streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot".
I "The Speckled Band" Holmes searches for clues using his magnifying glass (lens) "Then with his lens he tested the hinges" and does not rely on what clues he is told and tests every theory for himself "Holmes, after a careful examination through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the shutter open, but without success". He has a theory of the mystery and now he is trying to test it "my theory certainly presents some difficulties". "Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, taking in every detail of the apartment." this is Holmes taking time, looking for clues and trying to piece them together and he is using quiet communication and letting no one know what he is thinking. He does the same thing that her done to Watson to Miss Stoner now by asking her a question which is actually a statement "it looks newer than the other things". "He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in his hand, and crawled swiftly backwards and forwards, examining minutely the cracks between the boards" this is the archetypal detective image we have come to associate with Sherlock Holmes. Holmes's attention to detail has paid off and has noticed something that no one else has noticed before " 'You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where the little opening of the ventilator is' 'How very absurd! I never noticed that before' ". Holmes brings to the reader's attention that the bell rope and the ventilator where put in at the same time and the two are some how linked " 'That is also quite modern' said the lady. 'Done about the same time as the bell-rope' remarked Holmes". Holmes had a keen interest and paid great attention to detail while he was looking around Dr Grimesby Roylott's chamber "Holmes walked slowly around and examined each and all of them with the keenest interest". "He took up a small saucer of milk which stood on the top of it" (the safe) he has connected the saucer of milk to the safe some how. "I think I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and, with your permission, we shall walk out upon the lawn" Holmes has gathered enough information, has also got his theory and he is not sharing it with anyone not even his faithful companion Dr Watson. Sherlock Holmes is following the usual pattern and is taking time to polish up his theory and make sure it is fool proof "We had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts, before he roused himself from his reverie.
In "The Red-Headed League" Holmes shows another one of his many talents which is a musician "My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a very capable performer, but a composer of no ordinary merit", and the also shows his calm side "while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes" and then shows the detective side of Holmes "Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the relentless, keen-written, ready handed criminal agent". Watson's silence at this time tells us that we regard Sherlock Holmes as a man of action "devouring energy", a man of concern for his friend Dr Watson "there may be some little danger, so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket" and in "The Speckled Band" a man of great bravery "Holmes sprang up from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with his cane at the bell-pull". He also shows that he is a man of action and bravery in "The Red-Headed League" "Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the collar" then shows he is a man of wits and a quick thinker "The light flashed upon the barrel of a revolver but Holmes's hunting-crop came down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked on the stone floor" this also shows that Holmes cares about the safety of his companions. In "The Man with the Twisted Lip" he shows that he is big-headed and likes to take all of the glory "Holmes stooped to the water jug, moistened his sponge, and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the prisoner's face.
The reader's perception of Holmes changes as a result of him being so cunning and of him being able to know for definite that the criminal he is about to catch/find is the right one and he has made no mistakes at all in all the clues that he found along the way of his investigation.
In conclusion I think that Sherlock Holmes has been recognised as the template of all future literary detectives because Conan Doyle has made Sherlock Holmes a very interesting character by making him a man of action and great strength like in "The Red-Headed League" where he jumps out of the shadows lights his lamp and "seized the intruder by the collar". Sherlock Holmes reminds of many detectives and one of them is inspector Gadget as they both use magnifying glasses (which the television probably thought of by using Holmes as an example) and they both were long cloaks and "detective" hats. I thought that "The Man with the Twisted Lip" because that to me was the case with the least clues and the fact that the criminal that supposedly killed Mr Neville St Clair was actually him in disguise, I liked this case because it had Holmes at the start doing exactly what Mr Neville St Clair was trying to do all of the time.
Robert Houghton 11FN