This is rather ‘snobbish’ as he is doing as he wants and putting himself above the law on what he determines they should and not know on the situation. He is then depriving the law on what they are committed to as Holmes is in the way of trying to understand the case.
Holmes is sometimes put ‘above the law’ by other characters (including the police) all of the stories we have read are narrated by Watson, who regards Holmes with high-esteem. In some cases Holmes is ‘called in’ by the police to help solve a crime. Personal individuals go to Holmes for help because of his illustrious reputation. These factors could effect the reader’s perception of Holmes and his relationship with the law and the police because it gives us the idea that the police need Holmes to help with detective work when they are left clueless on the case. The law will then require information on the case and this when Holmes must explain to them the case. He however does often feel they don’t need to know certain things where they are not concerned. Holmes is therefore encouraged to believe he is ‘above the law’ as the police would usually slack on a case while Holmes takes over – seeing as Holmes is the only one that can ‘crack the code’, feeling superior and higher levels to the rest.
Holmes is always in command regardless of whether or not the police are involved in a case. Holmes is always in control. It is Holmes who tells everyone (including Watson and the police), what to do. This is because Holmes is made to seem smarter than the police because he is asked for help by their request to solve a case. For example in ‘Silver Blaze’, page 75 of Sherlock Holmes Stories, Holmes states to Watson:
“On Tuesday evening I received telegrams, both from Colonel Ross, the owner of the horse, and from Inspector Gregory, who is looking after the case, inviting my co-operation.”
Holmes is asked to solve a case from the police which means the police fail to try and solve it without the assistance of Holmes, this makes Holmes seem in command and in charge of the cases.
Holmes’s attitude to and relationship with the police is rather far apart. Holmes doesn’t like to work with the police as he feels as though he is more intelligent than them – upper level – otherwise they would not most of the time request help from him. For instance, in ‘The Final Problem’ page 128, bricks are being thrown from the roof, however the police think it is just the wind – but not Holmes:
“There were slates and bricks piled upon the roof preparatory to some repairs, and they would have me believe that the wind had toppled over one of these. Of course I knew better…”
Holmes acts rather arrogant here claiming he knows more than the police! He considers the police to be his inferiors as they don’t come to the same conclusions as him.
Holmes likes to consider himself more highly important than the rest of society and the police when he speaks with Watson. In ‘The Final Problem’ page 123, Holmes quotes he is the only one that can handle Moriarty and his schemes.
“…if I could beat that man, if I could free society from him, I should feel that my own career had reached its summit, and I should be prepared to turn to some more placid line in life.”
Holmes is already preparing to challenge masterminded Moriarty suggesting his standards are the only one to overcome his rival.
Reinforcing the idea, in ‘The Empty House’ page 145, Holmes is considered not only smarter than the police but also stronger. He uses Japanese techniques to escape Moriarty’s grasp.
“I have some knowledge, however, of baritsu, or the Japanese system of wrestling, which has more than once been very useful to me.”
He shows modesty as he lets Watson know that he has well mastered this technique as it has indeed helped him more than once.
Holmes considers himself above the law by keeping such important discovery away from Colonel Ross in ‘The Silver Blaze’. Of which information is important for all he withholds this; page 91.
“The matter does not rest with Colonel Ross. I follow my own methods, and tell as much or as little as I choose.”
From this quote, Holmes is being absent-minded as though he is the only one to succeed in crime cases however such situations should be worked together as a team he feels he has a right to the details that should be heard or not. Captivating the law into his own will and grasp.
As Lestrade and Holmes come into greetings with each other, in ‘The Empty House’ page 154. Holmes feels as though, Lestrade being one of the smartest detectives, slacking in his work.
“Three undetected murders in one year won’t do, Lestrade. But you handled the Molesey Mystery with less than your usual – that’s to say, you handled it fairly well.”
Holmes puts himself above the police as they are working to their extent he finds it not quite enough as though they are secondly to Sherlock Holme’s intelligence in sussing out crimes.
Overall, I think that Holmes too often puts himself above the police and the law. It seems his relationship with the police is very narrow and he feels they are similar in very small ways.
Sometimes Holmes considers information that he discovers only important that he should be aware of. It is only right for the Law to know the details of the situation however; he feels not and takes the law into his own hands.
Holmes does at times feel he is above the law in how he handles certain situations and also that the police depend on him to help when they are struck clueless. Therefore, why wouldn’t he consider himself above the police? He has solved and dealt with more crime cases and gotten out of the most dangerous situations where he uses techniques to escape. He is also known around different countries such as France whereas they also required his assistance. With everyone depending on him so much he almost knows they are clueless without him.
