In What Way Is Sherlock Holmes The Embodiment Of Victorian Ideas Of
Progress?
“I had no keener pleasure than following Holmes in his professional
investigations, and in admiring the rapid deductions, as swift as
intuitions, and yet always founded on a logical basis, with which he
unravelled the problems which were submitted to him.”
The Victorians valued ‘professional’ scientists that were able to make
‘rapid deductions’ to solve mysteries and to research new medical
cures. The Victorian era was full of new discoveries and new thoughts
and theories that changed England and the world. Darwin’s Theory of
Evolution, Fleming’s discovery of Penicillin, the Industrial
Revolution, and Joseph Lister’s invention of Chloroform, are just a
few examples of world-changing occurrences in the Victorian era.
Holmes is like a scientist in many ways. He too uses forensic methods
of investigation like a scientist, and also uses scientific tools,
such as a convex lens. Holmes unravels myths with his ‘swift
intuitions,’ like many other scientists of the time, such as Darwin.
Holmes was created by Conan Doyle at around the same time as Darwin
was putting together his Theory of Evolution. Holmes is an embodiment
of the Victorian era’s preoccupations and reflects with the scientific
advances made at the time. He uses methods and equipment that are
similar to that of a scientist and is a good representation of a
real-life scientist. Holmes is able to make quick deductions in order
to solve any problem brought to him, a trait that all great scientists
possess. Sherlock Holmes demonstrates all of these qualities on more
than one occasion in The Hound of the Baskervilles.
At the time of the story’s composition, the Victorian...
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Holmes’ calm and controlled manner, and the ability to recognize good
and evil, are typical qualities of the people of the Victorian era.
Victorians like Charles Dickens upheld family virtues and good
overcoming bad, and Conan Doyle’s characters in The Hound of the
Baskervilles also epitomize this way of thinking. Sherlock Holmes was
always open to new ideas, such as phrenology, and was able to progress
with these new ways of thinking to come to a conclusion. He often
questioned established beliefs. However, the Victorians were very
conservative and restrained. Like Darwin, Holmes would question these
established beliefs. Although they though like this, with time, people
began to trust these new theories and began to question myths and
certain established practices. The Victorians began to believe in
scientific theories, so their ways of thinking changed.
“People who are in earnest are always interesting, whether you agree with them or not” (The Chronicles). Doyle may be known as the author of Sherlock Holmes, but there are other facets to his life. On account of some strange events that occurred, Doyle was persuaded into thinking that spiritual beings existed. As Doyle’s career advanced he drew the attention of many to himself. He succeeded both by gaining supporters and detractors. He built on his fame by giving lectures. These aspects of his life are connected; his painful childhood led him to a successful medical career where his writing and life partner stepped into the picture. These aspects, when combined, led Doyle to a new world view of spiritualism.
For a while he finished the stories, but with debts and great public support he created another collection of the Holmes stories, due to the fact they were in high demand. Conan Doyle sadly died in Crowborough, Sussex, England, on July 7, 1930. Holmes is an intellectual detective who although spends a lot of the time by his self still depend on a valiant partner to accompany him on his cases, in this case Dr Watson. Dr Watson, in the Sherlock Holmes stories, is portrayed as particularly as an average British person helping his friend in his cases. Because he is portrayed as this it helps us see ourselves in the story along with Holmes therefore, intriguing the reader to usually read more.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is the creator of the character Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. He was a Scottish writer and physician, he wrote many things in his life. Doyle did not just write detective mysteries he also fantasy and science fiction stories, plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction and historical novels. Even though he wrote many other thing he is mostly well known for writing all of the canon Sherlock stories. Doyle himself had a career in the medical field there he meet many influential people to base his characters from. A letter was found where he wrote to one of his colleagues whose name was Joseph Bell that the most important traits of his character Sherlock was mostly based on him. Bell himself had the career title of forensic
Doyle’s detective stories were written to be told by a character to which he could relate. He trained to become a doctor and used this training to influence the profession of the narrator of his Sherlock Holmes stories, Dr. John Watson. It is through the eyes of Dr. Watson that we first see our main character, Sherlock Holmes (Geherin 295). Watson was not the only character inspired by a real-life figure, however. Doyle based the character of Holmes off of his instructor, Dr. Joseph Bell.
I know this because in the story, he included all the dates and times, and spoke about the mystery very precisely and specifically. Also, he always mentioned what he was doing or thinking at a specific time. At the beginning, as the client came in, Watson, from his point of view thought in the story that “he had no keener pleasure than following Holmes in his professional investigations. Because of this evidence I have found, I know that the story is written from Watson’s point of view.
The Sherlock Holmes series, has, like most enduring literary works, both challenged and conformed to the ideals of its age. Today, more than a hundred years after his first adventure, Sherlock Holmes remains one of the most beloved fictional characters of the Victorian era.
On page 39, it describes the moment in which bullies from his school force him to go face to face with a skeleton in a doctor’s office. Such a terrible experience truly could have scarred Holmes, but at the same time his comfortability with an representation of death could have prompted his killer roots. Also, the “accidental” death of Holmes’s childhood friend, at an event that Holmes was present, was another red flag in terms of potentially becoming a psychopath. We learn more of Holmes’s younger upbringing through the text in which it states,"He drifted through childhood as a small, odd, and exceptionally bright boy....in the cruel imaginations of his peers, he became prey" (Larson, 38) Holmes was essentially an outcast, a person who has been rejected by society or a social group. He was the target of many because of his oddness and rather unique characteristics. With no solid upbringing, and a probable fascination with death, Holmes was bound to be the infamous serial killer he became in his future.
Comment on the way Conan Doyle uses the character of Watson in The Hound of the Baskervilles.
Sherlock Holmes, one of the most famous fictional characters in literary history is a detective capable of solving the most complex mysteries. The author behind the character, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is a very successful British writer. The majority of his literary success is due to his crime-fiction tales such as the Sherlock Holmes series. However, Mr. Doyle and Mr. Holmes himself must not take all the credit because there is another character that plays a major role in the stories success. He goes by the name of Dr. Watson, Holmes’ sidekick. The importance of Dr. Watson is evident in many of Doyle’s stories such as A Scandal in Bohemia and A Study in Scarlett.
belittling characteristic "He used to make merry over the cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late." Bohemia. Holmes has a great store of knowledge that he has acquired over many years at his disposal, and this helps him greatly in his cases. " special knowledge of tobacco ashes enabled me to pronounce as an Indian cigar" (The Boscombe Valley Mystery). This yet again proves
is a great aspect of humour, this is shown in two major ways. One of
In the movie Holmes, in the beginning, was much more prideful and rude to Watson and people in general, but later on, Holmes was a lot nicer and somewhat humble at least compared to the book. This difference made the viewer feel less liking of the character of Holmes and it almost seemed that the director tried to save Holmes’s character by making him nicer at the ending. The difference had a big impact on the feeling of the movie because it felt that he was so stuck up he was rather unapproachable. ...
This paper will explore the relationship between Sherlock Holmes and his companion and friend Dr. John Watson. What is the relationship between Holmes and Watson? Are they compatible or are their differences to great for them to overcome. Looking at how they work together will also be a key factor in how well the relationship works between the two of them. Do their own interests and abilities get in the way? Does the time period in which they live factor into the environment of their communication styles?
In Hound of the Baskervilles written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes and Watson have a special type of relationship.In the beginning the reader is shown that Dr.Watson is a foil to Sherlock Holmes.The meaning of “Foil”s a character who contrasts with another character (usually the protagonist) in order to highlight particular qualities of the other character.In the book the reader see’s 3 thing that are always memorable.Watson is seen as smart but Holmes will always be seen as a genius,Watson is very open while Holmes is very secretive,and both of them trust each other but as seen that Watson is the one that trust more.Over time the reader can tell that Watson and Holmes are alike but very different which makes them great partners.
Additionally, Thomas could have also explored the idea that not only do the Sherlock Holmes stories provide examples where the criminal is scientifically describable and recognizable, but they provide examples where Holmes uses his detective eye and knowledge of anatomy to identify criminals and victims in each case. For instance, in “The Cardboard Box,” when Holmes is explaining how he determined that the