The mystery story about the British detective Sherlock Holmes called The Man with the Twisted Lip is told from the point of view of his assistant, Dr. Watson. Due to this we see Holmes and the mystery he solves primarily from the perspective of a medical man. As such we never get inside Homes’ head, but see the story as Watson sees it.
Watson’s medical training causes him to articulate his experience in careful detail, in the same manner he might articulate his diagnosis of a patient’s condition. For instance, note his description of his entry into a London opium den in 1889:
Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the forecastle of an emigrant ship. (Doyle, 2)
This same meticulous detailing recurs throughout the story, but not only when Watson is describing what he himself observes. It also occurs when he is relating what Sherlock Holmes is telling him for he recalls Holmes’ own observations at the same level of detail in which he recounts his own, as is evidenced when he writes about Holmes’ description of a particular man who begs in the streets of London:
His appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him without observing him. A shoc...
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...liantly to find logic and resolution in his pursuit of the mystery surrounding Stillman, elements in the text itself mitigated against this attempt and finally impacted and shaped Quinn’s life and persona in such a way that he could no longer survive in the narrative as a character or detective. This not only affected Quinn, but altered the entire narrative itself. Which elements in the text caused this destruction and dissolution – Paul Auster or the Narrator – are the mystery the reader is left to resolve in the denouement of City of Glass.
Work Cited Doyle, Arthur Conan. Sherlock Holmes: the Major Stories with Contemporary Critical Essays. Ed. John A. Hodgson. Boston: Bedford of St. Martin, 1994. Print.
Next, In the majority of the stories he is portrayed as a person who shows a great passion for crime along with Holmes. Although, intellectually he can not compete and always seems to become second best; "Holmes," I cried, " I seem to see dimly what you are hinting At. We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible Crime."
By having Watson narrate, Doyle is able to write in a more literary manner. For instance, the first time Watson, as well as the reader, is introduced to the hound of the Baskervilles, it is through auditory imagery. Watson describes a “long, low moan” that “sounded incredibly sad” that sweeps over the Moore and grows into a deep roar (50). When Watson hears the howl again later in the book, he describes a “wild and menacing howl” that pierces through the silence of the Moore before dying away in a sad moan (69-70). In both instances, the descriptions are important in developing the tone of the novel, and the atmosphere of the Moore. Were it Holmes narrating, the descriptions would likely result in a more inquisitive and curious tone, rather than one of dread and foreboding created when described by Watson. As the novel is not only a mystery, but a mystery wrapped in a horror aesthetic, it is important that a sense of rising tension and terror is established. By having Watson narrate the novel rather than Holmes, Doyle is able to develop a much greater sense of dread, tension, and anticipation for the
Holmes was born in New Hampshire, 1861. His mother was cold and heartless, and his father was an alcoholic. Both parents were very abusive towards Holmes. His parents would isolate and starve him for extended periods of time. At an early age, he was fascinated with the human body which quickly led to him being fascinated by death. Holmes’s captivation of the human body led him to study medicine. After graduating, Holmes was accepted into the University of Michigan Medical
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.
Another convention of the detective story is that the detective will have a confidant through whom he can explain his reasoning to the reader. Holmes has a confidant, Watson, who is the stereotypical gentle doctor who is plain and uninteresting so as not to draw attention away from Holmes. “I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his professional investigations'; this implies that Watson lead an uninteresting life, without many interesting hobbies or pastimes.
The novel “The Sign of the Four”, written by Arthur Conan Doyle is about Sherlock Holmes and his partner, Watson. The book follows them throughout their adventures, however, only the beginning will be discussed. What could possibly have sparked much interest in Doyle’s works that film adaptations from 1954-2010 by various movie directors? Was it the resolute mindset of Sherlock Holmes? Was it his uncanny detective work? His professional use of drugs? Or perhaps was it his ideology? Such beginnings are what writers like K.M. Weiland excels in; to craft an irresistible lure for their audience of fish. Doyle’s book introduces us to a multitude of questions and concerns, which according to Tim O’Brien is meant to “not explain or to resolve, but
... that it combined the perfect amount of medical history, scientific fact and storytelling; creating a brilliant account that kept me wanting to find out more. It was full of interesting information that helped me to understand more about the cholera epidemic and the views of public health and medical practice of the people in 1854 London.
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
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World (1912) is yet another essential novel, that marked and defined the genre science fiction. Set in an expedition to a plateau in South America, the reporter Edward Malone tells his journey along with the hot-headed and eccentric Professor George Edward Challenger. What differentiates the protagonists from Doyle’s, what was soon to be known as Challenger Tales, his Sherlock Holmes series, is not only the ambiguity in attitude, as Sherlock Holmes is considered self-controlled and analytical, whereas Challenger portrays the stellar opposite, but also the way both novels are being narrated. Whereas former novel series has Sherlock’s assistant Dr. Watson as the narrator of the protagonists adventures, The Lost
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?
For Sherlock Holmes, his partner in crime is Dr. John H. Watson. Not only is he a trusted friend, but also he is Holmes’ associate and the first person narrator of the Sherlock tales. The stories of Sherlock Holmes are a collection of short stories and fictional novels created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. These stories are based on a famous and most notorious detective all throughout London, Sherlock Holmes. Along his side, Dr. Watson narrates his and Holmes’ detective cases and reveals Sherlock’s abilities and knowledge of solving cases and fighting deadly crimes. For the duration of the stories, Watson and Holmes share a particular relationship where Holmes verbally dominates Watson, “You see, but you do not observe. The distinction is very clear” (Doyle 241). When he isn’t insulting Dr. Watson he talks about how much he relies on his partner, “I am lost without my Boswell” (Doyle 243).
In this essay I am going to examine how Dr Watson is used as a
“The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes,” states Sherlock Holmes (Doyle, The Hound of the Baskervilles loc 1238). According to TV Tropes, mystery is a genre of fiction where the plot revolves a mysterious happening that acts as the driving question. With any given problem there is a solution; however, and the question is “how does one come about to that solution”? Extremely high intelligence level, keen observation, creative imagination and sensitivity to details are just some of the qualities that Holmes possesses. In the process of solving mysteries, there is always a borderline between mere guessing, a coincidence, and a scientific approach that Holmes calls deductive reasoning. In Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 1902 novel, The Hound of the Baskervilles, Dr. Mortimer seeks advice from Holmes as he explains the curse that has been plaguing the Baskerville family. With the power of deduction, Holmes realizes that Mr. Stapleton is actually a Baskerville descendant and has been planning to get rid of the other members of the family to claim the family fortune. Conan Doyle tells the reader what their mind is capable of doing by incorporating Holmes through his novels as he uses observation, deduction and knowledge in solving his cases. One important key that makes him different from most people is that he sees everything that people often neglect to pay attention to. A remarkable proof which shows that Holmes holds an extraordinary analytical mind and is uniquely capable of solving a mystery through his great sensitivity to minute details and the ability to draw connections from it was shown as he observes and deduces information from the letter received by Sir Henry Baskerville the moment he arrived...
Sherlock Holmes, a name most people would know if they were to hear it, has come to greatly influence the modern world of mysteries. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had no idea a character he started to write about for the first time in 1887 would still be carried alive by other TV and movie producers in 2014. Doyle also never new that Holmes would become such a popular character or result in a name mostly everybody would know. Even if there was a person who did not know who or what Sherlock Holmes was, they are certain to have at least heard his name before. “Doyle turned his principal character into a household word” (Haining 7). Doyle started a legacy that lives on forever. Sherlock Holmes personality and looks may change with every generation he is in, but his main characteristics remain the same. Sherlock Holmes’ style of deduction, great sense of observation and strange personality in Arthur Doyle’s stories influenced how TV and movie producers would portray Holmes in their version of Doyle’s mysteries in shows such as Elementary and Sherlock.
A Study in Scarlet reveals a story of how a wonderful friendship started, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Watson was recovering from the past work as an assistant surgeon in Bombay, he was sent to London, was running out of money and looked for a roommate and found Sherlock. Living together they learn a lot of each other. Watson notices how interesting Holmes is and how he uses the method of deduction to solve cases. Doyle writes this science fiction from the point of view of Watson he is the one who narrates the story, I personally think that if it was from Holmes point of view it would be boring because you will be the smartest in the room.