Cultural Impact of Sherlock Holmes
When someone mentions the occupation of detective, a single image usually comes to mind, a man wearing a cape and deerstalker, holding a magnifying glass and smoking a pipe. This entire image can be contributed to one character: Sherlock Holmes. Holmes is considered by many to be the greatest detective to ever exist, even if he only exists in the pages of books and on movie and television screens. It is impossible to escape the influence of Holmes. Countless references are made to him in all types of media and he is used as an inspiration to may more fictional characters we have all grown to love. The cultural impact of Sherlock Holmes has spread to more than just fiction; Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s
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While there has been criticism of the Holmesian method of deduction, many people support the idea that the use of deducing people can help with capture of criminals. While Holmes refers to his findings as deduction himself many people say, “that the process that Sherlock Holmes engages in is usually not deduction” (Novella). Deduction is defined as using a logic method of assumptions based on general statements about the world (Novella). However, Holmes himself makes more of an educated inference on what he observes about the suspects and evidence in his surroundings. The term “Holmesian Deduction” has been used to distinguish the two different methods (Novella). Holmes most famous quote, “when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth”, is often cited as the best definition to his method of deduction. While it is not a method commonly used now thanks to more advances in crime fighting methods and technology, Holmesian deduction has certainly influenced that way we look at a crime scene. One of the things that made the Sherlock Holmes stories so unique when it came out were the fans. The original Sherlock Holmes fans are now widely considered to be the world’s first fandom (Brown). Self dubbed the Baker Street Irregulars after the group of street children Holmes employed in the original canon (although more recently rebranded as “sherlockians”) fans of the series have always
Sherlock Holmes is considered to be one of the most popular fictional characters in literary history with many movies, plays, and books about him. First of let's take a look at Sherlock’s way of deduction or in other words solving mysteries. My first example was in The Hound of the Baskervilles
Compare and Contrast Essay – Modern Sherlock v. Original Sherlock The Sherlock television series that has been adapted to a modern setting still bears a resemblance to the literary series. In both accounts Sherlock Holmes misunderstands the mores of society and how to respond to them. The similarities in the portrayals of Sherlock are where the differences hide. However, in both versions, Sherlock does not understand feelings of love.
Comparing the fictitious Sherlock Holmes to the mid-20th century retelling the famous Christie serial murders, there is a shift on how evidence is collected and impacts a criminal investigation. Sherlock Holmes, although not apart of commissioned law enforcement, is very generalized in investigation. His minute level of training in the criminal justice field, demonstrated that the best detectives are not found within any state institution in the 19th century. In the eyes of the reader, any citizen could be a detective with little training if you were smart enough. He not only examines background information, but collects evidence, interprets it, and takes justice into his own hands. With little help from Watson, Sherlock Holmes epitomizes the
Despite efforts to divorce its story from Arthur Conan Doyle’s oeuvre, even politely stating a lack of affiliation in the opening credits, Young Sherlock Holmes preserves the spirit of Doyle’s characters, fostering an intimate relationship between the adolescent leads and using deductive reasoning as the backbone of their forthcoming professional partnership. The core attributes are deep-rooted, regardless of the reconstituted origin story and multitude of practical effects, which act as a pleasant diversion, but produce a distracting incongruity when paired with Victorian set design. Nevertheless, the alliance between Albion pomp and American excess routinely prevails, bolstered by unexpected melancholic notes and lived-in performances that could sway even the most obstinate purist.
The Hound of the Baskervilles, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and The Maltese Falcon, by Dashiell Hammett both exemplify classic detective stories. With secrets and red herrings behind every corner, Sam Spade and Sherlock Holmes try to pinpoint a culprit and solve a case. However, their stories become more complicated when their own secrets are thrown into the mix. When it comes murder, everyone has something to hide, and anyone could be guilty of committing the crime. Even the motives and actions of the story’s “heroes” are called into question. In this paper, I will explore how everyone--from the detectives to the victims--has something to hide, and why this makes interactions and criminal cases so intriguing.
Sherlock Holmes and Dupin are both very good detectives, however they both have their merits and disadvantages. In this essay I will argue that Sherlock Holmes makes a better Detective than Dupin. Dupin is arrogant, selfish, and imaginative, while Sherlock Holmes is Selfless, Confident, and he is also imaginative like Dupin, but he does not let that imagination interfere with is work. Even though Dupin and Sherlock Holmes both have merit with imagination, Sherlocks ability to not let his imagination interfere with his work and his selflessness makes him a better detective, even though he may not always get his case right.
Does this mean that only Holmesians can be “real” fans of Sherlock Holmes? This seems to devalue the contemporary fans of the television series as it seems to suggest that they are merely “crazy” people who only appreciate the more superficial aspects of Sherlock Holmes (such as the attractiveness of the actors). However, as new technologies emerge, it is clear that their passion for Sherlock Holmes is different, but no less intense than more “traditional” enthusiasts who focus solely on the original stories. Through the Internet, fans of the show are producing original fiction, artwork, videos and various multi-media works based on the show. There is also a staggering amount of meta-text surrounding the show, with fans deconstructing and interpreting
For Sherlock Holmes, solving mysteries is more than just a mindless hobby; to Holmes, solving mysteries is a necessity to survive. In “The Musgrave Ritual,” Watson describes that during stagnant periods of no mysteries, Holmes shoots bullets into the walls to pass time, “Holmes in one of his queer humours would sit in an arm-chair, with his hair-trigger and a hundred Boxer cartridges, and proceed to adorn the opposite wall with a patriotic V.R. done in bullet-pocks” (Doyle 227). Holmes’ brain requires exercise and attention, without mysteries, he is overwhelmed with anxiety and practically driven to the brink of insanity. Deduction and the proficiency of his mind is second nature, in the first few seconds when Holmes lays eyes on a person, he has compiled an intense investigative collection of assorted facts about that said person. For
Sherlock Holmes is one of the most popular characters in late 19th century and early 20th century literature; however, Holmes would not have been an effective detective without his sidekick Dr. Watson. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson had a multifaceted mutualistic relationship. Dr. Watson was given the pivotal role of retelling their adventures, Holmes gave Dr. Watson a few unpleasant jobs, and Dr. Watson was able to take away not only skills and abilities from Holmes but pure enjoyment from being able to work by his side. The combination of Holmes and Dr. Watson is one that is still fascinating readers one hundred years after they first appeared on paper. While Sherlock Holmes is the most clever, intuitive, and determined character in their adventures, he lacks the story telling
Most people would agree that Sherlock Holmes is perhaps the most famous fictional detective, but people also tend to underrate the role of his agent, better known as his sidekick, Dr. John Watson. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson are fictional characters in Victorian England who solve crimes together in Arthur Conan Doyle’s novels. Holmes is a clever and intuitive detective. Because of this, Dr. Watson’s own intelligence is often overlooked, as he is not quite as gifted as his friend. In the Hound of the Baskervilles, the duo are hired to solve a Sir Charles Baskerville’s death in Dartmoor. Though Holmes is certainly more famous than his partner, Watson is actually more likeable than Holmes; admiration is different than likeability and
Holmes takes considerable pride in his ability and his ego is clearly evident to those around him; also, his impatience with those of lesser intelligence than his makes it trying to others who are with him. On the 20th of March, 1888 in “A scandal in Bohemia,” Watson and Holmes are arguing in 221 Baker Street. Watson and Holmes argue, "Then, how do you know?" "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and careless servant girl?" "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly have been burned had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can 't imagine how you deduce it" (Scandal).
Sherlock Holmes is a literary character, created by one of the most popular writers Sir Arthur Canon Doyle. Sherlock Holmes is the first and the only consulting detective in the fictional character. He has a partner named John Watson, who sometimes help Sherlock in different ways in solving the case and is doctor and Holmes’ personal assistant. Sherlock Holmes is an excellent detective because of his strengths such as knowledgeable on many esoteric subjects, the power of observation, and the power of deduction.
He has created apt/relevant model of thinking, taking decisions, sorting/ordering, performing/presenting and solving problems of human mind. In 1887 Holmes represented/impersonated a new type/kind of a detective – one and only type/sort of thinker who is able to use his mind in different new ways. His explanations, methodology and entire attempt to thinking outdistanced/overtook significantly available knowledge about human mind and psychology. The development/evolution of this domains/fields of knowledge was seen to emerge in 100 years after the creation of famous detective and about 80 years after the death of Conan Doyle. At the same time the model of thinking seems to be the creation of that time and rules of
Sherlock Holmes was a famous English detective. He had a reputation of accepting only unusual and mysterious cases. When Helen Stoner contacted him, he was intrigued. Helen contacted Holmes because her twin sister mysteriously died several years before. Helen does not trust her stepfather, Dr. Roylott, and is fearful for her own life. She hired Holmes to figure out what happened to her sister.
Sherlock Holmes is still a popular character, even though Doyle created Holmes over a century ago. According to the website titled "Screen Rant," these include several films dating back centuries and still now, as well as television series such as the ongoing series on BBC: Sherlock. Thanks to the more modern adaptations of Sherlock Holmes, more people know about the character. Holmes remains a pretty consistent character throughout his portrayals, although there are some notable differences beyond the scope of mentioning in this paper. Nonetheless, the important qualities of Holmes remain, largely that of him being a genius investigator superior in his profession when compared to anybody else.