Alex Jackson- English coursework- Sherlock Holmes: Sexist caricature or

Fascinating Sleuth?
Sherlock Holmes: Sexist Caricature or Fascinating Sleuth?
There are many different ways an individual can perceive the character of
Sherlock Holmes. I, however, think he is more of a fascinating sleuth. Yes, his
powers of deduction are a little caricaturised but not to the point where they
become overwhelming. He is simply a little more observant than most. That bit
more intelligent. So intelligent in fact that no one can rival his crime solving
super skills!
He is also, maybe a little sexist, but again I dont feel he is sexist to the point
where it annoys you when you are reading about how he has just set free an
innocent person who would otherwise have been hanged! This brings me onto
my next point: the police.
Holmes I imagine is not a very favourable person among the force. You will quite
frequently read about him meddling with their cases and in most, proving them
wrong. In some stories however, the police are only involved through default, the
case is Holmes he just needs some back up. This is one of the occasions when
Holmes is in charge of them. Holmes makes the rules and often gets the case
solved much quicker than the police would have on their own, and probably with
a different outcome. For, as he says himself When Ive spun the web, they may
take the flies, but not before (The Boscombe Valley Mystery) this shows that he
thinks that the police are incompetent and just not good enough to do the job
that they do.
Some say todays typical stereotype detective is derived from Sherlock Holmes.
The magnifying glass, the deer stalker hat, a tweed suit and deductive methods
that rival no other however, not all of this is true. Not once in all his books does
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle mention Holmes wearing a deer stalker or a tweed suit, I
think it is unfair on Holmes to say that he is the stereotyped detective.
The stories that we read only reveal half of Sherlock Holmes. His character is
much deeper than just a sleuth who almost never fails. He has spare time just
like the rest of us. In this spare time he likes to take cocaine, play the violin, go
to (often with Watson) violin recitals, and write monographs and small studies on
various subjects which are often useful in crime solving.
His cocaine habit is a mystery to some people; why did Conan Doyle choose to
make this famous and admirable detective a cocaine addict. I however, think the
answer is simple. Someone with a mind such as Holmes needs time to rest it. He
is forever solving mysteries through fantastic brain power and mind
manipulation. He is always observing every single detail Watson, you know my
method is founded upon observation of trifles (The Boscombe Valley Mystery),
Her was transformed when he was on a scent, face flushed, eyes shone out,
shoulders bowed (The Boscombe Valley Mystery), This shows he puts every
possible effort into his work, it is always at the very top of his priority list, he
never lets himself get distracted by women, love and rarely by any emotions at
all As a lover, he would have placed himself in a false position(A Scandal in
Bohemia) All emotions abhorrent to his cold, precise but admirably balanced
mind(A Scandal in Bohemia). So he always needs some time to switch off, taking
cocaine is his solution.
For someone who disproves of so many things, someone who (to start with)
appears almost grumpy, I would have thought that hed object to going to see or
Alex Jackson- English coursework- Sherlock Holmes: Sexist caricature or
Fascinating Sleuth?

Alex Jackson- English coursework- Sherlock Holmes: Sexist caricature or

Fascinating Sleuth?
be involved in any form of the arts, he is however quite content when he is
playing his violin or listening with his eyes closed to a violin recital And off to
violin land where all is sweetness (The Red Headed League), this really surprised
me that Conan Doyle chose to put this into Holmes spare time because it almost
doesnt seem appropriate for a detective of Holmes skill level to have any spare
time, let alone to go to lengthily recitals regularly.
He also spends time writing long (and probably very boring) monographs and
studies on various subjects just two include tobacco Ive written a little
monograph on the ashes of one hundred and forty different varieties of pipe,
cigar and cigarette tobacco (The Boscombe Valley Mystery) and tattoo marks I
have made a small study of tattoo marks and even contributed to the literature
of the subject (The Red Headed League). I find this a little sad, but as an
investigator of crime Im sure it proves very useful to have some knowledge of
these things.
Conan Doyle decides to tell the story from Watsons point of view. I think this is
one of the important features which makes Sherlock Holmess adventures so
readable. Watson offers us a point of view no one else can. Watson represents
the reader in the books; he doesnt understand Holmes methods of deduction
any more than we (the reader) do. That then gives Holmes an opportunity to
explain to Watson and us how he has managed to get to that conclusion. This
really does make the books more interesting to read, you get little comments
about Holmes or other characters from Watson and you also get a step by step
account which is good because the action often happens quite quickly.
At first Holmes seems like one of those people who hated failing; they always
have to win at everything but as the stories go on, you start to realise that he
isnt. He is in fact someone who admires victory even if it is not his own. He even
admires it if it is he who fails as a result of that victory. This is a characteristic
that I admire a lot in Holmes.
Holmes skills as a detective seem endless, you could real them off for hours but
a couple of examples are that hes a total perfectionist, That he should come to
me for help and I should send him away to his death. (The Five Orange Pips)
Watson you disappoint me, I never guess (The Five Orange Pips) he just cant
help it! He is also very precise in everything he does, It is quite a three pipe
problem, I beg that you dont speak to me for fifty minutes (The Red Headed
League) and after fifty minutes, low and behold he told Watson the solution to
the mystery. You know my method is founded upon the observation of trifles
(The Boscombe Valley Mystery) these show that he is always observing
everything. If I was Watson Id be an extremely self conscious man. He would
forever be looking you up and down taking in every tiny detail and adding them
to his detailed analysis of your person.
Maybe this is one of the things that keeps Holmes away from relationships with
people. Maybe he just doesnt like people, or maybe he has had a bad
experience in the past, or perhaps he just feels that it is easier to work alone,
than to rely on others who could easily let you down, especially others with a
lesser intellect than Holmes which, lets be honest is just about everyone! His
tall gaunt figure made even taller and even gaunter by his long, grey travelling
cloak and close- fitting cloth cap. (The Boscombe Valley Mystery) This is what
Holmes usually looks like, but to add to that wealth of detective skills, he is also
a master of disguise. There is one thing that never changes though, Transformed
Alex Jackson- English coursework- Sherlock Holmes: Sexist caricature or
Fascinating Sleuth?

Alex Jackson- English coursework- Sherlock Holmes: Sexist caricature or

Fascinating Sleuth?
when he was on a scent, face flushed, eyes shore out, shoulders bowed (The
Boscombe Valley Mystery) this is Holmes when hes on a trail, again, by his
posture it is obvious he is paying attention to every single detail around him.
So, in conclusion, I think that Holmes is just a fascinating sleuth. He has
interesting habits, pass times and characteristics. Hes an accomplished actor, a
master of disguise, a perfectionist, hes not afraid to break the law, he loves the
violin, the list goes on. Each characteristic more random than the last, hes
enigmatic and quick thinking, complicated and simple all at the same time but
then, I suppose thats just Sherlock Holmes.

Alex Jackson- English coursework- Sherlock Holmes: Sexist caricature or

Fascinating Sleuth?