Introduction

The character of Sherlock Holmes needs no introduction. He is the most famous detective in the
world and almost everyone knows who he is. Which is why I decided to base a character analysis
on this phenomenon. However, doing so has been a tedious task. Nevertheless, this article contains
certain perspectives about the character which I deduced and hold as personal opinions and I have
tried to verify and validate it to my utmost possibilities. However, as the reader goes through this
article they may come across certain concepts which they either agree or disagree too. Therefore,
I would like to inform that this is but a single perspective regarding an extraordinarily complex
character. Various other perspectives and concepts can be and are derived from the character of
Sherlock Holmes. Thus, this specific article strives to deliver my perspective.

Hence, for the purpose of elucidation, this article has been divided into the following sections:
1. Sherlock Holmes and the ‘brain-attic’
2. Sherlock Holmes and ‘deduction skills’
3. Sherlock Holmes and John Watson
4. Sherlock Holmes and ‘boredom’

The character of Sherlock Holmes is very intricately woven with quite a few layers of complexities
to which each individual reader relates differently, which is why it has continually charmed and
entertained readers for more than a decade. As much as it appears to be human rather than fictional,
there are a few more peculiarities about this character which makes it stand out amongst all the
others; discerning all of which is perhaps next to impossible. However, as mentioned above, this
article will try and break down the character of Sherlock Holmes so that we can begin to
comprehend the artistry with which Sir Arthur Conan Doyle pieced his character together.
Sherlock Holmes and the ‘brain-attic’:

To begin with, Sherlock Holmes most famous ‘brain-attic’ – a place which he has masterfully
designed and stored with information – or furniture, as he would put it – which may come in handy
to him in his profession as a consulting detective. The theorizing and implicating of this
magnificent project into real life is no small feat – we as readers realize that. Which helps us
fathom the intellectual capabilities of the character of Sherlock Holmes. He is not just ‘smart’, or
‘brilliant’, or a ‘genius’, he is above them all. He has equipped himself with knowledge in almost
every field, especially in chemistry and yet he is not a scientist and neither a doctor. Out of all the
professions in the world – any of which he would have excelled in – he chose to formulate his own
profession: a consulting detective.

What does this tell us, the readers, about this character? That he is cocky, perhaps? As Doctor John
Watson informs his readers repeatedly that Holmes was egoistic. And so he is. He is the kind of
person who would want to ‘stand out’ amongst all the others. He wouldn’t want to be numbered
or referred to as any other ‘normal human being’ but rather an ‘extra ordinary human being’. He
possess this tendency right from the start of the novel ‘A Study in Scarlet’ and throughout the short
stories and novels to come. A simple example of this would be the time when Sherlock refrained
himself from explaining to John his reasons for believing that the case was already solved and that
he had all the facts he needed until the very end of the story in the novel ‘The Hound of Baskerville’.

Likewise, through understanding his execution of ‘brain-attic’ we can also infer how organized
Holmes might be if he were truly a real person. Because storing all of that knowledge and
compartmentalizing accordingly is a very egregious job which requires profound organization
skills. The fact that Holmes was successful at achieving this feat alludes the readers into believing
that he would have been just as organized in real life as he was with his ‘brain-attic’ – however,
in the stories he is quite the opposite. Also, just as careful and picky; as he stored only that which
he deemed useful and discarded the rest. Anything which he deems unimportant is supposed to be
‘forgotten immediately’ so that there is more space for storing that which is important. This points
towards his sense of importance.

Moreover, as we begin to know the character more and more we realize what this cockiness and
egotism does for Holmes: it renders him friendless. As readers we completely contemplate why
that is, which is one of the most amazing factor about this character that he is so real that we can
actually understand its qualities and judge it accordingly. No person would want to be friends with
someone who is as proud, egoistic and uncaring as Holmes – it would drive anyone mad! And it
drives Watson mad several times on numerous occasions. However, the fact that Watson sticks
with him for such a long period of time, again, says something about our egoistic character, whom
at first seems devoid of sentiments and the human touch. What it says is that overtime, without a
doubt, Holmes develops feelings for his companion. He becomes his friend – best friend – someone
who he can count upon, someone who he knows will always have his back. Moreover, both of
them also share this hunger and thirst for adventure instilled within them which is why at each
adventure, each case, each new homicide both of them seem as excited, enthusiastic and curious
as the other. Hence, making them two of the most compatible partners in the history of detective
partners.

Sherlock Holmes and ‘deduction’ skills:

Moving on, secondly – and probably the most obvious – Holmes’s ‘deduction’ skills. These skills
are weaved into Holmes with such proximities that no other human being has ever been capable
of similar deduction as per his caliber – except for his brother Mycroft. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s
biggest and most remarkable achievement – in my opinion – for his famed character comes through
his skills of deduction.

However, how does this prominent attribute portray this character to us? It exemplifies to the
readers that he is a ‘logician’, which means he is practical and sensible to the very core. Anything
which would be characterized as nuisance or illogical would seem improbable to Holmes.
Moreover, it also suggests that he is a very keen observer, as he puts it in his own words: “you see
but you do not observe.” He has honed his observing skills to the zenith and uses his acquired
knowledge on numerous subjects in order to deduce and gather reasonable and logical conclusions.
This again suggests that his brain has been trained to think and process information logically and
to disregard that which defies logic. This perspective explains to the readers a lot about Holmes’s
psychology and how he might have trained his brain to work accordingly.

Furthermore, this explanation could expound the reasons for his disregard for human sentiment. It
is because sentiment defies logic. Since Holmes’s brain is wired to accept that which is according
to logic only, his brain is incapable of understanding or registering human sentiment; which is why
he does not have any friends and does not seem to care that he doesn’t have friends. Which is also
the reason why he takes such pleasure in even the most horrible of cases which induces fear and
horror into its victims and turns their lives upside down.

This can be further understood through his own words: “But love is an emotional thing, and
whatever is emotional is opposed to that true cold reason which I place above all things. I should
never marry myself lest I bias my judgment”. This explains that anything other than dispassionate
objectivity purged of the personal was less than what Holmes aspired to. He prided himself in
having no prejudices and of following docilely wherever facts may lead. His approach permeated
his whole approach to life. Which is why he declares that he shall never marry himself.

Sherlock Holmes and John Watson:

The friendship of Holmes and Watson is more of a brotherhood; both of them soon find it difficult
to live without the other because they have grown so used to each other. In this context, through
analyzing the character of John Watson we, the readers, can grasp a better understanding of
Sherlock Holmes’s character – atleast one aspect of his character. This is because no one knows
Holmes better than Watson, and since he is the one narrating their adventures it seems very fitting
to understand Holmes’s character through Watson’s formulated perspectives about him.

Firstly, we know that Watson thinks of Holmes as egoistic, too smart, show off, and a machine.
As he writes in his own words trying to explain the enigma which is Sherlock Holmes: “He was, I
take it, the most perfect reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen”. Besides that,
as readers delve into the relationship between these two beings, they realize that both of them hold
immense gratitude and reverence for each other. Watson envies Holmes’s arsenal of deductive
reasoning while Holmes envies – even though he barely vocalizes it – Watson’s companionship
and his never altering friendship. This alludes towards reasoning that Holmes is, in fact, capable
of human sentiment. That in his brain-attic there somewhere lies a minute essence of human
sentiment which reacts vigorously in accordance to Watson and his friendship.

Moreover, through their companionship we, the readers, also discern that Holmes is very loyal and
an honorable man. He honor’s his friendship with Watson very much, risking his life for him on
numerous occasions. This also suggests that Sherlock Holmes – who was first incapable of making
any friends – later on develops an abiding relationship with John Watson; a relationship which he
would never risk for anything in the world because he values it too much. This as a result gives us
an important insight into what Holmes deems most valuable in his life, besides his work and cases.
One can ascertain that because of his relationship with John Watson Sherlock Holmes evolves into
a better man – perhaps the best version of himself; as Watson too states towards the ending of ‘His
Last Vow’ that Holmes was one of the greatest ma he ever knew. Hence, we can then comprehend
how John Watson, his companionship and friendship were an important tool in order for Sherlock
Holmes to become the best of himself. Thus, illustrating the importance of their friendship for both
of them, as Watson found a best friend himself with whom he lived numerous breathtaking
adventures which he would never forget.

Sherlock Holmes and ‘boredom’:

Anyone and everyone who knows Sherlock Holmes knows this simple fact that he disdain’s
boredom. He feels repelled by it. His brain needs to be stimulated the whole time. If not then he
becomes restless.

What does this say about his psychological condition? That he constantly needs to work. Since his
brain is a receptacle of such vast amounts of knowledge he constantly needs to use it for something
or the other, or else he would soon lose his mind. In contemporary terms, this would be classified
under a psychological disease.

The question is, then, that how does a psychologically ill person become such a great detective?
The answer is simple. It is because he made it a part of his life, a part of himself; solving puzzles,
solving cases, constantly working at one thing or the other, striving to unravel some sort of mystery
every day. That is what makes Sherlock Holmes who he is, that is what makes him tick.

Another thing which we can discern is that Sherlock Holmes fear’s boredom. He dreads it – almost
like a kid who dreads monsters. It is because his brain is wired that way. It has a certain system
through which it works and boredom or idleness is hazardous for that system.

Likewise, due to his fear of boredom, Sherlock Holmes has a motive to work, actually work, for
his cases. Because he knows that these cases are all he has to subside his boredom by stimulating
his mind.

Moreover, this perspective could also explain why he chose the profession of a consulting detective
rather than being a doctor or an industrialist. It is because he was aware of the fact that those other
jobs and professions wouldn’t be able to simulate him and his brain in the manner in which the
profession of a consulting detective would. He was aware that being a doctor offered no sort of a
challenge or a puzzle. However, being able to solve crimes committed by human beings, each
yielding different psychological opinions and justification of their acts, was a lot more challenging
and stimulating.
 Conclusion

Sherlock Holmes is a highly complex character. I don’t think that anyone, besides his creator, will
ever fully understand him – which is what makes him even more interesting. Even then, it is no
secret that by understanding characters we can better understand human beings, because human’s
are the ones who create these characters and in doing so they carve out a part of themselves, a part
of their consciousness, and induce it within them so that they feel realistic and alive. Sherlock
Holmes is a very prominent example of this theory. Mainly because it hasn’t ceased to intrigue
audiences even after all these years, and at some point in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s life he was
asked whether he had based this character of his on an actual human being.

Therefore, I think that understanding characters is of great importance. They provide us with a
whiff of psychological trance which we wouldn’t otherwise be able to receive from a normal
human being. Again, Sherlock Holmes is a prominent example of this and elucidated above.

Hence, I would urge the students of English Literature to better analyze and understand this
character so that they can themselves understand the nature of human beings better through it,
which will ultimately help them understand literature, nature, and life better.