Who is the Real Sherlock Holmes?

Who was the Real Sherlock Holmes?

Illustration of Sherlock Holmes by Sidney Paget in August 1893.  
Image retrieved from https://www.arthur-conan-doyle.com/index.php/Sherlock_Holmes.

The character and personality of Sherlock Holmes in the canon by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has been modified overtime in order to interest a more contemporary audience in its many adaptations.

The Real Sherlock Holmes:  Characteristics, Attire, and Personality Traits

Illustration of Sherlock Holmes by Sidney Paget (TWIS).  
Image retrieved from 
https://www.arthur-conan-doyle.com/index.php/Sherlock_Holmes

From the beginning in the first novel of Sherlock Holmes created by Doyle, "A Study in Scarlet," Sherlock Holmes has been described as a tall and thin middle class man who usually wears a top hat and a frock coat.  He treats his clients and persons-of-interest based upon their respectability according to common Victorian beliefs.

One example of this is Holmes's harsh and strong attitude towards Grimesby Roylott of Stoke Moran in "The Adventures of the Speckled Band."  In this short story, Roylott is depicted by Doyle in a feminine light.  When he returns to Stoke Moran from India, he allows Roma gypsies to hang around and is very short-tempered, specifically when he twisted the poker in the fireplace as a measure of strength in front of Holmes ("Speckled Band," 357).  

He also carries a walking stick, primarily for protection.  Because he gets so enthralled by solving his cases, he often forgets to eat and undergo normal hygiene practices during this time.  

Holmes's hands were "mottled over with similar pieces of plaster, and discoloured with strong acids" according to Dr. John Watson ("A Study in Scarlet," 8).

Even though Holmes is often categorized as being quick and witty, he has limited knowledge in many areas.  For example, Holmes failed to understand Watson's reference to the Copernican Theory of the Solar System where the sun is in the center of the solar system ("A Study in Scarlet," 11).

Information retrieved from Steven Doyle and David A. Crowder, Part 1:  Sherlock Holmes for Dummies.  Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis:  2010.  pp. 40.  Information also in "A Study in Scarlet" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, pp. 12-13. 

The Real Sherlock Holmes Compared to the BBC's Version of Sherlock Holmes

Image retrieved from
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/12/your-mind-works-more-sherlock-holmes-s-you-think.

One of the newest adaptations of the canonical version of Sherlock Holmes is the BBC's Sherlock.  From the first episode, "A Study in Pink," Holmes wears a dark, navy-colored scarf, a deer stalker hat, and an inverness coat.  Moreover, he rarely carries a walking stick.

Although there are obvious clothing differences, the BBC's version also changes the personality of the original canonical Holmes.  More specifically, in the "A Study in Pink" episode, the detectives of Scotland Yard make multiple mentions to Watson that Holmes gets some type of sexual stimulation from solving mysteries.

Furthermore, the BBC's version of Holmes seems to be more condescending towards others than in the canonical version.  Since the real Holmes followed Victorian morals, he mostly only became rude, cynical, and condescending towards those who did not follow traditional Victorian values.

Fortunately, the BBC's version did maintain certain aspects of the canonical version of Holmes, specifically with reference to Holmes's drug abuse.  In "A Study in Pink," the BBC shows a drug-bust of Holmes and Watson's flat.  This is in direct reference to the canonical novel The Sign of Four where Holmes drug abuse is revealed.

"Which is it to-day, morphine or cocaine?" asks Watson (The Sign of Four, 107).

A Few Quick Similarities and Differences  Between the Real Sherlock Holmes and the BBC's Adaptation
The Real Sherlock Holmes	Both	BBC’s Sherlock Holmes
Top hat	Tall (approx. 6 ft.) and thin	Deer stalker hat
Frock coat	Witty	Inverness coat
Carried a walking stick for protection	Drug addict	Did not regularly carry a walking stick
Solving mysteries as an extreme hobby and challenge	Great at disguises	Solving mysteries as a sexual stimulation

Word count:  498 words

Works cited

“A Study in Pink.” Sherlock. BBC 2010-2016.

Doyle, Arthur Conan. "A Study in Scarlet."  Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Novels and Stories Volume 1.  Bantam Books, New York:  1986. pp. 3-103.  

Doyle, Arthur Conan. “The Adventure of the Speckled Band.”  Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Novels and Stories Volume 1.  Bantam Books, New York:  1986. pp. 346-369. 

Doyle, Arthur Conan. “The Sign of Four.”  Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Novels and Stories Volume 1.  Bantam Books, New York:  1986. pp. 107-205. 

Doyle, Steven and Crowder, David A.  Part 1:  Sherlock Holmes for Dummies.  Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis:  2010.