Who is Irene Adler?

Irene Adler is the woman.  She is the only person to ever successfully beat Sherlock Holmes.  She outwitted and out-tricked Holmes in the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "A Scandal in Bohemia."

Dr. Watson narrates, "To Sherlock Holmes she is always the woman. I have seldom heard him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses and predominates the whole of her sex" ("Bohemia," 209).

In the canon, Adler is an "adventuress" who has a photograph that could possibly be used to blackmail the king of Bohemia (Doyle and Crowder, 47).  Holmes's job for the case is to find and retrieve the photograph back to the king.  Because Holmes distrusts females in general, he did not take this case as seriously as he should have.

Holmes "used to make merry over the cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late.  And when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman" according to Watson ("Bohemia," 229). 

Paget, Sidney (1891)
"Good-night, Mr. Sherlock Holmes"
Image from:  http://www.victorianweb.org
/art/illustration/pagets/9.html

Adler portrays Holmes's ignorance of Victorian women.  Before being beaten by Adler, Holmes is distrustful of all Victorian women as a result of the female sex being looked at as inferior and weaker than the male sex.  As a result of this idea, Holmes made many assumptions that allowed Adler to outwit him.  For example, Holmes assumed that Adler would be sleeping at 8 a.m. which would allow Holmes, Watson, and the king to retrieve the photograph without Adler even being present.  Unfortunately for Holmes, Adler had left with her new husband, and lawyer, Mr. Godfrey Norton on a train at 5:15 a.m. that morning from Charing Cross to the European continent ("Bohemia," 226-228).  In fact, Adler had even disguised herself as a man and followed Holmes to 221B Baker Street after Holmes had called "Fire!" in her house ("Bohemia," 225).

In the canon, Adler intellectually outwitted Holmes.  The adaptations of Holmes have not shown this aspect.  Instead, the adaptations have given Adler a very sexual, feminine, and weak role.  Examples of two adaptations where this occurs is discussed below.

• In the first episode of the second season "A Scandal in Belgravia" in the BBC's Sherlock, Holmes first meets Adler naked.  Although Holmes cannot read Adler in the beginning as a result of her not wearing any clothing, this director's choice shows that Adler uses her body for power, something very feminine to do.  Adler's attempt to sexually persuade is depicted in this short video Who is She? (BBC's Sherlock).
• In the 2009 film Sherlock Holmes starring Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law, Adler wakes up on the bridge with handcuffs on, signifying that Holmes has beaten her.  Then, she admits to aiding Moriarty because physically involved with him.  Watch this scene using this short video Holmes/Adler Bridge Scene.

More examples of Adler's feminine role in these two adaptations are outlined below.

BBC’s Sherlock “A Scandal in Belgravia”	Feminine Characteristic	Sherlock Holmes 2009 film
The code to get into Adler’s cellphone is “SHER.”  Her cellphone then displays, “I AM SHER-LOCKED.”  This emotional love for Holmes is depicted even further with Holmes mentioning that her pulse intensifies greatly when getting close to him.	Adler beats Holmes as a result of her emotions.	Adler admits to helping Moriarty because she has a physical (most likely sexual) relationship with Moriarty.  Furthermore, it is suggested that Holmes and Adler have sexual relations with one another.
Adler is a dominatrix.  She is professionally and publicly known as “the Woman.”	Adler seeks power by using her body.	Adler uses her body to get Holmes to drink poison.  He wakes up handcuffed to a bed.
Holmes helps Adler solve the case of a man being killed in a field next to a highway by a boomerang.	Adler lacks independence.	Adler works with Moriarty.  She helps steal a piece of the machine that Lord Blackwood is using to kill all the members of Parliament who are against him.

Holmes successfully unlocks Adler's cellphone.
Image from:  http://thenorwoodbuilder.tumblr.com/
post/51715019733/i-am-sher-locked-so-bad-its-good

Holmes unable to read Adler as a result of her nudity.
Image from:  http://bakerstreetbabes.com/wp-
content/uploads/2014/05/irene3.png

Word count:  488 words (excluding title, picture captions, and table)

Works cited

“A Scandal in Belgravia.”  Season 2 of Sherlock.  BBC 2010-2016.

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

Doyle, Arthur Conan. “A Scandal in Bohemia.”  Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Novels and Stories Volume 1.  Bantam Books, New York:  1986.  pp. 209-229.

Sherlock Holmes.  Directed by Guy Richie, performances by Robert Downey, Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong, and Eddie Marsan, Warner Brothers, 2009.

The Lost Sherlockian.  "Who is She? - Sherlock:  The relationship between Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler in 'A Scandal in Belgravia'." 15 Aug., 2016. https://youtu.be/7LpRA-kGJHU.

The Deductive Duo: Holmes and Watson

Illustration by Sidney Paget.
Image from:  https://i.pinimg.com/736x/ef/29/a9
/ef29a9145da7fcba9a719190541369da.jpg

In Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's canon, Sherlock Holmes, the world's only private consulting detective, and Dr. John Watson, a former surgeon in the British army, are paired together to fight crime in Europe, predominantly London, England.

Throughout the canon, Holmes and Watson are very loyal to each other.  This is as a result of a bond surrounding by danger and risk, seeking thrill.  The pair is focused on solving the case, and Watson is intrigued by, and almost obsessed with, Holmes's amazing detective skills as well as use of disguise.  This is shown in Watson's elaborate examinations of Holmes's disguises in the canon.

A short time after moving in with Holmes, Watson writes, "As the weeks went by, my interest in him and my curiosity as to his aims in life gradually deepened and increased" (A Study in Scarlet, 10).

Image from:  https://cartermatt.com/wp-content
/uploads/2015/11/Holmes-and-watson.png

In Elementary, the character that is supposed to act as Watson is actually a woman, Ms. Joan Watson.  The fact that Watson is a female changes the relationship between herself and Holmes.  Because Watson is female, there are questions regarding whether Watson and Holmes eventually end up in a heterosexual relationship with each other (but... you'll have to watch the series in order to find out!).

Extra Tidbit #1:  Joan Watson is a former surgeon who lost her medical license for malpractice when one of her patients died under her care, as alluded to in the second episode of the first season of Elementary.

Moreover, Elementary poses an interesting power dynamic between the two characters.  More specifically, in the first episode, Watson begins work as Holmes's "sober companion" in order to make sure that Holmes stays sober after leaving a drug rehabilitation center.  In this case, it is Watson's job to maintain some control over Holmes whereas, in the canon, Watson is definitely Holmes's sidekick.

Extra Tidbit #2:  Even though it is clear that Holmes deems women, other than the woman Irene Adler, of course, as inferior, Holmes does apologize to her multiple times throughout the first and second episodes.  His apologizes depicts that he does understand when he reaches past his role in the relationship.  For example, in the second episode of Elementary, Holmes apologizes for texting Watson's ex-boyfriend to meet for dinner one evening.

Furthermore, Holmes gives Watson more of a leading role in the cases that they solve together.  For example, in the second episode of Elementary, Holmes leaves Watson alone with a woman to ask about her romantic relationship after Holmes makes a scene, and Watson discovers necessary information for the case without Holmes.  It is interesting here because Holmes has allowed Watson to be "on his own" to an extent before in the canon in The Hound of the Baskervilles.

Image from:  http://cdn.images.express.co.uk/

img/dynamic/79/590x/17708412-492935.jpg

Another adaptation that depicts an interesting dynamic between the two characters is in the BBC's Sherlock.  In this adaptation from the canon, the loyalty of Watson is deliberately shown.  For example, at the end of "A Study in Pink," Watson shoots and kills the murderous cabbie who was talking to people and making them choose which pill to take, a deadly one or a benign one.  And, the crazy thing is... it's the first episode of the first season when Watson does this!

The BBC's Sherlock highlights the risk-taking personality of the pair.  To get a quick glimpse of the intriguing relationship between Watson and Holmes, watch this video:  BBC's Sherlock - Benedict Cumberbatch on Holmes and Watson's Relationship.

Extra Tidbit #3:  Yes; it is true that Watson sees Holmes and his quick, almost-supernatural observation skills as "extraordinary" and "amazing," as stated in "A Study in Pink."  Yet, even though Watson is enamored by Holmes's intelligence in his craft, Holmes needs Watson in the same way that Watson needs Holmes - the thrill.  For Holmes, the want of the thrill is shown by his sheer excitement over a case.  For example, in "The Great Game" when he is solving cases against Professor Moriarty.  For Watson, the thrill is in helping and/or following Holmes throughout a case.  This want to find thrill was depicted front and center with his impatient waiting for Holmes to ask him with their first case in "A Study in Pink."

Just for fun:  Watch this video on the differences between the pair with regards to the two adaptations discussed, Elementary and the BBC's Sherlock, BBC's Sherlock v. Elementary - Holmes/Watson Relationship.



Word count:  495 words (excluding the title, extra tidbits, and works cited)

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

"Benedict Cumberbatch:  Sherlock and Watson - Sherlock - BBC One."  BBC, 3 Aug. 2010.  https://youtu.be/LcqnkZ_pN7Q.

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

"Pilot."  Elementary.  CBS 2013.

"Sherlock or Elementary.  Sherlock/Watson or Sherlock/Watson.  Which team are you on."  The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes.  GreysALIASAntatomy, 22 Nov. 2013.

“The Great Game.”  Sherlock.  BBC 2010-2016.

"While You Were Sleeping."  Elementary.  CBS 2013.

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.