Irene Adler: The Unexpected Victor
In Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “A Scandal In Bohemia,” one of the first things mentioned is Sherlock Holmes’ lasting impression of Irene Adler. It becomes clear to the reader within the first few sentences of this short story that Sherlock Holmes was captivated by this mysterious woman. It is not until the end of the story that the reader learns why Holmes, who formerly seemed to mostly disregard the opposite sex, was so enamored with this particular woman. Sherlock Holmes is regarded as a highly intelligent and logical character, but he seems to lack interest in romantic relationships and emotional bearings. At the time of this story’s conception, it is not uncommon knowledge that women were not exactly regarded …show more content…
Not only does the King seem completely apathetic towards Adler’s privacy, but he also treats his fiancée with the same apathy. He will go to forceful measures to protect his own authority, while Adler stands her ground and remains adamant about revealing their affair. This is courageous of Adler because not only would it affect the King negatively, but her as well. A woman in that era was expected to uphold a certain level of purity, and if it were known that she was fraternizing with the Crown Prince of Bohemia, her own reputation could have potentially been defamed. Despite all of the potential risks that come with revealing not only the King but herself, she still keeps the photograph in her possession with the intention of using it. This kind of daring behavior was perhaps one of the reasons that Holmes had become infatuated with …show more content…
While Holmes figured they were in the clear and the plan was surely going to be executed, he did not take into account the King’s first warning about Adler’s “soul of steel” and “resolute mind”. Adler successfully kept the photograph in her possession after her stealthy getaway, and reveals that she quickly figured out who Holmes was after his staged incident. She also proves herself to be resourceful, disguising herself and following Holmes to his residence to make sure it was really him. After verifying his identity, she then says goodnight to him, her identity unbeknownst to him. After Holmes reads her letter and realizes that he has been thwarted, he gains a new respect for Adler, and possibly for
In Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “A Scandal In Bohemia,” one of the first things mentioned is Sherlock Holmes’ lasting impression of Irene Adler. It becomes clear to the reader within the first few sentences of this short story that Sherlock Holmes was captivated by this mysterious woman. It is not until the end of the story that the reader learns why Holmes, who formerly seemed to mostly disregard the opposite sex, was so enamored with this particular woman. Sherlock Holmes is regarded as a highly intelligent and logical character, but he seems to lack interest in romantic relationships and emotional bearings. At the time of this story’s conception, it is not uncommon knowledge that women were not exactly regarded …show more content…
Not only does the King seem completely apathetic towards Adler’s privacy, but he also treats his fiancée with the same apathy. He will go to forceful measures to protect his own authority, while Adler stands her ground and remains adamant about revealing their affair. This is courageous of Adler because not only would it affect the King negatively, but her as well. A woman in that era was expected to uphold a certain level of purity, and if it were known that she was fraternizing with the Crown Prince of Bohemia, her own reputation could have potentially been defamed. Despite all of the potential risks that come with revealing not only the King but herself, she still keeps the photograph in her possession with the intention of using it. This kind of daring behavior was perhaps one of the reasons that Holmes had become infatuated with …show more content…
While Holmes figured they were in the clear and the plan was surely going to be executed, he did not take into account the King’s first warning about Adler’s “soul of steel” and “resolute mind”. Adler successfully kept the photograph in her possession after her stealthy getaway, and reveals that she quickly figured out who Holmes was after his staged incident. She also proves herself to be resourceful, disguising herself and following Holmes to his residence to make sure it was really him. After verifying his identity, she then says goodnight to him, her identity unbeknownst to him. After Holmes reads her letter and realizes that he has been thwarted, he gains a new respect for Adler, and possibly for