One of the ways in which Holmes expresses his care for the Doctor is through his sole medium of emotional expressions -- by playing his violin. While there is little information in Watsons’ accounts regarding the emotional states of the detective (with the exception of his excitement over a new puzzle and the following bouts of saturnine moods when there are no cases to be solved), we can see that the detective often turns to his violin when pondering upon a case, or even when relaxing. Holmes’ mastery of a violin seems to be one of his most curious habits. Indeed, it seems as a quite non-sequitur quirk for a person who is focused solely on his work and perceives as important only those facts that can be useful to it. However, many times we
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Holmes often plays violin to help Watson unwind during stressful cases. After their first adventure together Holmes notes Watson’s fatigue and he plays the violin to relax him and put him to sleep (STUD 35). A similar occurrence takes place during the action of The Sign of Four: Holmes attempts to soothe his companion by playing the violin again. “Look here, Watson”, he says, ”you look regularly done. Lie down there on the sofa and see if I can put you to sleep” (144). In both cases Holmes takes care to ease the strain that his stressful profession creates for …show more content…
These were very remarkable, but as eccentric as all his other accomplishments. That he could play pieces, and difficult pieces, I knew well, because at my request he has played me some of Mendelssohn's Lieder, and other favourites. When left to himself, however, he would seldom produce any music or attempt any recognised air. Leaning back in his arm-chair of an evening, he would close his eyes and scrape carelessly at the fiddle which was thrown across his knee. Sometimes the chords were sonorous and melancholy. Occasionally they were fantastic and cheerful. Clearly they reflected the thoughts which possessed him, but whether the music aided those thoughts, or whether the playing was simply the result of a whim or fancy, was more than I could determine. I might have rebelled against these exasperating solos had it not been that he usually terminated them by playing in quick succession a whole series of my favourite airs as a slight compensation for the trial upon my patience. (STUD
Holmes often plays violin to help Watson unwind during stressful cases. After their first adventure together Holmes notes Watson’s fatigue and he plays the violin to relax him and put him to sleep (STUD 35). A similar occurrence takes place during the action of The Sign of Four: Holmes attempts to soothe his companion by playing the violin again. “Look here, Watson”, he says, ”you look regularly done. Lie down there on the sofa and see if I can put you to sleep” (144). In both cases Holmes takes care to ease the strain that his stressful profession creates for …show more content…
These were very remarkable, but as eccentric as all his other accomplishments. That he could play pieces, and difficult pieces, I knew well, because at my request he has played me some of Mendelssohn's Lieder, and other favourites. When left to himself, however, he would seldom produce any music or attempt any recognised air. Leaning back in his arm-chair of an evening, he would close his eyes and scrape carelessly at the fiddle which was thrown across his knee. Sometimes the chords were sonorous and melancholy. Occasionally they were fantastic and cheerful. Clearly they reflected the thoughts which possessed him, but whether the music aided those thoughts, or whether the playing was simply the result of a whim or fancy, was more than I could determine. I might have rebelled against these exasperating solos had it not been that he usually terminated them by playing in quick succession a whole series of my favourite airs as a slight compensation for the trial upon my patience. (STUD