Detective stories are one of the most complicated genres there are. With a good detective story comes many aspects: a good crime, a thorough investigation, some red herrings to throw the reader off, and a lot of action. But, most of all, detective stories need a good and qualified detective at the helm. Easily the most famous of all detectives in the genre and possibly the world is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. Being the most enduring character of detective stories, he is known for having “an obsessive personality.” Two traits of many, placidity and arrogance, come together to define Sherlock Holmes an enduring character. A first reason Holmes is a loved character is due to his impassivity. In “The Adventure of the Speckled
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In “The Adventure of the Speckled Band,” as Holmes and Watson are planning the investigation, Holmes throws a plethora of fear and suspense on Watson. “‘The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may depend on your compliance’” (Doyle, The Adventure of the Speckled Band 14). Even though he causes paranoia in Watson, Holmes remains unchanged by the threat that is to come. After hunting out in Helen’s room for hours on end, there is a tiny sound, like a jet stream from a kettle. Holmes quickly strikes a match and beats at the bell-pull with his cane. At this moment, Watson was dumbfounded and could not tell what Holmes “lashed so savagely” at (Doyle, The Adventure of the Speckled Band 18). Here, just like Watson, the reader is shocked and confused as to what just occurred. Then, without describing to Watson anything, Holmes cooly states “Take your pistol, and we will enter Dr. Roylott’s room” (Doyle, The Adventure of the Speckled Band 18). In many circumstances, after going through a traumatic event, one needs to take a few moments before returning to reality. In contrast, Holmes quickly and collectively moves on and travels to Dr. Roylott’s room. In “The Adventure of the Speckled Band,” Holmes’s ability to diffuse such a calm energy in a time of mere crisis causes generations of readers to grow fond of
In “The Adventure of the Speckled Band,” as Holmes and Watson are planning the investigation, Holmes throws a plethora of fear and suspense on Watson. “‘The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may depend on your compliance’” (Doyle, The Adventure of the Speckled Band 14). Even though he causes paranoia in Watson, Holmes remains unchanged by the threat that is to come. After hunting out in Helen’s room for hours on end, there is a tiny sound, like a jet stream from a kettle. Holmes quickly strikes a match and beats at the bell-pull with his cane. At this moment, Watson was dumbfounded and could not tell what Holmes “lashed so savagely” at (Doyle, The Adventure of the Speckled Band 18). Here, just like Watson, the reader is shocked and confused as to what just occurred. Then, without describing to Watson anything, Holmes cooly states “Take your pistol, and we will enter Dr. Roylott’s room” (Doyle, The Adventure of the Speckled Band 18). In many circumstances, after going through a traumatic event, one needs to take a few moments before returning to reality. In contrast, Holmes quickly and collectively moves on and travels to Dr. Roylott’s room. In “The Adventure of the Speckled Band,” Holmes’s ability to diffuse such a calm energy in a time of mere crisis causes generations of readers to grow fond of