O R I G I N A L V S M OV I E

SHERLOCK HOLMES

APPEARANCE

• Original• Watson describes Holmes as being “rather over six feet” tall

and “so excessively lean that he seemed to be considerably taller.”

• has a “cat-like love of personal cleanliness,” dressed in very traditional, conservative clothes for his time and was always impeccably neat

• Mid-twenties

• Movie• Robert Downey Jr.’s height is listed as 5′ 8½”• Unkempt, messy haired, scruffy faced detective• Middle aged

BEHAVIOR

• Original• A boxing prize-fighter• “I have some knowledge, however, of baritsu, or the

Japanese system of wrestling…”• Stayed ahead of the police because he was simply better

at deduction than they were

• Movie• Sherlock has every bit of deductive prowess as his

literary counterpart• Holmes uses martial arts techniques and also by his

propensity to engage in bare knuckle boxing• Hid evidence from police to stay ahead of them in solving

the case

PERSONALITY

• Original• No evidence of sensory overload (using complex riddles

to solve mysteries)• Use of cocaine – believed it stimulated his brain;

occasional user of morphine; tobacco user• Sheer joy that Holmes experienced when working on a

case• No relationship with Irene Adler; not interested in

romance

• Movie• Sensory overload; something of a tortured soul• Pipe smoker• most of his satisfaction comes from proving how smart he

is to those around him, not from actually finding the clues• Irene Adler – love interest

VICTORIAN CHARACTERISTICS

• Short works of fiction often appeared in periodicals• Scientific discoveries during the time; challenged

long-held beliefs; lot of new technologies changed the way people lived – bicycles, electric lights, automobiles, trains, telegraphs

• Manners (Holmes’ lack of); reputation (Watson)• Victorian age literature was often a reflection or a

response to historical events and social conditions

• Social inequality as a basis

DETECTIVE STORY / VICTORIAN BACKGROUND

Detective Story Victorian Background

Holmes – middle class; embodies almost all values of middle class; not rich

Social classes important; define themselves almost exclusively by occupation and status

Holmes has a rationalistic, deductive approach to life, using the tools of scientific inquiry

Victorians challenged established religion in favor of a more scientific, rationalistic, empirical approach to the world

Presence of crime (usually murder) in his adventures; always wins in the struggle; balance reestablished; moral message

People worried about increase in crime due to social problems (inequality, miserable work and life conditions); order and hierarchy must always be respected