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Wednesday, 28 February 2007 16:13 |
| John North
Editor & Publisher |
While last week I shared highlights of what I learned in a class on Sherlock Holmes, the worldís most popular fictional character, this week I will finish with an examination of why this denizen of 221-B Baker St. remains so popular.
That question especially is compelling because his creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, didnít like Holmes and eventually killed him off in ìThe Adventure of the Final Problem,î fearing that his detective stories (which eventually reached 60) might eclipse his more serious writings. After public and financial pressures began to mount, Conan Doyle brought back Holmes.
The
detectiveís continuing popularity is baffling also in light of his
character flaws and bad habits. For instance, he was rather pompous,
used drugs, seemed decidedly bipolar, showed an insensitivity toward
women and often mistreated his dearest friend, Dr. John H. Watson.
Yet, while the
indominatable Holmes was portrayed as a cold, distant genius, he
provided readers with an intriguing character study because of in his
occasional expressions of warmth and caring, particularly to Watson.
And how the
Holmes stories could be so popular when they are riddled with
contradictions? For instance, did Watson suffer a gunshot wound in
Afghanistan in the leg or shoulder? Two different stories differ on the
details.
As a matter of
literature, critics agree that the Holmes stories surely donít qualify
as the greatest. However, Conan Doyle was able to hook the reader on a
clever story.
Moreover, unlike
some other writers of his time, Conan Doyle made little use of dialect
in his Holmes stories kept them relatively short (all about 8,000 words
except for four novellas), included many illustrations and featured
vivid and succinct plot structures. All of the aforementioned probably
made them easier to read for a population that, in many cases, was just
gaining literacy.
Moreover, the
authorís proclivity to make fools of the police also probably pleased
the readers of his original works ó in the 19th century, police
officers generally were disliked and treated with little respect.
Another possible
explanation of Holmesí popularity is that readers savor the
Victorian-era background of the stories and the mystique of the time
and place ó a fog-shrouded, crime-infested London with carriages
clanking down the cobblestone streets.
Certainly, the
stories with their eccentric sleuth, whom people feel actually existed,
elicit strong feelings from readers. Watson, who is kind and friendly,
serves as a wecome counterbalance to Holmes. Most of us probably would
like to spend some time with them in their 221-B lair.
Holmesí passion
for his work is inspiring. He lived to solve his cases. Adding to the
excitement for the reader was a sense of urgency and the suspense in
Holmesí speech. Ultimately, itís no wonder to me that Holmes remains as
popular today as when he first appeared in 1887.
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