Sherlock Holmes

In Arthur Conan Doyle’s short story, “The Speckled Band,” Sherlock Holmes helps a lady named Helen Stoner investigate the death of her sister, and possibly her own. Her sister died of a reported heart attack though Helen doubts it because she died while saying “The Speckled Band.” The sisters’ uncle, Dr. Roylott has a part of the family fortune given to him by Helen, though half of it will go her husband if she is to marry. Dr. Roylott is a disturbed man who owns animals from India and lets them roam freely in the yard. Throughout this story, Sherlock Holmes proves himself to be brave and kind. Holmes’ bravery shine through from his actions as he solves this case. When Dr. Roylott burst into Holmes’ office after his interview with Helen and introduces himself, he blandly says “‘Indeed, Doctor,’… ‘Pray to take a seat’”. Sherlock Holmes is in no way intimidated or scared by Dr. Roylott even though he is a big man with eyes “marked with every evil passion”. This show of bravery is not Holmes’ last. Later, when Watson and Holmes’ are waiting to enter Helen’s room and stay for the night as part of their investigation, he tells his companion, “there is a distinct element of danger”. He goes on to enter the room and stay for hours in pitch black darkness. Holmes’ bravery allows him to do things for the case that many would not, even when his life may be in danger. For example he is staying in a black room where no one would want to stay even without danger. As Holmes and Watson are approaching the room that night, they see “what seemed to be a hideous and distorted child.

Holmes was for a moment startled… Then he broke into a low laugh and put his lips to my ear… That is the baboon”. The courage that Holmes has allows him to keep his wits and not fret when he is surprised or scared. The fact that he can keep his cool allows him to connect the dots to understand what he saw like in this case. Holmes’ bravery is necessary to his profession which he demonstrates often Sherlock Holmes is a kind man to his companion and his clients. He is a “late riser”, however when Mrs. Stoner comes early that morning, he happily rises to assist her. His willingness to change his habits for a client, who won’t even pay him, is an example of a kindness he gives throughout the story. When Mrs. Stoner enters his office, she is trembling with terror so he tells her soothingly, “you must not fear”. Even when he has no reason to be kind, he defaults to kindness, when he could be angry that he was awakened from his sleep. Helen was referred to Sherlock Holmes by a friend, so he tells her “I shall be happy to devote the same care to you as I did to your friend”. Sherlock only charges his clients for the expenses he uses during the investigation, so no hourly rate because his “profession is its own reward”. If Sherlock Holmes does not charge even though he helps then he must find his own living elsewhere so he works purely out of kindness for his clients Sherlock’s kindness helps him be a great detective because it is his kindness that makes him brave enough to put himself in danger for others. Holmes’ courage and selflessness allow him to be the great detective he is. His bravery allows him to solve crimes such as this one, and his selflessness boosts his bravery even further. Bravery and selflessness don’t just make good detectives though, they make good people willing to help others.

Sherlock Holmes different methods of solving crimes The detective genre is prominently one of the most popular forms of literature. When the detective subject arises in conversation, one is quick to think of the original and typical detective profile, imagining a man in a plaid coat, brown hat and a large magnifying glass pressed against his face, sniffing out clues and making rather large assumptions in regard to his mystery at hand. Although the description above would describe your classic, ordinary detective, Arthur Conan Doyle shows a much different perspective of the detective genre in “A Study in Scarlet”.

Detective Sherlock Holmes does in fact have some very strong similarities to the characteristics shown in previous detective stories though shows a different personality and a stylized method to solving his mysteries. Doyle depicts Sherlock Holmes’s style of solving crimes through his methods, ability to observe, and his use of vocabulary. Sherlock Holmes is undeniably one of the most interesting detective characters. Although the story line is already made to be a complex mystery, Doyle emphasizes the story more by defining and exemplifying the character of Sherlock Holmes.

Sherlock has a very distinctive personality, and Doyle does an excellent job of showing his different reactions in the various situations he is presented with. When carefully analyzing Holmes character in different situations, he shows how he uses his techniques and special abilities that enable him to solve his mysteries. Doyle makes Holmes inquiry very notable by giving him and very large and witty vocabulary. Holmes is very clever and likes to show superiority above the people around him. When he speaks he makes sure to be swift, precise, and very clear about what he is trying to relate.

The language he uses is large and makes others around him feel beneath him. Holmes is very clear on what his observations are and makes certain the people around him know he is intelligent and correct in his interpretations of the crime scene. Sherlock Holmes shows his superiority when he is observing a scene, he states to his surrounding audience that, “by his coat-sleeve, by his boots… by the callosities of his forefinger and thumb” Holmes shows that his observations are quick, obvious and to his knowledge and flawless; any idiot could recognize these interpretations (Doyle).

After showing his skill in recognizing the apparent, he goes on to say “That all united should fail to enlighten the competent inquirer in any case is almost inconceivable. You know that a conjurer gets no credit when once he has explained his trick; and if I show you too much of my method of working, you will come to the conclusion that I am a very ordinary individual after all” telling his coworkers and surrounding audience that his method works, it always works and others will soon learn that he is the best in the business and will continue to be so (Doyle).

Holmes uses his large vocabulary to confuse and befuddle his peers, showing his superiority, making them feel small and incompetent. Holmes has a very high self-esteem and his intelligence is astounding and although he knows very well of what he is doing, he acts oblivious to his own actions. Holmes has a very powerful skill for observation in the account of any situation he is placed in. Doyle shows how intelligent Sherlock is when she describes his ability to observe scenes and details that a regular person would never perceive. He is able to analyze evidence and draw conclusions and inferences from them.

When Holmes first meets Watson he is very quick to analyze him. Sherlock is introduced to Watson and asks him, “How are you…You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive. ” And Watson replies to him in astonishment “How on earth did you know that? ”(Doyle). Watson is astonished at Sherlock’s quick and accurate assumption and impeccable observation. Holmes has not done any research on Watson, and even though this is the first time he has ever seen or spoken to Watson in his entire life, Holmes finds observing people almost as easy as breathing.

He doesn’t need to stop to think about it anymore, his observational abilities come naturally and without effort. His mind works in a different manner then normal detectives finding it easy to notice and observe the people who are brought in his presence. “Quite so. I have a kind of intuition that way. Now and again a case turns up which is a little more complex. Then I have to bustle about and see things with my own eyes. You see I have a lot of special knowledge which I apply to the problem, and which facilities matter wonderfully.

Those rules of deduction laid down in that article which aroused your scorn, are invaluable to me in practical work. Observation with me is second nature” (Doyle). Holmes is a consulting detective and in this statement to Watson he shows his reasons and theories of working. Sherlock has a remarkable sense of observation in any type of case he is given. Whether there is a mystery to be solved for a regular citizen or for the government and law, Holmes has the ability to observe situations and easily see what the situation has in store for him.

Holmes has a very strict method of working and because of his methods; he is successful at his occupation. The methods he uses are foreign to others in the detective business therefore his intelligence outshines his opponents. His powers of observation and his procedures are even influential to others because of how astonished peers seem to be of his abilities. Doyle gives Sherlock Holmes a sense of language that is very metaphorical.

When Sherlock is trying to make a point, explain a thought process, or try and make his coworkers and surrounding peers feel incompetent to his knowledge, he uses a wide range of metaphors and phrases. When speaking about a murder he compares the mystery to that of a “scarlet thread of murder running through the colorless skein of life, and [their] duty is to unravel it, and isolate it, and expose every inch of it” (Doyle). Doyle gives Sherlock this very precise yet large range of metaphorical expressions when he is talking about his work.

The way he describes the murder is very clear although almost brilliant. He exemplifies his methods of solving mysteries through a metaphor to try and explain to others how the murder mystery should go about being solved. Although there are many strings all raveled together in one thread, Sherlock plans to single handedly one by one remove those strings and narrow it down to one, to expose it, isolate it and execute it, all to move on to the next crime. Not only does Sherlock use his metaphors to explain his method of work but also to make others feel beneath him, as he always does.

Holmes knows his capabilities and is aware of his genius mind and thought processes. When talking to Watson he says “I consider that a man’s brain originally is like a little empty attic, and you have to stock it with such furniture as you choose. A fool takes in all the lumber of every sort that he comes across, so that the knowledge which might be useful to him gets crowded out, or at best is jumbled up with a lot of other things, so that he has a difficulty in laying his hands upon it.

Now the skillful workman is very careful indeed as to what he takes into his brain-attic. He will have nothing but the tools which may help him in doing his work, but of these he has a large assortment, and all in the most perfect order. It is a mistake to think that that little room has elastic walls and can distend to any extent. Depend upon it – there comes a time when for every addition of knowledge you forget something that you knew before. It is of the highest importance, therefore, not to have useless facts elbowing out the useful ones” (Doyle).

Holmes, in his metaphorical terms, lets Watson see into his mind and how it works compared to others while still making him feel incompetent to his coworker. In Sherlock’s mind, he explains that he only acquires the precise and important information that he will need all his life. The information that he stores in his brain is exactly where he put it, organized and easily accessed while typical human beings, “fools” he calls them, simply gather anything and everything they can find to jumble it into their small minds.

When it comes times to find the information they are seeking they have a hard time, typically because they don’t know where to find it. Holmes thinks in a different way, only gathering the information that he finds absolutely necessary and easily accessible to help him be swift, flawless, accurate, and faster than anyone else he comes in counter against. Working this way helps Holmes to solve his mysteries faster leaving his peers with astonished and dumbfounded looks on their faces. Holmes has many methods of solving crimes, although working backwards seems to be one that benefits him sufficiently.

Sherlock likes to perform his work in a different manner than most others. He seems to see what others do and perform the exact opposite. Holmes exclaims “In solving a problem of this sort, the grand thing is to be able to reason backwards. That is a very useful accomplishment, and a very easy one, but people do not practice it much. In the every-day affairs of life it is more useful to reason forwards, and so the other comes to be neglected. There are fifty who can reason synthetically for one who can reason analytically” (Doyle).

Most people would rather take the easy way out and reason forward like the majority of society. It is easier to reason forward than it is, of course, to reason backwards. If one were asked to say the months of the year backwards or the alphabet, a person would have a difficult time stating the months or letters in a timely fashion. For Holmes, performing his methods backward is something he prefers to do, knowing it is not a method that a lot of people use, he figures the technique will work and of course they do work wonderfully.

Doyle depicts Holmes style of solving crimes through his intelligent and seemingly flawless methods. Overall, Sherlock is able to solve the mysteries he is presented with simply due to his observation skills, analysis of the crime scene and his broad yet careful choice of words and phrases. Doyle makes Holmes inquiry very notable through the personality she has given him in the novel. His character is not only unique but also is plays a huge role in his remarkable ability to solve mysteries.

The genius of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has escaped no one. Sherlock Holmes, the fictional detective created by remains till this day the most portrayed literary human character in film and TV (fact: 254 times). Seems justifiable as well, given the beauty of this character. We just can’t stop being impressed by Sherlock’s ingenious and his sheer ability in reading a crime scene like a book (or swoon over Benedict Cumberbatch’s cheek bones).

Anyhoo, amongst the pool full of qualities Sherlock possess, we must not forget that he is also a business man. Being a consulting detective (of course the world’s only) Sherlock’s business seems to be good going with enough clientele around (except when he’s busy pretending to be dead or doesn’t find a case interesting enough). Though he doesn’t care much about the money, he does make an awful lot for himself because he’s so good at what he does. So here are a few business lessons to learn from the most famous detective on earth:

“You see, but you do not observe”

Sherlock Holmes is all about observation and giving the utmost important to details. His strategy was simple – observe, deduce and when eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how mad it might seem, must be the truth. His deductions were so on point that not only did he solve cases in minutes but he solves some without even visiting the crime scene.

Observance is a great tool for an entrepreneur for when s/he notices the market, only then will they be able to find where to tap. You need the eye to see what others don’t and utilize it before everyone else does.  

“I abhor the dull routine of existence. I crave for mental exaltation”

It took Holmes seconds to deduce that Watson was a war doctor, a look at his phone to understand about his sibling’s drinking problem and another few minutes to understand how Watson’s link is psychosomatic in nature. That’s right! Nothing escapes the great Mr. Holmes. And this has much more to do than being born with a great mind, which he was. SH started young and had mastered what he called ‘The Science of Deduction’ for years.

Though absolutely ignorant in the field of space, literature or human emotions, SH was incomparable when it came to chemistry, human anatomy and reading a person. His means were perhaps rather obscure sometimes, but he never stopped his education.

Likewise an entrepreneur must be really good at what he does to get the kind of result they desire and there should be a constant will to get better as things might change any time. Whether you are selling a product or service, you should know how it works inside and out.

“The fair sex is your department”

Well the quote is a little out of context here but it shows Sherlock’s complete trust on his partner in solving crime John Watson. Holmes is a great detective but he sure could use a little bit of help every now and then and Watson plays that part brilliantly. While Sherlock rarely lacks knowledge in a field, he does matters like women or handling emotions to Watson. Watson being a great friend doesn’t mind either when Sherlock says peculiars things to and about people or when he’s being a jerk. He knows why he is the way he is and focuses on his brilliance.

A good business partnership means fulfilling where you lack. If you are the brains of your company, find someone who is good at talking to people. A good co-founder can make a world of difference for your business.  

“I’m not a psychopath, I’m a high-functioning sociopath. Do your research.”

Sherlock Holmes’ confidence in his abilities was inspiring. He may come out as a bit cocky but the man was correct most of the times. He knew he was a genius but he also knew how he could come off as rather strange. He might have made some of the cruelest remarks on the intelligence of his counterparts but hey, they made some great comic reliefs, eh?

Sherlock knew who he was and that’s where his confidence in his abilities came from. His knowledge was unquestionable and method of solving crime indisputable.

An entrepreneur must know where he stands to start something. S/he should have a hold on his abilities and self-confidence to believe in oneself, however weird you might seem to the world.