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Arthur Conan DoyleA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Summary
Background
Chapter Summaries & Analyses
“A Scandal in Bohemia”
“The Red-Headed League”
“A Case of Identity”
“The Boscombe Valley Mystery”
“The Five Orange Pips”
“The Man with the Twisted Lip”
“The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle”
“The Adventure of the Speckled Band”
“The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb”
“The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor”
“The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet”
“The Adventure of the Copper Beeches”
Character Analysis
Themes
Symbols & Motifs
Important Quotes
Essay Topics
Tools
Sherlock Holmes is the main character in this collection of stories; however, most information about him is filtered through Watson’s narration. The doctor describes him as an ideal Victorian man—someone who is in control of himself and the world around him. He does not give in to emotions, which are seen as chaotic, wild, and typical of women. The detective is also well-mannered, something that was as important as appearance in the 19th century. He is extremely intelligent and obsessed with observation and deduction informed by scientific data collection and experimentation.
Because of his intelligence, Holmes is presented as a superhuman, almost omniscient being, who also has the power to show mercy or punish wrongdoers. However, his intelligence is also his weakness, causing him to suffer from boredom, which he attempts to alleviate through drugs and work. His interest in puzzles also often leads him to dismiss people as individuals with feelings and emotions in favor of the mysteries they are involved in. Holmes does not seem capable of empathy or romantic feelings. Except for his use of cocaine and tobacco, the detective’s lifestyle is quite ascetic.
There is almost no biographical information provided except that the detective lives alone and greatly enjoys music.
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By Arthur Conan Doyle