Heroes are made of extraordinary ingredients. The research focuses on heroes. The research further goes more into depth by discussion the different qualities or characteristics of being a hero. The resources are being questioned in term of the heros upbringing. Sherlock Holmes can be classified as a modern day hero.
Modern Hero
Sherlock Holmes be called a modern hero Simon Williams (5) emphasized a hero is something that brightens another persons day. The mother is the true hero of the child because he toils 24 hours a day to feed, clothe, and care for the child. The friendly classmate is a hero especially during times when class assignments have to be made.
The classmate can tutor another classmate on the way to solve a seemingly difficult math problem during the initial years of a growing childs life. A hero is something who stays to comfort a person during ones unwanted days or situations.
One of such situations is being stuck in the middle of traffic under the blistering heat of the noon sun or in the middle of a hailstorm with ones girl being literally pummeled by several huge falling ice crystals. Sherlock Holmes has the brave qualities of heroes like Wagner of the Ring movie series. The hero stated in many hero stories have one major characteristic that cannot be commonly found in an average person. The characteristic is the ability to fight back under different scenarios in order not to be crashed by an approaching attack.
A hero during that time included has most of the qualities of other typical heroes have. One such trait occurs when one never gives up on a challenge when others have already called it quits. Likewise, the a hero is a person who can easily maneuver through each obstacle to achieving ones goal, objective or simply assigned tasks.
Sherlock Holmes The Red Headed League
In the case of the The red headed league, Sherlock Holmes is the hero of the story. Sherlock Holmes is our modern hero because he stood up against all odds to resolve the issue to how why he was hired for the job. The story shows that a London-based businessman, Jabez Wilson was made to believe that he was hired for a 4 pounds a week salary. Sherlock Holmes used his intuition, to uncover the true mission of the culprits.
The mission of the culprits was to hire Jabez Wilson to work on a day when nobody is in the bank and hiring Jabez Wilson to stay away from home during the entire time the robbers were stealing money from the bank. With Jabez Wilson at home, there was difficulty trying to steal the money because Jabez Wilson will grow suspicious of the robbers.
The robbers are Jabez Wilsons person assistant Vincent Spaulding and another accomplish. What Sherlock Holmes uncovered was that Vincent Spaulding is not the real name of Jabez Wilsons assistant. Instead of using his real name, the robber used the false name of Vincent Spaulding in order to disguise his true self to avoid being caught.
Upon discovery of their illegal act, they can for violating established car facilities to ability to read stands. To make the story more thrilling, the author of the book on Sherlock Holmes during a book specifically shows that the Jabez Wilson was falsely made to feel he was important to the hiring agency. In reality, Jabez Wilson was hired in order to vacate the premises to give the robbers enough time and privacy to steal from the bank. The Bank is located near the house of Jabez Wilson.
For example, Atara Stein (8) reiterated another hero, Byronic hero, is an outlaw and an outsider who defines his own moral code, often defying oppressive institutional authority, and is able to do so because of his superhuman or supernatural powers, his self-sufficiency and independence, and his egotistical sense of his own superiority. He essentially defines and creates himself, like Wordsworths unfathered vapour, that includes the ultimate development of the individual.
The hero is generally a loner who often displays a quick temper or a brooding angst, or both, and he lacks the ability to relate to others . The historical account of the Byronic hero and his development in todays current generation has been traced quite ably by Peter Thorslev, Walter Reed, and others. This chapter will pick up where such studies left off. It examines the particular traits of the Byronic hero that have been consciously or unconsciously adopted by contemporary producers of popular texts .
In addition, Alan Edelstein (4) reiterated The United States has run out of heroes. Hero refers to a national hero, a Universal American around whom we all would rally if called. The hero is the manrarely the woman, a point to be considered laterwho inspires children and adults, who reflects the finest qualities of the American people, and who is recognized by the American people as an inspiration and as someone who reflects those qualities . It is generally accepted that the hero represents the average American citizen.
The occasion states that the majority of the American people are happy to have him as their representative. There are no places where the modern American hero can crop up. On the other hand, some of the locations where the Americans crafted paintings and other media arts are penciled, their past heroes have given rise had vanished into thin air, and the infrastructure of other fields that had been once sources of American heroes have been altered to the point of obstructing the drawing of new heroes.
In terms of sports heroes, Alan Edelstein (65) proposed sports heroes In the United States today are only a single business consistently produces heroes, the business of entertainment in its various forms. The hero-entertainment connection is symbiotic. Entertainment produces stars, the current substitute for traditional heroes. The publicity surrounding a star feeds in part on his celebrity, the fact of his being a star, which in turn generates increased publicity .
The high prices of goods and the stars economic value, which again feeds the ido;his celebrity, which again feeds his publicity, aids in the continuing now continues until he is replaced by a new star. Thus, throughout his tenure, the star gets wealthier and more celebrated. There appears to be an endless cycle here, although any individual celebrity-hero, including here the sports hero, even the unusually talented sports hero, has a limited lifespan.
One of the appeals of both sports and show business, the two dominant entertainment fields, states those who have successfully tackled many major obstacles and will be successful in these areas. Consequently, the success will be converted into extraordinarily paid higher than normal salaries to excellent exceptionally well paid and afforded opportunities exclusive to members of celebrity circles.
There are several advantages of being able to sing, dance, act, or hit or throw a ball, places some entertainment heroes above the masses, and being above the masses means being above many of societys rules. Likewise, business contracts can hold the parties at a renegotiated price at the ease and comfort of the hero (Edelstein, 2066).
Based on the above discussion, heroes are composed of extraordinary ingredients. Some people are heroes in their own rights or fields of specialization. The hero, especially Sherlock Holmes, has a set of relevant, valid, and useful tools the different qualities or characteristics of being a hero. The resources authenticate the concept that some persons, especially the male counterparts of the American governments being, are being verified in term of the heros upbringing. Indeed, Sherlock Holmes can be classified as a modern day hero.
Works Cited
Atara Stein B. The Byronic Hero in Film, Fiction and Televison. Carbondale: University Press, 2004.
Edelstein, Alan A. Everybody is Sitting on the Curb. Westport: Praeger Press, 1996.
Williams, Simon P. Wagner and the Romantic Hero. New York: Praeger Press, 2655.
It is not easy to interpret or embrace Marshal McLuhans assertion that the medium is the message (Logan, 2010). It is a struggle to accept this statement at face value. The difficulty lies in the conventional way people interpret the meaning of medium. Crack open a Websters dictionary, and one can find that the word medium is defined as the messengers tool. If one takes away the message, the medium is nothing more than an empty receptacle. If one takes away the message, the medium is like a deaf and mute child.
There is a clear dividing line that separates the medium from the message. McLuhans idea of merging two distinct entities seems implausible. It is easier to disprove McLuhans claim, especially when viewed from the context of simple communication systems. However, McLuhans idea makes sense when viewed from the context of mass media and social media platforms. In simple communication systems, such as written notes and public speaking, it is easy to separate medium from the message. It is not the same conclusion when it comes to mass media and social media platforms.
In mass media communication systems and Internet-based communication platforms, the medium affects the message (Long & Wall, 2014). For example, TV commercials are produced with a 30-second run time in mind. Ads placed in newspapers were created with space constraints in mind.
McLuhans perceptive mind understood the interaction between medium and message. Nevertheless, he went further when he declared that the medium is the message (Wardrip-Fruin, 2003). He pointed out that a particular medium produces a certain product. For example, a one-paragraph monologue, describing a persons frustration with the government will generate a certain type of reaction when posted on a schools bulletin board.
However, it will generate a different type of activity and reaction if the author made arrangements with a local newspaper to publish the same message. Therefore, in the context of mass media and social media platforms, the message is dependent on the medium. The message requires the amplification power of the medium, and this was the intended message of Marshall McLuhan (Logan, 2010).
The Case Study
In this particular case, the medium is the BBC, and the message is the 21st century adaptation of Sir Conan Doyles Sherlock Holmes. BBCs history stretches back to the 1920s and will celebrate its centenary in 2022. A cursory glance at the historical timeline reveals the evolution of the BBCs tools and format, from radio broadcasting to digital BBC TV channels.
It is impossible to discuss 20th century British history without discussing the impact of the BBC on peoples lives. The BBC was the first broadcasting company to begin a regular TV schedule in 1936 (Porter, 2012). The BBC changed the way people perceive radio broadcasting when reporters made live commentary on location during World War II (Porter,2012).
The BBC went changed the history of television when it broadcast the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. In 1958, BBC launched a childrens TV program called the Blue Peter. It is one of the longest-running shows in TV history. In 1995, BBCs broadcast of the Princess Diana interview was seen by 15 million people. In other words, the BBC is not an ordinary broadcasting company in the eyes of many people.
Applying the Theory
It is important to highlight the history and accomplishment of the BBC mass media conglomerate in order to see its power to change peoples perspective on a particular subject matter. BBCs power to transform the message is evident in the 21st century adaptation of Sherlock Holmes. It must be pointed out that millions of people around the world are familiar with the Sherlock Holmes character. People are aware of the basic characteristics of the great detective, and they are familiar with the basic plot of the story. In their minds, Sherlock Holmes is a middle-aged detective and the best sleuth in England. Londons famous Scotland Yard Metropolitan Police Service turns to Sherlock Holmes if the detectives in its employ are unable to solve a difficult case.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created the Sherlock Holmes character (Porter, 2012). Fans of his novels imagine Sherlock Holmes as an elderly gentleman who loves to smoke a pipe (Vanacker & Wynne, 2013). In the 21st century adaptation, BBCs Sherlock is a three-part television series. In the BBC version, Sherlock Holmes is a young detective that uses nicotine patches in order to kick the smoking habit.
Benedict Cumberbatch plays the character, and at first glance, he does not seem to look the part. He does not only look young, but he also looks effeminate. It is difficult to imagine the officers of the world-famous Scotland Yard knocking on the door of Cumberbatchs apartment because they needed his help. Avid fans of the Sherlock Holmes novels are expected to make known their displeasure.
It can be argued that the irreverent depiction of the fabled detective could translate to a colossal failure. It is, therefore, a risk that no prudent investor should undertake. However, BBCs Sherlock is one of the most popular TV shows in the United Kingdom. Therefore, television viewers embraced the radical characterization of Sherlock Holmes. It can be argued that the TV viewers who subscribed to the said show are consuming a new product, something that is very different from the original.
BBC is technically the medium. However, its history, leverage, influence, and reach enabled it to manipulate the original message of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. In this example, the medium exerted its power to interfere with the intended message (Wardrip-Fruin, 2003).
On August 8, 2010, BBC broadcast the third episode of the said TV series (Porter, 2012). The name of the episode was The Great Game, and in one scene, Holmes ripped off Watsons clothes in a darkened swimming pool. Watson told Holmes that he was glad no one saw what happened, because he was afraid of what people may say with regards to their relationship. It is interesting to note that the BBC did not attempt to hide the gay references in the said TV series.
The company is able to do this because of how it is perceived in the present time. The BBC is known for its liberal views. Thus, it is allowed to present controversial ideas like the hidden undercurrents in the relationship between Holmes and Watson (Porter, 2012). This is another example of McLuhans theory that the medium dictates the outcome or the impact of the message (Logan, 2010).
The running time for The Great Game was clocked at 89 minutes. In a show that runs under two hours, Sherlock Homes was required to solve a series of complicated problems. He solved all those problems in quick succession. It was a distorted view of real-life detective work. BBC did not intend to create an unrealistic version of real-life detective work. However, the company created products based on the target audience and the type of product that they want to consume (Long & Wall, 2014). In this regard, they needed to create a show with a fast-paced narrative. They needed a storyline wherein the hero provides a resolution to the conflict at the end of the show. The inadvertent effect was to plant a false idea into the minds of the TV viewers, that criminal cases can be resolved in a few days.
Conclusion
It was difficult to understand McLuhans aphorism, that the medium is the message, especially if the mind was conditioned to separate these two entities. However, McLuhan was correct when he said that there is no need to dichotomize the medium from the message. Based on the study of The Great Game, one can argue that this show is another evidence to support McLuhans claim. His claim is true, especially if viewed in the context of modern mass media communication processes.
The BBC is an example of a modern mass media platform, and its manipulation of the original Sherlock Holmes storyline supports the idea that the medium has the power to shape and affect the outcome of the message. The BBC created a new character based on the needs of the 21st century audience. It also altered the way people view the crime-solving process. Thus, McLuhan was correct when he said that the medium affects the form and consequences of the message.
References
Logan, R. (2010). Understanding new media: Extending Marshall McLuhan. New York: Peter Lang.
Long, P., & Wall, T. (2014). Media studies: Texts, production, context. New York: Routledge.
Porter, L. (2012). Sherlock Holmes for the 21st century: Essays on new adaptation. NC: McFarland & Company.
Vanacker, S., & Wynne, C. (2013). Sherlock Holmes and Conan Doyle: Multi-media afterlives. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Wardrip-Fruin, N. (2003). The new media reader. MA: MIT Press.
Heroes are made of extraordinary ingredients. The research focuses on heroes. The research further goes more into depth by discussion the different qualities or characteristics of being a hero. The resources are being questioned in term of the hero’s upbringing. Sherlock Holmes can be classified as a modern day hero.
Modern Hero
Sherlock Holmes be called a modern hero Simon Williams (5) emphasized a hero is something that brightens another person’s day. The mother is the true hero of the child because he toils 24 hours a day to feed, clothe, and care for the child. The friendly classmate is a hero especially during times when class assignments have to be made.
The classmate can tutor another classmate on the way to solve a seemingly difficult math problem during the initial years of a growing child’s life. A hero is something who stays to comfort a person during one’s unwanted days or situations.
One of such situations is being stuck in the middle of traffic under the blistering heat of the noon sun or in the middle of a hailstorm with one’s girl being literally pummeled by several huge falling ice crystals. Sherlock Holmes has the brave qualities of heroes like Wagner of the Ring movie series. The hero stated in many hero stories have one major characteristic that cannot be commonly found in an average person. The characteristic is the ability to fight back under different scenarios in order not to be crashed by an approaching attack.
A hero during that time included has most of the qualities of other typical heroes have. One such trait occurs when one never gives up on a challenge when others have already called it quits. Likewise, the a hero is a person who can easily maneuver through each obstacle to achieving one’s goal, objective or simply assigned tasks.
Sherlock Holmes – The Red Headed League
In the case of the The red headed league, Sherlock Holmes is the hero of the story. Sherlock Holmes is our modern hero because he stood up against all odds to resolve the issue to how why he was hired for the job. The story shows that a London-based businessman, Jabez Wilson was made to believe that he was hired for a 4 pounds a week salary. Sherlock Holmes used his intuition, to uncover the true mission of the culprits.
The mission of the culprits was to hire Jabez Wilson to work on a day when nobody is in the bank and hiring Jabez Wilson to stay away from home during the entire time the robbers were stealing money from the bank. With Jabez Wilson at home, there was difficulty trying to steal the money because Jabez Wilson will grow suspicious of the robbers.
The robbers are Jabez Wilson’s person assistant Vincent Spaulding and another accomplish. What Sherlock Holmes uncovered was that Vincent Spaulding is not the real name of Jabez Wilson’s assistant. Instead of using his real name, the robber used the false name of Vincent Spaulding in order to disguise his true self to avoid being caught.
Upon discovery of their illegal act, they can for violating established car facilities to ability to read stands. To make the story more thrilling, the author of the book on Sherlock Holmes during a book specifically shows that the Jabez Wilson was falsely made to feel he was important to the hiring agency. In reality, Jabez Wilson was hired in order to vacate the premises to give the robbers enough time and privacy to steal from the bank. The Bank is located near the house of Jabez Wilson.
For example, Atara Stein (8) reiterated another hero, “Byronic hero, is an outlaw and an outsider who defines his own moral code, often defying oppressive institutional authority, and is able to do so because of his superhuman or supernatural powers, his self-sufficiency and independence, and his egotistical sense of his own superiority. He essentially defines and creates himself, like Wordsworth’s ‘unfathered vapour, ‘ that includes the ultimate development of the individual.
The hero is generally a loner who often displays a quick temper or a brooding angst, or both, and he lacks the ability to relate to others”. The historical account of the Byronic hero and his development in today’s current generation has been traced quite ably by Peter Thorslev, Walter Reed, and others. This chapter will pick up where such studies left off. It examines the particular traits of the Byronic hero that have been consciously or unconsciously adopted by contemporary producers of popular texts”.
In addition, Alan Edelstein (4) reiterated “The United States has run out of heroes. “Hero” refers to a national hero, a Universal American around whom we all would rally if called. The hero is the man–rarely the woman, a point to be considered later–who inspires children and adults, who reflects the finest qualities of the American people, and who is recognized by the American people as an inspiration and as someone who reflects those qualities”. It is generally accepted that the hero represents the average American citizen.
The occasion states that the majority of the American people are happy to have him as their representative. There are no places where the modern American hero can crop up. On the other hand, some of the locations where the Americans crafted paintings and other media arts are penciled, their past heroes have given rise had vanished into thin air, and the infrastructure of other fields that had been once sources of American heroes have been altered to the point of obstructing the drawing of new heroes.
In terms of sports heroes, Alan Edelstein (65) proposed “sports heroes In the United States today are only a single business consistently produces heroes, the business of entertainment in its various forms. The hero-entertainment connection is symbiotic. Entertainment produces stars, the current substitute for traditional heroes. The publicity surrounding a star feeds in part on his celebrity, the fact of his being a star, which in turn generates increased publicity”.
The high prices of goods and the star’s economic value, which again feeds the ido;his celebrity, which again feeds his publicity, aids in the continuing now continues until he is replaced by a new star. Thus, throughout his tenure, the star gets wealthier and more celebrated. There appears to be an endless cycle here, although any individual celebrity-hero, including here the sports hero, even the unusually talented sports hero, has a limited lifespan.
One of the appeals of both sports and show business, the two dominant entertainment fields, states those who have successfully tackled many major obstacles and will be successful in these areas. Consequently, the success will be converted into extraordinarily paid higher than normal salaries to excellent exceptionally well paid and afforded opportunities exclusive to members of celebrity circles.
There are several advantages of being able to sing, dance, act, or hit or throw a ball, places some entertainment heroes above the masses, and being above the masses means being above many of society’s rules. Likewise, business contracts can hold the parties at a “renegotiated” price at the ease and comfort of the hero (Edelstein, 2066).
Based on the above discussion, heroes are composed of extraordinary ingredients. Some people are heroes in their own rights or fields of specialization. The hero, especially Sherlock Holmes, has a set of relevant, valid, and useful tools the different qualities or characteristics of being a hero. The resources authenticate the concept that some persons, especially the male counterparts of the American government’s being, are being verified in term of the hero’s upbringing. Indeed, Sherlock Holmes can be classified as a modern day hero.
Works Cited
Atara Stein B. The Byronic Hero in Film, Fiction and Televison. Carbondale: University Press, 2004.
Edelstein, Alan A. Everybody is Sitting on the Curb. Westport: Praeger Press, 1996.
Williams, Simon P. Wagner and the Romantic Hero. New York: Praeger Press, 2655.
The characters of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson have left an impact on American and British thoughts like never before. There were the Dickens days, when literary excellence swept across minds of readers, and next came Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, with his fiction series of his detective Holmes, and his partner, Dr. Watson.
The two characters have been introduced, and even been compared in the beginning of the series, with Sherlock Holmes being given the superiority of observation, and Dr. Watson assisting him through his cases in the series. Sherlock Holmes is no doubt a ‘hero’, as he has been able to detect many instances that were left unsolved or remained unknown by others. The character had the potential to solve the cases that came up to him with least of effort, and with intelligent tackling, he was able to gain a name in the circle of detectives. He was also known as the ‘second highest expert’ in Europe, and due to his capabilities, was consulted by many for their mysterious cases. Holmes had the ability to join the broken pieces of the puzzles that were set before him, with his credulous skills in detection. He believed in nothing till all facts were known to him (Doyle, A., 2008).
In one instance of the series Holmes declares that a wound that had been caused to an afflicted person of the story was by his own knife. This fact remained in disbelief till the very end, and none of the fellow detectives could accept the idea put forth by Holmes, and they seemed irrelevant and unwanted for the case at hand (Doyle, A & Roberts, S.).
Evidence of the heroism of Holmes also lays in the fact that people who were reading him, adored his character, and when Sir Arthur stopped writing the series upon reaching a saturation point with Holmes, they began writing to him, and made “Lets Keep Holmes Alive” clubs, in hope of its continuation (Pierce, J.). However, he discontinued the series, with the end of it coming about with the detective’s death.
The character of Sherlock Holmes was one of inexhaustible energy, despite his usage of cocaine at times, when not indulged in a case (Book Review: Sherlock Holmes, 2008). This being an essential aspect of the detectives life and routine, presents a modern day “hero” outlook, as in today’s world, the possession of high energy and the use of drugs is common practice.
Holmes will forever be superior to all, including Dr. Watson and us readers, sue to his cleverness, as portrayed in the fiction series. His smartness and wit is what makes him a hero in the view of readers, and has gained immense repute with the methods of handling the toughest and most mysterious of cases laid before him. Despite his partner’s incompetency, he manages well on his own thought process, and gives good proof and evidence for whatever he encounters through the case at hand. With a lot of confidence, as shown in the first chapter, ‘Sherlock Holmes’, he has confronted others with great optimism and surety of the claiming he has made. This is a portrayal of present day heroism additionally, that the entire approach towards a case is made by Holmes with an optimistic mind, and extreme assurance.
It is evident from the series that Sherlock Holmes definitely deserves to be called a “hero”, due to his priceless devotion and aptitude in his works.
Arthur Conan Doyle, who created the character of Sherlock Holmes, was a Scottish writer from Edinburgh, Scotland. He was born on May 22, 1859, in a family of Charles Altamont Doyle and Mary Foley. His father was a chronic alcoholic, and his mother was well educated and a master storyteller. His mother greatly influenced Arthur, and he became a good storyteller too. He followed a career in medicine, whereas one would have expected him to pursue an artistic one due to family influence. He tried his hand in writing short stories. Later on, he started writing novels, and his first novel A Tangled Skein put him in the limelight as an author. His second novel, A Study in Scarlet, did very well. He introduced his audience to a timeless character by the name of Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock becomes very famous across the world. Is Sherlock Holmes realistic? Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who created Sherlock Holmes, meant him to be a realistic character who has remained a very influential fictional detective.
Creation of Sherlock Holmes
A.C.Doyle succeeded in making Sherlock realistic because he did not just create a scientific detective, but he had to make the character very fascinating (Davies ix).
The character was extraordinary in that he captured the reader with his style of solving crimes. Sherlock Holmes is a detective character in Doyle’s work. Sherlock did not become famous instantly until Doyle started publishing The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes in a fiction magazine called The Strand that the fame of Sherlock Holmes catapulted.
Sherlock’s stories captivated the readers, and their appetite for more stories was insatiable. Doyle enjoyed the money that came with the publishing of the stories, but he was not very happy because the stories overshadowed his series works.
Fascination with Sherlock
Conan Doyle created the character of Sherlock Holmes as very realistic. His influence can be seen in movies, television, books, plays, among others. Sir Arthur managed to create the immortal character of Sherlock by making him a brilliant human being who taps into human aspirations and fears. The character uses his brainpower to come up with solutions to problems and analyze human behavior. He is a character the reader or audience can relate to hence makes him very inspirational.
The character appeared in four novels and fifty-six short stories. Sherlock can see people’s minds; he is a person that everyone would like to be or at least have by their side. He uses his powers and smart brain in a positive way, and many people come to him when they are in trouble.
The character makes things right, and thus he is very captivating. He is both a superman and a normal human being, and the following characteristic makes him realistic. For instance, in The Sign of Four, Sherlock is shown as a character that is very domineering and only concerned with finding solutions to problems. His friend Watson fears to upset him, thus giving him heroic characteristics.
Excellent Skills of Sherlock Holmes
Detective Sherlock is realistic because he solves issues that are ordinary, using his extraordinary skills in deductive reasoning. The author was able to create a realistic character in Sherlock by making him have traits that a normal human being has, for instance, he has flaws such as smoking cocaine in the novel The Sign of Four.
Moreover, the detective acts just as an ordinary human being would act in certain circumstances when he is trying to solve cases.
For instance, he bends the truth and at times, outrightly breaks the law by lying to the police and hiding evidence if he feels it is the right thing to do. More importantly, the author was able to create a realistic character by giving him an unimpeachable morality and excellent deductive skills (Gruesser 143).
Was Sherlock Holmes a Real Person?
The character Sherlock addressed issues that were happening in society, such as justice and life’s general concerns. The readers could identify with such problems. Doyle also mentioned in his novels places from real life, thus making it appear as if Sherlock was real. For these reasons, Sherlock seemed realistic to the readers (Redmond 139).
The author was able to create a realistic character because he provided people with novels that dealt with common issues and kept the reader guessing what was going to happen next. The books are very engaging, and the reader becomes very involved in the book such that some people have been unable to distinguish whether Sherlock Holmes is a real person or a fictional character. They keenly followed the life of Sherlock and his detective works.
To that effect, many studies have been done, and debate goes on whether Sherlock was real or not. Such an instance shows that Doyle created a realistic character in Sherlock such that when he killed him in the story work, The Final Problem, there was a public outcry as people protested the killing of their favorite character.
Some men put on black robes and matched in protest as they mourned the demise of Sherlock. Another case illustrates how realistic Sherlock was as A.C.Doyle talks of older men who would come to him and tell him that they had read about Sherlock Holmes in their childhood.
However, this could not have been possible because the stories had not been written by the time the old men were young boys (Dalrymple 1). Such an incidence could only have happened because the character was very realistic that those who read the stories felt like they had known about Sherlock all their lives. The stories appeal to the people
The hero of the novels Sherlock is a human being who comes to the rescue of the innocent. In many instances, the virtuous have no one to turn to because they lack economic or social means. However, Sherlock comes to the rescue of all and saves them. He does not care about money and often turns down cases of wealthy people to take on examples of people without means as long as they interest him.
He can solve crimes that prove difficult to the police. His ability to solve crimes that the police have failed to resolve makes him realistic to his readers because many times, the police are unable to solve crimes brought to their attention, and the matters remain unresolved.
Thus, if Sherlock can resolve such crimes and bring criminals to book, he becomes very important to the readers, and they believe in him making him a real character that everyone would wish lived in their community to solve problems. Also, he is a man who does ordinary things that his readers would enjoy doing, such as orchestral music. He also goes to the theater when he is not working.
Holmes as a Detective
Detective Holmes solves problems that are committed by ordinary people by unveiling their sources of evil and bringing them to justice. He solves the significant issues in the streets in the novel A Study in Scarlet by reconstructing and creating identity. He is a detective who understands that by living, human beings leave traces.
He uses these traces to solve crimes. He observes the things that are neglected, and by putting together marks, he can come up with clues that enable him to resolve mysterious crimes. More importantly, the detective is not guided by official guidelines, and he is free to work as he deems fit.
Sherlock’s Friends
Dr. Watson Hall is a friend of Sherlock, and through him, we can learn more about Sherlock. Their relationship satisfies emotionally, and through it, readers see the possibility and beauty of platonic relationships.
The author presents Sherlock as cold and unemotional, and a person only interested in solving crimes. Supposedly a sociopath and a drug addict, Holmes had no wife and family. However, through his friend and sidekick Watson, the human side of Sherlock is revealed.
Sherlock’s Sherlock’s love and loyalty towards his friend Watson was revealed when Sherlock thought his friend had sustained severe bullet wounds as narrated by Watson in The Adventure of the Three Garridebs. Watson says that at that moment, he saw the love and loyalty that Sherlock had for him because he saw his lips shaking, and his eyes dim with concern.
Watson gives us an inside look into Sherlock’s Sherlock’s life and character, and we can learn a great deal about him, such as the kind of words he uses, cigarettes he smokes. Watson tells us that Sherlock was eccentric and did not take a significant concern in tidiness and orderliness.
For example, he kept his cigars in a coal scuttle and had unread correspondence in his room. Moreover, he was a hoarder and kept stacks of documents all over his place. He could also starve himself when working on a case by skipping meals.
The description shows that Sherlock was an ordinary man with a usual backstory. Through his friend, Doyle creates a real character as opposed to a perfect hero who the people cannot relate to by showing us his shortcomings as a human being. Through Watson, one can understand how the deduction is done, and hence one becomes involved in the detective work of Sherlock, making him more so realistic (Harper 70).
The reader is involved in the work of detection through participating in possible solutions to the crimes. Was Sherlock Holmes a real person? Scholars can not identify one person who inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to create Sherlock Holmes. Still, this fictional character becomes real to the reader who sees him or herself getting involved in the work of another human being.
Personality of Holmes
Sherlock is realistic because he is a character who does not stop in his quest for answers even when he encounters a dead end. He believes that knowledge must be found to solve a problem through clues and observation. He goes ahead and gathers clues, even without knowing whether they will lead to any outcome.
His desire to keep moving on and the idea of progress makes not only realistic but also appealing to the reader. The reader is encouraged to remain focused until they find a solution to whatever problem they encounter (Harper 70).
Different Detective Story
The detective story by Doyle is different from other detective stories written. The difference is notable in the lack of vulgarity. The author writes a new kind of detective through the character Sherlock and the stories though ingenious can appeal to those who like to read for pleasure as well as those who have an interest in detective work.
The author has written detective stories that can be read by people from different lifestyles, and each will find something appealing about a book such as A Scarlet Study. The story is intellectual and respectable (Harper 70).
Up-to-date Detection
The detective Sherlock is a calculating man. He is not like other detectives portrayed in previous detective works. The clues in some of the detectives written earlier on were so obvious that even an ordinary person could see the outcome without much trouble and would not even need to call the police to solve the crime.
Conversely, Sherlock, the detective, keeps the reader guessing because his clues are not straightforward and require deductive reasoning to solve. The deductive element in Sherlock’s Sherlock’s style of detection appeals to the intellect hence appears valid and real.
Humor of Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock is a humorous man as when his friend brings it to his attention that the earth goes around the sun in A Study in Scarlet, he tells him that he will now have to forget that fact. He says so because he believes that our brains have a finite capacity for holding the knowledge, and thus by learning meaningless things, they take up space that would have been used to store useful information.
Through his admission that he did not know how the solar system works, we see he is an average person who does not know everything, even though he only seeks to understand things that might help him in his line of work.
He is a man who does not like to show off, and when they find a solution to a crime, he tells Watson that was elementary. Such a man is bound to appear real to people and form an attachment.
The creator of Sherlock was able to create such a realistic character throughout the story. The author created a mental picture in the mind of the reader of the man called Sherlock.
Moreover, the illustrations done for shylock have also helped to create a realistic character of Sherlock. The author describes the gestures that Sherlock makes when he is thinking, and they give Sherlock realistic appearance.
Who Inspired Doyle to Write Sherlock Holmes?
Dr. Joseph Bell inspired Doyle to create Sherlock Holmes. Doyle worked with Dr. Bell at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, and it was during this time that the author got the inspiration for his famous character.
He says that Dr. Bell could conclude from observing small things that one would ordinarily ignore and make conclusions from them (Lycett 53-54). Sir Henry Littlejohn also inspired Sir Conan Doyle. Sir Henry taught forensic science, and thus, Doyle wanted to create a character that would use forensic science to solve crimes (Doyle 88).
Sir Henry provided Doyle with a base for combining crime detection and medical investigation, as seen through the detective Sherlock as he unravels murders. Another man who inspired Doyle to to write Sherlock Holmes was Dr. Bryan Charles Waller, his mother’s friend. He had studied at the University of Edinburgh, where Doyle later joined to undertake his studies in medicine.
The studies in medicine gave Doyle an opportunity to meet other authors such as James Stevenson and his teacher Dr. Bell (Brackett 121). The qualities of the people he met and especially those of Dr. Bell, are found in Sherlock (“Sir Arthur Biography” 1; Sherlock 1).
Doyle says that he was educated to be very critical in thought during his medical thoughts under Dr. Bell, who had a special gift in observation. He says that he observed Dr. Bell at work, and he could tell the illnesses that his patients had before they could even tell him anything. He was able to pick their ailments as well as their occupations and residences.
Thus, he developed an interest in reading detective stories, and he was fascinated by how results would be obtained by chance. He decided to write a detective story in which crime would be treated in the same way that Dr. Bell treated diseases using science (Davies viii).
The author was able to create a realistic character because he reflects his qualities. For example, when he dedicated The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes to Dr. Bell, he wrote to him and told him, “You are yourself Sherlock Holmes, and you know it” (The Sherlock Holmes 1).
Dr. Bell has been Doyles lecturer, and colleague must have seen that the author drew from his personal life and experiences in writing about Sherlock. Several writers have pointed out that Doyle may have drawn Holmes from Dr. Bell, but “the real detective was like himself “(Haycraft xvi). Thus, he was able to describe things carefully because he was drawing from real experiences hence made Sherlock seem real.
Furthermore, Sir Arthur, who came from an aristocratic Irish family, identified with the noble history. Doyle had received a good education, and even though he was struggling in his career, “he considered himself to be a gentleman and gave his fictional detective a similar status” (Harper 69).
A family environment influences a person’s life. The biography of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, especially his childhood experiences, definitely influenced his life and works. The kind of human relationships that one forms with the members of their family make a good source for the author’s materials. Doyle had a strong mother whom he says influenced her greatly. She was very strong, and he derived his happiness when communicating with her through letters.
On the other hand, his father was an alcoholic. He was not a positive figure in his life. The difficulty surrounding his family influenced him in writing stories that people could relate to because they addressed everyday issues and hence made them realistic.
In the novel The Sign of Four, the author addresses the issue of domestic violence. Domestic violence occurs in society even though some instances go unreported. He shows that greed can lead to domestic violence, and Roylott attempts to kill his stepdaughter so that he can continue to have control over her fortune.
He knew that stepdaughters would have control of their fortune once they got married. He is self-centered and materialistic and thus attempts to hold on to the chance. He kills Helen’s Helen’s sister, and when Helen becomes engaged, he tries to kill her, but fortunately, detective Sherlock saves her from the claws of death.
Sherlock sends the snake that Roylott had sent to kill Helen, and it ends up killing him (Haynsworth 469-470). The attention of the readers is captured by search an event because it shows that sometimes violence may recoil back to the violent. The fact that the issues that Sherlock deal with are relatable to the reader makes the character realistic and very appealing.
Doyle was a man who was both gentle and fierce. This nature may explain why Sherlock was at times very kind, especially when he showed concern for his friend and at times, ruthless as long as he uncovered crimes.
He was also tenacious and did not waver from a cause he believed in until he had found a solution. This character trait may have influenced him in writing about Sherlock, a detective who did not give up until he found answers to questions he had in his cases.
Conclusion
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created a timeless character who has lived through centuries. The evolution of Sherlock Holmes is shown in various artistic works, and though many people may not know about the original Sherlock, they have encountered him in one way or another.
Is Sherlock Holmes realistic? The ability of the author to create a realistic character is proved by its popularity that made science detection very famous, and the styles used by Sherlock are used today in solving crimes.
It is also ironical that the character that Doyle tried to kill at one point has carried his legacy thus far. Sherlock Holmes will always keep the name of the author alive through his appeal to readers and audiences. This story shows that a person’s work can outlive them.
Works Cited
Brackett, Virginia. Beginnings through the 19th century. New York: Infobase Publishing, 2006. Print.
Dalrymple, Theodore. “The eternal detective.” National Criterion, 24. 3 (2005), 4-8.
Davies, David Stuart. Shadows of Sherlock Holmes. London: Wordsworth Editions, 1998. Print.
Doyle, A. Conan (1961). The boys’ Sherlock Holmes, New & Enlarged Edition. New York: Harper & Row. Print.
Gruesser, John Culler. A Century of Detection: Twenty Great Mystery Stories, 1841-1940. North Carolina: McFarland, 2010. Print.
Harper, Lila Marz. “Clues in the street: Sherlock Holmes, Martin Hewitt and Mean Streets.”The Journal of Popular Culture, 42.1 (2009), 67-89.
Haycraft, Howard. The Boys’ Sherlock Holmes: A Selection from the Works of a Conan Doyle. New York: Kessinger Publishing, 2005. Print.
Haynsworth, Leslie. “Sensational adventures: Sherlock Holmes and his generic past.”English Literature in Transition, 44.4 (2001), 459-485.
It is not easy to interpret or embrace Marshal McLuhan’s assertion that “the medium is the message” (Logan, 2010). It is a struggle to accept this statement at face value. The difficulty lies in the conventional way people interpret the meaning of medium. Crack open a Webster’s dictionary, and one can find that the word “medium” is defined as the messenger’s tool. If one takes away the message, the medium is nothing more than an empty receptacle. If one takes away the message, the medium is like a deaf and mute child.
There is a clear dividing line that separates the medium from the message. McLuhan’s idea of merging two distinct entities seems implausible. It is easier to disprove McLuhan’s claim, especially when viewed from the context of simple communication systems. However, McLuhan’s idea makes sense when viewed from the context of mass media and social media platforms. In simple communication systems, such as written notes and public speaking, it is easy to separate medium from the message. It is not the same conclusion when it comes to mass media and social media platforms.
In mass media communication systems and Internet-based communication platforms, the medium affects the message (Long & Wall, 2014). For example, TV commercials are produced with a 30-second run time in mind. Ads placed in newspapers were created with space constraints in mind.
McLuhan’s perceptive mind understood the interaction between medium and message. Nevertheless, he went further when he declared that the “medium is the message” (Wardrip-Fruin, 2003). He pointed out that a particular medium produces a certain product. For example, a one-paragraph monologue, describing a person’s frustration with the government will generate a certain type of reaction when posted on a school’s bulletin board.
However, it will generate a different type of activity and reaction if the author made arrangements with a local newspaper to publish the same message. Therefore, in the context of mass media and social media platforms, the message is dependent on the medium. The message requires the amplification power of the medium, and this was the intended message of Marshall McLuhan (Logan, 2010).
The Case Study
In this particular case, the medium is the BBC, and the message is the 21st century adaptation of Sir Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. BBC’s history stretches back to the 1920’s and will celebrate its centenary in 2022. A cursory glance at the historical timeline reveals the evolution of the BBC’s tools and format, from radio broadcasting to digital BBC TV channels.
It is impossible to discuss 20th century British history without discussing the impact of the BBC on people’s lives. The BBC was the first broadcasting company to begin a regular TV schedule in 1936 (Porter, 2012). The BBC changed the way people perceive radio broadcasting when reporters made live commentary on location during World War II (Porter,2012).
The BBC went changed the history of television when it broadcast the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. In 1958, BBC launched a children’s TV program called the Blue Peter. It is one of the longest-running shows in TV history. In 1995, BBC’s broadcast of the Princess Diana interview was seen by 15 million people. In other words, the BBC is not an ordinary broadcasting company in the eyes of many people.
Applying the Theory
It is important to highlight the history and accomplishment of the BBC mass media conglomerate in order to see its power to change people’s perspective on a particular subject matter. BBC’s power to transform the message is evident in the 21st century adaptation of Sherlock Holmes. It must be pointed out that millions of people around the world are familiar with the Sherlock Holmes character. People are aware of the basic characteristics of the great detective, and they are familiar with the basic plot of the story. In their minds, Sherlock Holmes is a middle-aged detective and the best sleuth in England. London’s famous Scotland Yard – Metropolitan Police Service turns to Sherlock Holmes if the detectives in its employ are unable to solve a difficult case.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created the Sherlock Holmes character (Porter, 2012). Fans of his novels imagine Sherlock Holmes as an elderly gentleman who loves to smoke a pipe (Vanacker & Wynne, 2013). In the 21st century adaptation, BBC’s “Sherlock” is a three-part television series. In the BBC version, Sherlock Holmes is a young detective that uses nicotine patches in order to kick the smoking habit.
Benedict Cumberbatch plays the character, and at first glance, he does not seem to look the part. He does not only look young, but he also looks effeminate. It is difficult to imagine the officers of the world-famous Scotland Yard knocking on the door of Cumberbatch’s apartment because they needed his help. Avid fans of the Sherlock Holmes novels are expected to make known their displeasure.
It can be argued that the irreverent depiction of the fabled detective could translate to a colossal failure. It is, therefore, a risk that no prudent investor should undertake. However, BBC’s “Sherlock” is one of the most popular TV shows in the United Kingdom. Therefore, television viewers embraced the radical characterization of Sherlock Holmes. It can be argued that the TV viewers who subscribed to the said show are consuming a new product, something that is very different from the original.
BBC is technically the medium. However, its history, leverage, influence, and reach enabled it to manipulate the original message of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. In this example, the medium exerted its power to interfere with the intended message (Wardrip-Fruin, 2003).
On August 8, 2010, BBC broadcast the third episode of the said TV series (Porter, 2012). The name of the episode was “The Great Game,” and in one scene, Holmes ripped off Watson’s clothes in a darkened swimming pool. Watson told Holmes that he was glad no one saw what happened, because he was afraid of what people may say with regards to their relationship. It is interesting to note that the BBC did not attempt to hide the gay references in the said TV series.
The company is able to do this because of how it is perceived in the present time. The BBC is known for its liberal views. Thus, it is allowed to present controversial ideas like the hidden undercurrents in the relationship between Holmes and Watson (Porter, 2012). This is another example of McLuhan’s theory that the medium dictates the outcome or the impact of the message (Logan, 2010).
The running time for “The Great Game” was clocked at 89 minutes. In a show that runs under two hours, Sherlock Homes was required to solve a series of complicated problems. He solved all those problems in quick succession. It was a distorted view of real-life detective work. BBC did not intend to create an unrealistic version of real-life detective work. However, the company created products based on the target audience and the type of product that they want to consume (Long & Wall, 2014). In this regard, they needed to create a show with a fast-paced narrative. They needed a storyline wherein the hero provides a resolution to the conflict at the end of the show. The inadvertent effect was to plant a false idea into the minds of the TV viewers, that criminal cases can be resolved in a few days.
Conclusion
It was difficult to understand McLuhan’s aphorism, that “the medium is the message,” especially if the mind was conditioned to separate these two entities. However, McLuhan was correct when he said that there is no need to dichotomize the medium from the message. Based on the study of “The Great Game,” one can argue that this show is another evidence to support McLuhan’s claim. His claim is true, especially if viewed in the context of modern mass media communication processes.
The BBC is an example of a modern mass media platform, and its manipulation of the original Sherlock Holmes storyline supports the idea that the medium has the power to shape and affect the outcome of the message. The BBC created a new character based on the needs of the 21st century audience. It also altered the way people view the crime-solving process. Thus, McLuhan was correct when he said that the medium affects the form and consequences of the message.
References
Logan, R. (2010). Understanding new media: Extending Marshall McLuhan. New York: Peter Lang.
Long, P., & Wall, T. (2014). Media studies: Texts, production, context. New York: Routledge.
Porter, L. (2012). Sherlock Holmes for the 21st century: Essays on new adaptation. NC: McFarland & Company.
Vanacker, S., & Wynne, C. (2013). Sherlock Holmes and Conan Doyle: Multi-media afterlives. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Wardrip-Fruin, N. (2003). The new media reader. MA: MIT Press.