Attitudes towards women Sherlock Holmes

1904 sidney paget illustration of adventure of charles augustus milverton

as doyle wrote joseph bell, holmes inhuman babbage s calculating machine , fall in love . holmes says in valley of fear, not whole-souled admirer of womankind , , in adventure of second stain finds motives of women ... inscrutable .... how can build on such quicksand? trivial actions may mean volumes ... extraordinary conduct may depend upon hairpin or curling tongs . in sign of four, says, not tell them much. women never entirely trusted—not best of them . watson calls him automaton, calculating machine , , detective replies: of first importance not allow judgement biased personal qualities. client me mere unit—a factor in problem. emotional qualities antagonistic clear reasoning. assure winning woman ever knew hanged poisoning 3 little children insurance-money .

at end of sign of four, watson reveals holmes miss morstan has done me honour accept me husband in prospective.

he gave dismal groan.

feared much, said he. cannot congratulate you.

i little hurt.

have reason dissatisfied choice? asked.

not @ all. think 1 of charming young ladies ever met, , might have been useful in such work have been doing.

she had decided genius way; ... love emotional thing, , whatever emotional opposed true cold reason place above things.

i should never marry myself, lest bias judgement.

watson says in adventure of copper beeches detective inevitably manifested no further interest in client when once had ceased centre of 1 of problems . in lion s mane , holmes writes, women have seldom been attraction me, brain has governed heart, indicating has been attracted women on occasion, has not been interested in pursuing relationships them. ultimately, however, in adventure of devil s foot , claims outright have never loved .

despite overall attitude, holmes adept @ effortlessly putting clients @ ease, , watson says although detective has aversion women , has peculiarly ingratiating way [them] . watson notes in adventure of dying detective mrs. hudson fond of holmes because of remarkable gentleness , courtesy in dealings women. disliked , distrusted sex, chivalrous opponent . in adventure of charles augustus milverton , detective manages become engaged under false pretenses in order obtain information case, abandons woman once has information requires.

irene adler

irene adler retired american opera singer , actress appears in scandal in bohemia . although appearance, 1 of notable female characters in stories: woman has ever challenged holmes intellectually, , 1 of handful of people ever bested him in battle of wits. reason, adler frequent subject of pastiche writing. beginning of story describes high regard in holmes holds her:

to sherlock holmes woman. have seldom heard him mention under other name. in eyes eclipses , predominates whole of sex. not felt emotion akin love irene adler ... yet there 1 woman him, , woman late irene adler, of dubious , questionable memory.

five years before story s events, adler had brief liaison crown prince of bohemia wilhelm von ormstein while prima donna of imperial opera of warsaw. engaged daughter of king of scandinavia , fearful that, if fiancée s family learned of impropriety, marriage called off, ormstein hires holmes regain photograph of adler , himself. adler slips away before holmes can succeed, leaving photograph of herself (alone) , note holmes not blackmail ormstein.

her memory kept alive photograph of adler holmes received part in case.