Today's class offered some interesting insights on Sherlock Holmes and its cultural context. Sidney Paget's illustrations reveal an aspect of the stories that is concealed or even otherwise absent in the text. What interested me specifically was the empathy and humanity displayed in the illustrations of Holmes for "The Adventure of the Speckled Band."

In the illustration titled "She raised her veil" we commented on the absence of the deerstalker cap and pipe, symbols that have come to represent Holmes in popular culture due to Paget's influence. The absence of these symbols is a conscious choice but not as complex as it may appear. It would be a common courtesy to remove one's cap when in the presence of a woman (especially when indoors) and smoking was also coded as a male activity. This shows a basic consideration and respect towards Helen Stoner as befitting her rank and status. Considering the lack of authority that Helen had under her stepfather, this action of her approaching Holmes is a statement of her taking control of her life. This illustration is unique in that Holmes is rarely illustrated alongside a woman. It is for that reason that his common courtesy seems significant. Another interesting aspect of the illustration is the use of the gaze. As readers, we are made complicit in this cross-examination of Helen's testimony and the visuals put forth by Paget. Helen is the visual center of the image, with Holmes and Watson turned toward her in careful consideration. The intensity of their focus to her tale demonstrates a level of sympathy that is often erased from Holmes' character in favour of a pure objective logic.

The revelation of an emotional vulnerability in Holmes in this story is further supported by the illustration "Holmes lashed furiously." From the framing and point of view, we can deduce that this is Watson's perspective of the event. I would actually argue against the heroic narrative that was put forth in class. Holmes seems utterly terrified in this illustration. His eyes are bulging and his movement (or rather the hints of it) are frantic. The cane which Holmes wields bends to a great degree, revealing an intensity to his action which could never occur in reality. The shadows of the illustration also frame around this curve. The furious lashing seems to be cathartic both for the audience and for Holmes. Since the image is from Watson's point of view, we also are made privy to an intimacy in this emotional side of Holmes. Watson's gaze neglects the setting in favour of focusing on Holmes as he reacts to a life-threatening situation. Ultimately, Paget's illustrations for "The Adventure of the Speckled Band" reveal the humanity of Holmes because they focus on the more intimate relationships and interactions that he can have when his is not simply trying to solve a case (for the sake of mental stimulation) but is acting out of concern and empathy towards others.

Whether this emotional dimension to Holmes is an invention of Paget's or is founded through the text is irrelevant. Paget's illustrations of Holmes have altered and come into confrontation with Doyle's text. The character of Sherlock Holmes is constantly being reinvented and reevaluated in media. Sure, the Arthur Conan Doyle Association may disagree, but the character of Holmes has achieved such a notariety that his identity is no longer strictly possessed and controlled by Doyle's will. He even resurrected Holmes at the demands of his fans despite having felt he had exausted the character.