Sun 1

Jia Sun
Lynda Haas
Writing 39B
April 30, 2014
Exploring the Mystery Genre: Role of Watson
The relationship between Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson is widely known by various
people in different ages, or even eras; however, not all the people have the same feeling towards
the mysterious connection between the exclusive consulting detective and the common doctor.
They show great interest in finding out what Watson means to Holmes. Some people say Watson
is a close friend to Holmes, but they are more than friends. Some say Watson is more like a
student to Holmes. In Conan Doyles novel, The Sign of Four, it can be seen that Watson and
Sherlocks conversation takes the majority of the space. Doyle made Watson as the narrator of
Holmes stories since Watson plays a very important role not only in his relationship with Holmes,
but also in each stage of the plot. In addition, the creation of Watson makes those stories become
more attractive and convincing.
Apparently, in most of the Holmes stories, Holmess analysis of his logical deduction is an
explanation for answering Watsons question. As a student, John Watson makes the whole story
become more coherent and reasonable. In the novel, A Introduction to the Detective Story, Panek
Leroy points out that Doyle put his memory about his old professor, Joe Bell, and his own view
Sun 2
towards general professors into the character of Holmes. He first refers to the description of
Watson in "Abbey Grange" (Watson listens to Holmes "like an interested student who observes
the demonstration of his professor"); then mentions, he places considerable stress on the
professorial qualities of Holmes on of the secrets of the character, what we view as endearing
grumpiness and delightful perversity in our teachers (85). It is easily to ignore that without
Watsons questions and mistakes, Holmes is not necessary to be the teacher who needs to
make those explanation for his deduction. It can also be seen from The Sign of Four, after Holmes
talks about The Distinction between the Ashes of the Various Tobaccos, he asks if Watson feels
bored about listening to his hobby. It is of the greatest interest to me, especially since I have had
the opportunity of observing your practical application of it (232). It can be imagined that without
Watson, the whole paragraph of description of professional analysis will make the readers feel
extremely bored. To some extent, Watson is more like the reader, his appearance reflects the
uniqueness of Holmess intellectual and his questions direct readers to follow Holmess
explanation for his great deduction. Readers will not feel bored or lost when they follow the step of
Holmes.
The comparison of Holmes and Watson also shows the importance of the common
character since most readers have the same feeling like Watson. In the novel Mastermind: How
to Think Like Sherlock Holmes, the author, Konnikova describes two different thinking systems.
One of them is fast, intuitive, reactionarya kind of constant fight-or-fight vigilance of mind
Sun 3
(17). Watson is created to represents those who have this kind of thinking system. Watson
usually just gives a conclusion by what he has seen on the surface. The other one is relatively
slower, but more logical and thoughtful. Its representative is Holmes. Unlike Watson, Holmess
conclusion does not just come what he has seen at the crime scene. After Combining with the
knowledge in his mind and rechecking the unsure speculation, Sherlock can finally make the
assured conclusion. It can be seen from what he did in The Sign of Four, he whipped out his
lens and a tape measure, and hurried about the room on his knees, measuring, comparing,
examining, with his long thin nose only a few inches from the planks, and his beady eyes
gleaming and deep-set like those of a bird (848). Watsons feature is created as common as the
normal people; it helps to amplify the intelligence and prudence of Holmes. He does not let
himself miss any details when he tries to gather more information and make deduction. However,
not everyone can be such conscious like Holmes, their ability of thinking is much more similar to
Watsons. The existence of Watson makes the reader feel more realistic when they are reading
the amusing stories of Holmes. It can also be seen in the novel Murder Will Out: The Detective
in Fiction, the author points out that it was an ingenious action to create Watson as a narrator in the
stories of Sherlock Holmes (9). It also says that only three stories are not telling by Watson, and all
of these are put in the last collection of Sherlock Holmess stories since they are less persuasive
and less attractive to the audience. Unlike other detectives, Holmes is more sensitive to emotion.
But he is eccentric, knowledgeable, and talented in many different fields, which makes him
become different from the character of ordinary Watson. Although Watson is just a middle class
Sun 4
gentleman during Victorian era, he is absolutely necessary for the Holmes stories since he
represents most of the readers at that time. Watsons mistakes provide the readers a chance to make
a further bold guess. He was created to make the Holmes stories turn to be more interesting since
not every reader could always be interested in just listening to a genius show his talent.
In the article, Heroism, Culture, and Dread in The Sign of Four, Farrell mentions,
Watson represents an uneasy accommodation to the commonplace world. Dissociation allows
him-and the reader-to identifies with a godlike projection of human powers and participates in a
fantasy of mental exaltation. Watson is created to lead the reader to follow him and walk into
the world of Sherlock Holmes. Without him, we cannot easily find out the meaning of Holmess
each step. More or less, his leading complements the missing part of Sherlocks monologue,
which makes it more like a story. In Paneks An Introduction to the Detective Story, we can also
see that although Watson is as common as a reader, his importance cannot be overlooked. When
Holmes wants Watson to make his narratives to be didactic, Doyle intelligently let Watson
decline to do it (86). Like Arun Thuraiarasan mentions in his review of Sherlock, BBC Season 1,
there can be no Sherlock Holmes without a stalwart Dr. John Watson to define him. Watsons
narration makes the Holmess stories become more understandable and attractive. Since not
everyone can understand Holmess world alone, they would like to explore more with their guide,
the complement of Holmes, Watson.
As a student or a loser in a comparison, Watson is definitely less wise than Holmes.
Sun 5
However, the creation of him is a great supplement to the Holmes stories. His common, inferior
character makes readers become more attracted since they find their epitome in the book.

















WORKS CITED
Sun 6
Binyon, T.J. "Murder Will Out": The Detective in Fiction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1989.
Print.
Farrell, Kirby. Heroism, Culture, and Dread in The Sign of Four. Studies in the Novel 16:1
(1984): 32-51. JSTOR. Web. 01/15/2014.
Konnikova, Maria. Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes. New York: Viking, 2013.
Print.
Panek, Leroy. An Introduction to the Detective Story. Bowling Green, OH: Bowling Green
State University Popular Press, 1987. Print.
Conan Doyle, Arthur. The Sign of the Four. Seattle: Amazon Digital Services, 2013. Kindle
eBook. Online.
Arun Thuraiarasan, Sherlock, BBC Season 1- A Review
https://arunarasan.wordpress.com/tag/dr-john-watson/