The Hound of the Baskervilles Group

Question:


maganda12

Can you please describe the friendship of Holmes and Watson in "The Hound of the Baskervilles"?

Rate question:

Posted by maganda12 on Thursday August 14, 2008 at 12:12 AM and tagged with characters, friendship, holmes, the hound of the baskervilles, watson.

Answers:


  1. missblimey Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    I think Watson represents normality and humanity to Holmes; you can't help but think that Holmes's life would be very lonely without Watson there to bounce ideas off and provide companionship. On a more cynical note you could also suggest that Holmes keeps Watson around as a 'patsy'; someone to highlight just how clever Holmes is in comparison.

    From Watson's point of view his friendship with Holmes is one of awe and respect. He is genuinely impressed by his friend's abilities and is happy to be the one to share them with the rest of the world (remember in the novels it is always Watson who narrates them because writing the stories down is his role in the partnership).

    From a literary perspective Arthur Conan Doyle included Watson in the stories as a point of access for the reader. He is someone we can identify with and his presence allows us to find out what is happening. He asks Holmes the questions we would ask him and, at the end, is the reason Holmes gives a full explanation of his thinking and methods. Without Watson we would remain in the dark.

    Rate answer:

    Posted by missblimey on Thursday August 14, 2008 at 2:52 AM

  2. afmcgill
    afmcgill Teacher
    Middle School

    eNotes Editor

    Without Dr. Watson, Sherlock Holmes would be without friend and historian. More importantly, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous detective would be much less of a human in his many adventures, were it not for Watson at his side. By creating Watson, Doyle gave Holmes more depth as a character. However brilliant and self-absorbed Holmes may be, he interacts with Watson in a way that adds charm and humor to the Holmes stories. There are several points in the stories where emotion on the sides of both men come through. Notably, in "The Adventure of the Empty House," when Holmes reappears after many years after being thought dead, the reunion between the two men can bring tears to the devoted Holmes reader. On a different level, that of how to solve writing a mystery story, Watson acts as Holmes' sounding board. Further, by having Holmes explain things to Watson and then have Watson react, Doyle has made it possible for the reader to "listen in" to their thought processes. Still, for many readers, the friendship between Holmes and Watson make Holmes more human and less than a walking computer devoted only to solving the case.

    Rate answer:

    Posted by afmcgill on Sunday August 17, 2008 at 10:58 AM