Student Question
Who wins the debate at the start of "A Case of Identity"? What's your impression of Holmes?
Quick answer:
At the start of "A Case of Identity," Sherlock Holmes wins the debate. Holmes impresses with his keen observational skills and deductive reasoning, noticing minute details like pressure lines on a woman's sleeves. He is portrayed as compassionate and respectful, taking Mary Sutherland seriously despite her naivety. Holmes also appears just and chivalrous, expressing a desire to punish Mr. Windibank for his deceitful behavior towards Mary.
The reader's overall impression of Sherlock Holmes is very much like
Watson's impression: awe at the detail that Holmes can see, that he takes note
of, and that he deductively reasons with. (Who can see pressure lines on the
inside edges of a woman's plush sleeves?)
In addition, the reader gets the impression that Holmes is a compassionate man
because he takes Mary Sutherland perfectly seriously and treats her perfectly
respectfully although it is apparent from the start that she has been perhaps a
bit foolish. Holmes also makes an impression as a just and chivalrous man
because he wants to (or feigns wanting to) give Mr. Windibank a thrashing for
his low-minded and unscrupulous treatment of Mary Sutherland.
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