Student Question
What are Holmes and Watson debating at the start of "Case of Identity"?
Quick answer:
At the start of "Case of Identity," Holmes and Watson debate the idea that "there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." Holmes argues that seemingly trivial matters often provide great opportunities for discovery, where observing clues and understanding causes and effects can make a case intriguing. He suggests that larger crimes typically have more obvious motives. Their discussion is interrupted when they notice an interesting figure outside, initiating the case.
In the beginning of the story 'Case of identity' by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes and Watson are discussing the idea that 'there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace' as Sherlock himself states.
Holmes goes on to say that he has found that it is usually in the less important matters that there are great opportunities for finding things out, watching for clues,looking for the causes and effects of actions which make a case interesting.Some readers might argue with him about his assertion that the bigger the crime the more obvious the motive.
As they converse, he sees an interesting figure gazing up at the window from the other side of the street and 'The Case of Identity' begins.
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