Iconic Duets: Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John. H. Watson.

 

Anything becomes special because it is surrounded by the mundane. In a pool of great things, it becomes difficult to comprehend that one special thing, but in a pool of ordinary things, the extraordinary is very easy to spot. What makes the ordinary different from the extraordinary? Attention to detail, experience and an understanding of the self which makes understanding others easier. The Late Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, in his much-loved detective series titled ‘Sherlock Holmes’ explored the various adventures of the protagonist Sherlock Holmes in which he unveils various mysteries with his friend and confidant, Dr. John. H. Watson.

 

While Sherlock steals the show with his peculiar observation skills, attention to detail, erudition, the ability to understand many languages, understand the veracity of people’s claims and their personalities in a single interaction, he needs Watson because as big a genius as Sherlock is fallible, too and while the world does not see that side,  Watson is the one person who does and, understands Sherlock's need to be accurate and also somehow knows that beneath his logical exterior is a heart that would not allow any of his friend to be in danger.

 

Whenever anyone in the stories as written by Doyle wants answers, they consult the extraordinary detective Sherlock Holmes with the hope and certainty that his piercing wit would enable them to get to the root of the matter and finally, the answer. It is equally peculiar to notice that the great Sherlock Holmes discusses his cases with his seemingly ordinary friend, Dr. Watson. It is because the former may have the wit and the ability to find the answers, but the latter’s empathy and strong sense of people around him, understanding them, being kind to them was a skill that the cut and dry, yet caustically comical Sherlock Holmes could not master.

 

Had Sherlock Holmes been surrounded by people with better instincts than him, having better skillsets than him, people would definitely not have noticed him. It is because people were busy chasing what they thought was best in their lives that they needed Sherlock’s help for figuring out what they themselves could have noticed had they exercised a bit of caution. Even in the stories that are to this day enjoyed worldwide because of their twisted and really simple, unthought of endings, it can be clearly seen that Sherlock learns the ordinary person’s thinking from Watson, which of course is not a mundane task.

 

If Watson were to have buckled up and paid more attention to detail, learnt most musical instruments and observed people minutely, he could have easily mastered Sherlock’s skills. But, would the same be possible for Sherlock? To be empathetic, to be emotional, to not be dry with people and to make casual conversation instead of restricting its scope to the task at hand? The obvious answer is no. Watson had the potential to be Sherlock, as every skill can be acquired, but the probability of the of the reverse would have been less than miniscule because while skills can be acquired, nature can’t.

 

Watson is also a good friend. He makes sure Sherlock is in touch with his human side and that he is there to celebrate his friend’s successes and is strongly by Sherlock’s side when some of his conjectures seemingly go wrong because of which others around him doubt his credibility. Watson goes to the extent of supporting Sherlock’s infatuation with Irene Adler, the thief he could not get hold of, but eventually did.

 

Throughout the stories, we see that each and every adventure of Sherlock is incomplete without the involvement of Watson. They may not show the each other that they value and respect each other, they just did. It was one of the early Victorian Bromances. Sherlock Holmes’ stories are no doubt about adventures, they are also about lasting and solid friendship.

 

The readers also see the duo completing each other. While Sherlock cannot see himself socializing and making small talk, Watson does that for him and while Watson, like most of us does not observe people keenly and goes about his business like a normal person, in Sherlock he sees the primal instinct he never exercises.

 

One of the best takeaways for the reader is that if a Sherlock like attitude is adopted in the professional sphere and Watson is made the role model for personal relationships, the reader is sure to succeed in both spheres by making the best of both worlds. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle gave the world the best stories in the mystery genre and indirectly, gave the world a story of two great friends who stood by each other and unveiled many horrors because they were together.

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Author: Ms. Radhika Sunil Vaidya. 

E-mail i.d:   radhika.vaidya98@gmail.com

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