Watson Flashcards
‘Whoever had lost a treasure, I knew that night I had gained one’
The gentle, romantic subplot of Watson’s love to Mary contrasts with the violent, action filled main plot
It is there to highlight some of the unpleasant characteristics of the characters involved- their greed in contrast to Mary and Watson’ s relief that the treasure was lost
It creates a moral factor in that they find love and this is more valuable than money
How is Watson shown to be very emotional?
His ‘future were black’ without Mary even though they only met for few moments- HYPERBOLE.
‘black’ suggests depression
‘dangerous thoughts’ suggests his obsessive nature
and how he can’t even ‘dare’ to think such thoughts because of class differences.
Doyle wants us to see that even though he has feelings, he will never be good enough for her
‘What…I should dare to think of such things’
How is Watson an unreliable narrator?
He is easily influenced by Holmes- Holmes dismisses Watson’s feelings for Mary- she a ‘mere unit- a factor’
Later on Watson says he shouldn’t see her in that way as ‘she was a unit- nothing more’ = repetition of metaphor suggesting that Watson believes Holmes is always right and looks up to him- mimicking the very language used.
However the hyphen is used to suggest maybe he doesn’t completely agree (pause)- deep down he can’t see her as rationally as Holmes does.
How is duality shown in Watson and Holmes?
‘What a very attractive woman!’ I exclaimed
vs
Holmes didn’t notice ‘languidly’- suggests lack of care
‘A client is a mere unit- a factor’
Watson calls him a ‘calculating machine!’ - METAPHOR of machine to show different personalities = Holmes is an unemotional and cold person who does things in own way, not realising it hurts others’ feelings
How else does Watson look up to Holmes?
Chapter 1- he is ‘diffident and backward in crossing him’ about his drug use
adjective ‘diffident’ suggests lack of confidence when with Holmes because he is more superior- ‘extraordinary powers’
adjective ‘backward’ implies that he wants to but is unable to push forward and tell him about effects of drug use, as a ‘medical man’
He is in complete awe of his abilities and worries about upsetting him in any way
We see Holmes through his eyes- effective technique as we too feel inferior to him- used throughout novella to ask questions that we may have for him
We also have frustration for Holmes’ rational behaviour
