Yes, I have read all the short stories and the novels involving Sherlock Holmes. But, every time I take up the study in scarlet, I am hooked on again. A contrast between introduction of Sherlock and Watson is what always grabs my attention. Everything about Watson is told to the reader. It is like, know the narrator first. Normally a narrator is given a one dimensional character.
The narrator cannot change for anything. He will be true to his introductions. He does not want any share of the success but will be there for all the difficulties the main character undergoes. I saw the same pattern in "The Great Gatsby" and also "Brideshead revisited". The study in scarlet is different here. Watson is always with Sherlock. There are very rare situations where they are not together. There is one more difference. We dont know much about Sherlock Holmes. We are told what Watson sees. So, we, the reader, know as much as Watson wants us to know.
The character of Sherlock Holmes is not fully exposed to the reader. Whereas in other books, I state, the main character is more well etched than the narrator. There will be more dimensions to the main character. Sherlock Holmes is as unknown to me as he was known to me before reading all the stories he is involved in. I know a lot of Watson's character. However, he is not multi-dimensioned. His history is told as though it is a bored life.
Whatever life he now leads with Sherlock is what is important and significant. We also see that Sherlock himself does not like the way Watson writes his escapades though he is happy that he is doing it, since, Holmes himself would not have done it since it is too boring. Should we thank the single dimensional life of Watson or the multi-dimensional un-explored life of Sherlock.
This is exactly the reason there have been plenty of takes on this detective than any other ones. Dalgelish and Poirot are etched so beautifully to the last strand of hair on their face, it is very difficult to bring them out of their comfort zone. But, Sherlock does not have to be comfortable. He enjoys the un-comfortable. He cherishes it. To this day, I have not figured out Sherlock as much as the hardy boys, Nancy drew, Poirot or Dalgelish. But, I am happy that these people exist. They have drawn me out of many depths and have partnered me in re-energizing me on various occasions. Thanks to one and all. However, Sherlock.......
