Examples Of Foreshadowing In Bohemia

Outsmarted By The Woman

Who would have ever thought that the great Sherlock Holmes would be wrong from time to time? Certainly not any fan of the series of stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Doyle's A Scandal In Bohemia proves this to be untrue. A Scandal In Bohemia is a Sherlock Holmes story that is different from most others. This particular tale, contrary to many of the other Holmes stories, does not involve a crime. Even more unusual, Sherlock Holmes is not only wrong about his conclusions and deductions; he is actually outdone by a seemingly sweet and innocent woman named Irene Adler. Throughout the story, Arthur Conan Doyle uses many examples of foreshadowing as well as other literary devices to keep the reader guessing.
While reading the story for the first time, it is hard to pick up on some of the literary devices that Doyle uses. It is not until it is read over and perhaps over again that one can finally notice these hints that Doyle is giving the reader. An example of this would be the use of foreshadowing. Throughout the story, there are many instances in which Sir Arthur Doyle uses foreshadowing to forecast what is going to happen later in the story. The first appearance of foreshadowing occurred in the first line of the entire story. "To Holmes, she will always be the woman" (1). At first glimpse, one would most likely not understand the meaning of this. However, after reading a few times, the reader would realize that this woman, the woman, is given this title because of events that occur much later in the story. Another good example of foreshadowing occurs towards the end of the story, before the resolution is unveiled. "Irene Adler, as I will still call her, had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking back into the street" (185). This quote is spoken by Watson, and he is describing Irene Adler.
"To Sherlock Holmes, she is always the woman" (1). Describing Miss Adler as "the woman," not only foreshadows events that are to come, but it also lets the reader know that this woman is special to Holmes. It makes the reader come on to predetermined conclusions about this woman who has not been introduced yet. Metaphorically speaking, a statement such as "the woman," could be interpreted in many different ways. For one, at some point, Mr. Holmes could have been involved with this woman, or had some kind of intimate relationship with her. However this theory is soon dismissed. "In his eyes she eclipses and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler"(1). It could also be interpreted that this woman has done something to Holmes in which he will never forget. Although this proves to be the case, it certainly cannot be foreseen by the reader that this woman is one of the few, and probably the only woman, to get the better of Sherlock