Sherlock Holmes Belonging
Interviewer: Good evening everyone. In tonight’s program we have a special guest Chuck Testa, author of novels and stories of ‘Sherlock Holmes’ with us here. Please give her a warm welcome.
Chuck: Thank you; I was genuinely excited when I received the invitation to come and talk on the show.
Interviewer: Now, this novel has been highly recommended and useful as a related text for this particular area of study, belonging. Why do you think that is? Could you elaborate on that?
Chuck: Well, this novel contains short stories in which the protagonist, detective ‘Sherlock Holmes’ and partner, doctor ‘John Watson’ embark a journey which is usually a case of murder of theft. In these ‘stories’ they encounter various characters and the reader is given an overview of their life story; specifically, in the story ‘A Study in Scarlet’. As Sherlock discovers the motive behind the killings, the reader is given the perspective of the killer and his reason for the murders. We can relate his experiences to the consequences of belonging and how the character may feel a loss of identity if he conforms. …show more content…
Each short story in this novel deals with different situations and aspects of belonging, which makes it such a fantastic related text to use.
Throughout the book, the reader is reading the events from Watson’s perspective which allows us to understand his thoughts and opinions. We read his adventures with the great detective Sherlock and gradually begin to understand his obscure mental state of mind. Ironically, the fictional detective is highly admired and respected by other detectives and police, yet it is evident he feels isolated and alienated due to his lack of ability to socialise with
others.
Although the character ‘Watson’ narrates his experiences, the reader hardly hears of his experiences even when Holmes isn’t around. Holmes is clearly the focus of the doctor’s storytelling which makes Watson a ‘peripheral narrator’. This means Watson is a biased narrator; however, this shows us his thoughts on Holmes and how he relies on him to feel a sense of belonging and comfort.
Watson feels a sense of loyalty towards Holmes. This can relate to various other texts. For example, in Shakespeare’s comedy play, ‘As you like it’, it explores various different kinds of relationships: brother to brother, servant to master, friend to friend and more. These relationships allow characters to feel a sense of belonging. For example, in the play Touchstone decides to follow Celia and Rosalind in to the Forest of Arden rather than remaining at the court. This illustrates he feels a sense of affiliation through his loyal actions of joining Celia and Rosalind in the forest.
The novel ‘Sherlock Holmes’ is a great book which evidently shows connections with other texts of belonging which makes it a perfect relatable material source.
Overall, I suggest this novel to HSC students as a related material as it is a great example of text which explores the concepts and different aspects of belonging.
Interviewer: I’m sure our listeners won’t hesitate to stop by and pick this novel up from the stores! Thank you once again for coming over today.
Chuck: Thank you; I was genuinely excited when I received the invitation to come and talk on the show.
Interviewer: Now, this novel has been highly recommended and useful as a related text for this particular area of study, belonging. Why do you think that is? Could you elaborate on that?
Chuck: Well, this novel contains short stories in which the protagonist, detective ‘Sherlock Holmes’ and partner, doctor ‘John Watson’ embark a journey which is usually a case of murder of theft. In these ‘stories’ they encounter various characters and the reader is given an overview of their life story; specifically, in the story ‘A Study in Scarlet’. As Sherlock discovers the motive behind the killings, the reader is given the perspective of the killer and his reason for the murders. We can relate his experiences to the consequences of belonging and how the character may feel a loss of identity if he conforms. …show more content…
Each short story in this novel deals with different situations and aspects of belonging, which makes it such a fantastic related text to use.
Throughout the book, the reader is reading the events from Watson’s perspective which allows us to understand his thoughts and opinions. We read his adventures with the great detective Sherlock and gradually begin to understand his obscure mental state of mind. Ironically, the fictional detective is highly admired and respected by other detectives and police, yet it is evident he feels isolated and alienated due to his lack of ability to socialise with
others.
Although the character ‘Watson’ narrates his experiences, the reader hardly hears of his experiences even when Holmes isn’t around. Holmes is clearly the focus of the doctor’s storytelling which makes Watson a ‘peripheral narrator’. This means Watson is a biased narrator; however, this shows us his thoughts on Holmes and how he relies on him to feel a sense of belonging and comfort.
Watson feels a sense of loyalty towards Holmes. This can relate to various other texts. For example, in Shakespeare’s comedy play, ‘As you like it’, it explores various different kinds of relationships: brother to brother, servant to master, friend to friend and more. These relationships allow characters to feel a sense of belonging. For example, in the play Touchstone decides to follow Celia and Rosalind in to the Forest of Arden rather than remaining at the court. This illustrates he feels a sense of affiliation through his loyal actions of joining Celia and Rosalind in the forest.
The novel ‘Sherlock Holmes’ is a great book which evidently shows connections with other texts of belonging which makes it a perfect relatable material source.
Overall, I suggest this novel to HSC students as a related material as it is a great example of text which explores the concepts and different aspects of belonging.
Interviewer: I’m sure our listeners won’t hesitate to stop by and pick this novel up from the stores! Thank you once again for coming over today.