"You have an extraordinary genius for minutiae," I remarked. Holmes tells Watson about a recent work he has written about the subtle differences he has noticed in the ash of difference tobaccos. When there is nothing intellectual to keep Holmes busy, he resorts to drugs to numb himself. "But I abhor the dull routine of existence. He prefers to be intellectually stimulated. Holmes thrives on mental challenges and puzzles. The effect of this is that Holmes appears even more intellectually distant and superior.
Although Watson does have some knowledge of the writer's work, the reader may not. Holmes assumes that Watson will understand his reference to the German writer Jean Paul Richter. Holmes is well-read, musically gifted and speaks at least two European languages.
He also has a strong sense of justice and at the end of the novel encourages Small to tell the truth so that he is not wrongly accused of Sholto's murder. In this story he correctly determines how Jonathan Small and Tonga steal the Agra treasure from Sholto's house.
Holmes takes great pleasure in solving mysteries and outwitting others. In the opening chapters he demonstrates his powers of observation and deduction with reference to his work on tobacco identification and by correctly explaining the history of Watson's watch. He is proud of his mental capacities and often dismissive towards those who he perceives to be less intelligent. Watson describes him as a sharp and highly intelligent individual.Īt the start of the novel, Holmes is injecting cocaine, which he argues he needs to numb his mind when there is nothing more interesting to occupy and challenge him. He is presented through the viewpoint of his friend, Dr John Watson, the narrator of the story. The main character in the novel is the private detective, Sherlock Holmes.