milquetoast27

[milquetoast27]

I am nothing in my soul if not obsessed with detectives since my begining of time

[milquetoast27]

The Emotional Reticence of Holmes and Watson

Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, two shy Victorian men, maneuver their vulnerable feelings of affection for one another in an expertly flawed and human manner crafted by Arthur Conan Doyle. First and foremost, I am examining their use of "my dear Watson" (91 times in the canon) and "my dear Holmes" (14 times).

The first time Holmes ever uses "my dear Watson" in the canon, it's actually in a rather sarcastic tone.

"What is your theory, then, as to those footmarks?" I asked, eagerly, when we had regained the lower room once more. "My dear Watson, try a little analysis yourself," said he, with a touch of impatience. "You know my methods. Apply them, and it will be instructive to compare results." (SIGN)

Note: for The Great Game, this absolutely isn't the first time Holmes has used this phrase, but from the narrative perspective, it is absolutely the first time Conan Doyle put this phrase to paper, which is more relevant to this examination.

Holmes uses this phrase with a touch of exasperation, which even in itself holds some love within it as he encourages his friend to utilise his own beloved methods. And even in this first instance, while Holmes's tone indicates some displeasure, the personal address ensures that it isn't a genuine blow. But the intimacy of "my dear" is quite daunting, isn't it? so Holmes utilises the veil of sarcasm to break the barrier, in the spirit of "look, I've said it now. Now I may go and say it as much as I want."

Oh, and he does. The frequency of 'my dear Watson' slowly builds through the canon and peaks through FINA, HOUN and EMPT. It isn't surprising, considering they hold some of the most critical points in their relationship.

• "My dear Watson, you were born to be a man of action." (HOUN) • "Not for the world, my dear Watson. I am perfectly satisfied with your company if you will tolerate mine." (HOUN) • "Then these are your instructions, and I beg, my dear Watson, that you will obey them to the letter." (FINA) • "My dear Watson, I owe you a thousand apologies. I had no idea that you would be so affected." (EMPT)

It is evident, that it is after this barrier is broken in SIGN, that Holmes feels comfortable to use this address in such a sincere manner. In fact, it is apparent that it is in particularly emotional circumstances that Holmes is more likely to call for Watson through any means at all.

So, how about Watson?

His use of "my dear Holmes" is almost exclusively out of shock or surprise whenever his 'Johnson' claims anything particularly outré. Again, while Watson is in disbelief, and most probably doubtful of Holmes's claims, the personal address softens this blow to say that no real harm is done between them.

• "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much." (SCAN) • "My dear Holmes!" "Oh, yes, I did." (SPEC)

The first real instance of Watson using this phrase sincerely is in FINA.

"You are afraid of something?" I asked. "Well, I am." "Of what?" "Of air-guns." "My dear Holmes, what do you mean?"

Holmes is acting more than out of the ordinary to put Watson in some kind of concern and this question comes no doubt more from worry than simple surprise. He even asks again, "but what does it all mean?" which highlights his wish to be by Holmes's side, even in danger.

The first and only instance of a good-hearted affectionate address comes to Holmes in HOUN. However, interestingly, it is only through the written word, in Watson's letters to Holmes from Dartmoor.

• Congratulate me, my dear Holmes, and tell me that I have not disappointed you as an agent. • Such are the adventures of last night, and you must acknowledge, my dear Holmes, that I have done you very well in the matter of a report.

Watson's method of breaking the barrier is to send it remotely through his pen, which is, after all, much less daunting than saying it directly. It is absolutely worth noting that Watson has also used this language when specifically wishing for praise - it shows us that he feels the closest to Holmes when he is able to follow his own methods.

Conan Doyle shows us the ways insecurities and pressures can collaborate with our most earnest and deepest affections. Holmes and Watson aren't perfect beings, but navigate through their web of reticence and inner desires to find an unspoken but profound dialogue between them.

#acd sherlock holmes #sherlock holmes #acd canon #Sherlockian scholarship #fucking hell I love them so much I will die for them #I'm so normal about the ACD canon fr fr #personal essay

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characters whose philosophy is “if i cannot be wanted, i will be needed and if i cannot be needed, let me be used until there’s nothing left of me.” thank you for everyone’s attention. falls off stage and dies

[milquetoast27]

THE SHERLOCK HOLMES DOUBLE-BEDDED ROOM CONSPIRACY

I've seen a little talk of this online, and I must share my most recent Sherlockian scholarship.

Twice in the canon, Holmes and Watson are described sleeping in a 'double-bedded room'. There are two definitions for this term, for a room:

having two beds

furnished with a double bed.

Ignoring all other clues, I firmly interpret this to have the latter meaning in both cases, in 'The Man With the Twisted Lip' and 'The Valley of Fear'.

Holmes tells Watson in TWIS, "my room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one," and later says that, "Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal." He says both to Watson in assurance that there will be space for him at The Cedars, seemingly leaving the choice up to him.

Watson then later again confirms, "a large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our disposal." This indicates that Watson has made the choice to sleep in the same room as Holmes (which is honestly enough for me, but we must go on!)

In the same paragraph, Watson states "Holmes wandered about the room collecting pillows from his bed." I was concerned that my theory may have been debunked here. HOWEVER!

"His bed" does not necessarily mean there is more than one, as it was very much likely 'his bed' before Watson began lodging there. Watson (bless his soul) may also be more likely to refer to it as Holmes's bed as he is not the guest actually occupying the room and using it as a base. This early in canon, Watson is still a little shy about accompanying Holmes and therefore lean more towards this perspective.

Another perspective could be that Watson considers the bed occupying the OTHER room to be 'his', and is fully acknowledging the fact that he is taking up what is Holmes's space, although I consider this less likely back in 1889.

In this time, Holmes also never occupies a bed. He creates a (cosy) fort for himself and smokes through the night instead. Why? Because he was too shy to sleep with Watson.

Why didn't he just take the other room? Think about it. Watson has welcomed himself to sleep in Holmes's double-bedded room. Wouldn't it be awkward if he now moved to sleep in the other one? Additionally, the whole reason he has brought Watson with him was to have him in his presence - not to mention a great opportunity to watch him sleep (which I am almost certain he has done).

Thankfully, my job for proving this in VALL is much simpler. In fact, Watson telling us that "the tall, lean figure inclined towards me," while he was in bed, suggests that, perhaps, Holmes was beginning to get into it?

In conclusion, I cannot prove definitively that they were indeed occupying double-beds, but any reader is 100% justified in believing so. The same goes for the reverse, and so any interpretation is completely valid >:)

#acd sherlock holmes #sherlock holmes #acd canon #sherlockian scholarship #scrutinising the goddamn text #sometimes I'm not sure how intentional ACD was about this but that's not the point #TWIS also featured James Watson so can I really trust him :/ #victorian husbands #canon johnlock is real

[milquetoast27]

obsessed helppp 🥰🥰😭

Holmes with Toby in SIGN :3

[milquetoast27]

I want to share my own thoughts that rose up while reading Holmes as an aroace person!

Something in particular that resonated with me is Holmes's disdain for romantic attraction and love. Living, especially, in a world that does not acknowledge the a-spectrum, it is no surprise that any aro/ace person (even today) would feel alienated and misunderstood. For Holmes, this manifested as disgust and bitterness towards, in his eyes, the rest of the planet who seem to grasp it. Because of this isolation, it heightens Holmes's need to have himself understood. He lacks the language that we have today, and it only gets murkier with the then, and still vague and varying usages of the word "love".

It was not that he felt any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. (SCAN)

This line has been interpreted to death, but with the belief that this is something Holmes had made very clear to Watson, it's him wishing under all circumstances for him to be seen as he is.

Living in a hetero-amatanormative world, gender plays a large role into Holmes's descriptions of men and women. Holmes struggles to admit that he finds women aesthetically attractive (especially early-canon), for example affirming that Irene Adler being "the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet", is only known to him according to the men on the Serpentine-Mews. However, he never heistates on commenting on a man's attractiveness. For example, Godfrey Norton, only a few short sentences later, is described by Holmes as "dark, handsome and dashing." Holmes feels no reluctance to describe men in such a way due to the fact that a Victorian culture would never mistake this for romantic interest.

We can assume that in the majority of cases, this is Holmes trying to clarify -- to not be seen as a romantic, which unfortunately then was understood to be equal with aesthetic attraction. It is very clear, however, that Holmes possesses one and not the other.

Later in the canon, he is seen showing open appreciation for women's beauty, not only in appearance but also character, such as Violet de Merville or Maud Bellamy. I speculate strongly that this came about from understanding love in a new way through his partnership with Watson, and finding that love comes in many forms, between any two people. Perhaps he no longer feels insecure about being seen as a romantic individual, because he has someone who truly understands him. I find that this is true on many levels for Holmes, not only on his lack of attractions, but also his eccentricities and deeper emotions, that were likely never properly understood by many.

It's always gotta make me tear up, huh? A huge aspect of H&W's relationship is accepting people as they are, so long as there is something worth valuing. They may be misogynistic, seem "positively inhuman" at times, or destroy their own body. But they may also just prefer a little solitude, communicate in a different way, or see the world differently.

#sherlock holmes #acd sherlock holmes #asexuality #aromanticism #aroace #Holmes IS aroace!! #Holmes & Watson mean the world to me #crazy how ACD made a totally aroace character before people had any real conscious ideas of it #bless my boys

[milquetoast27]

I started watching more Cushing Holmes and honestlyyyy he drives me crazy he looks amazing

Peter Cushing as Sherlock Holmes | Fashion

[milquetoast27]

“It was worth a wound–it was worth many wounds–”

- Sherlock Holmes, the Adventure of the Three Garridebs

Full text and individual pages under cut:

In an instant he had whisked out a revolver from his breast and had fired two shots. I felt a sudden hot sear as if a red-hot iron had been pressed to my thigh. There was a crash as Holmes’s pistol came down on the man’s head. I had a vision of him sprawling upon the floor with blood running down his face while Holmes rummaged him for weapons. Then my friend’s wiry arms were round me, and he was leading me to a chair.

“You’re not hurt, Watson? For God’s sake, say that you are not hurt!”

It was worth a wound–it was worth many wounds–to know the depth of loyalty and love which lay behind that cold mask. The clear, hard eyes were dimmed for a moment, and the firm lips were shaking. For the one and only time I caught a glimpse of a great heart as well as of a great brain. All my years of humble but single-minded service culminated in that moment of revelation.

“It’s nothing, Holmes. It’s a mere scratch.”

He had ripped up my trousers with his pocket-knife.

“You are right,” he cried with an immense sigh of relief. “It is quite superficial.” His face set like flint as he glared at our prisoner, who was sitting up with a dazed face. “By the Lord, it is as well for you. If you had killed Watson, you would not have got out of this room alive. Now, sir, what have you to say for yourself?”

#i screamed before reading this #i cannot describe how well this was captured

[milquetoast27]

perhaps my favorite story…I have a whole theory that Lady Eva Blackwell is an invention of either Holmes or Watson, and Holmes’ actual goal was to recover compromising gay love letters from Milverton (his own? Watson’s? Victor Trevor’s???), who was threatening him with blackmail

Also love that they decide to dress up in fancy clothes to do a robbery and Watson is like I SHALL MAKE MASKS we love a theater gay

No mask version under cut:

[milquetoast27]

lovely! Not a bad colour palette ^_^

go @maybe-a-gatto-or-a-catto and @kookycreature !!

tagged by @kittydelight to use this website for a color palette based off our name (confluence)!

[Image Description: A color palette made of fifteen squares. The colors range from different shades of blue, gray, white, and lilac. /end ID]

tagging @littlemxdoomedbythenarrative @transfemgodtamer @cherrycreamsicle @lycanthrology @transmistyquigley @fma03envy @gh0str3c0rd3r @snailboygirlrat and anyone else who wants to do this!

[milquetoast27]

thanks for tagging me >:D if I had to put my status in a (non-gnome) image, I'm feeling like this

I'm tagging @miles-wrightworth and @maybe-a-gatto-or-a-catto !! anyone else feel free to participate too ^_^

Starting a new thread because the other was so long it was making everything sluggish x.x

Tag game: Insert a photo that you already have in your gallery that best describes you.

Thanks for the tag, @kraytwriter!

Tagging all of my followers. Yep, that's right. If you're following me, consider yourself tagged.

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On referring to my notes I see that it was upon the fourteenth of April that I received a telegram from Lyons which informed me that Holmes was lying ill in the Hotel Dulong. Within twenty-four hours I was in his sick-room and was relieved to find that there was nothing formidable in his symptoms. Even his iron constitution, however, had broken down under the strain of an investigation which had extended over two months, during which period he had never worked less than fifteen hours a day and had more than once, as he assured me, kept to his task for five days at a stretch. Even the triumphant issue of his labours could not save him from reaction after so terrible an exertion, and at a time when Europe was ringing with his name and when his room was literally ankle-deep with congratulatory telegrams I found him a prey to the blackest depression.

-Sherlock Holmes, the Adventure of the Reigate Squire

***

OKAY I have a headcanon about this opening, which is that Holmes and Watson had a big argument and Holmes left London in a fit of pique. He worked himself to a breakdown, crashed hard, and checked into the nearest hotel, intending to recover on his own…but some bellhop or maid was a fan of Watson’s writings and sent the telegram and then Watson TRAVELLED 500 MILES IN A DAY TO GET TO HIM anyway that’s why I drew it like that.

[milquetoast27]

of course ya boy wrote a gnomes fic enjoy!!!

#sherlock gnomes

[milquetoast27]

more gifs <333

#sherlock gnomes #sorry i literally couldn't bring myself to do any of the sad moments #i found a bunch of the concept art tonight #also i did a bunch of close reading #maybe expect another essay depending on the results

[milquetoast27]

I LOVE this topic. Fiction is an amazing way of indirectly processing your own trauma and issues. When you look at a problem in a hypothetical setting, no matter how difficult it is, it's EASIER to tackle because it doesn't involve you personally. What you don't realise is that this actually can help you when you come to face those problems in real life. Chances are, if you got really attached to a certain character/relationship, it may be because it means something specific to you.

I don't feel like going into detail right now, but fiction really helped me with this and when I came back to a long, on-going problem I'd been having, I discovered that all the time I spent exploring Sherlock Holmes's character in so much depth had indirectly helped me view my own issues in a new light.

Fiction is amazing for so many reasons, but that's just one of them.

#writing #yes i wanna study english lit at uni how could you tell #yes i am very invested in mental health and introspection #psychoanalyse your blorbos because it might help you

[milquetoast27]

REBLOG FOR CHRISTMAS!! BLUE CARBUNCLE GOAT!! 🎄🎁🦆

[milquetoast27]

GO SHERLOCK GNOMES FANS GO !!

more coming soon! it's 1 AM :')

#sherlock gnomes #lmk if u got any reqs