CH1 SH Quotes

• "my mind rebels at stagnation. give me problems, give me work."

  • possessive "my" - his mind is better than others
  • "stagnation" - stays the same, repetitive, no change. addicted to "brainwork"
  • "give" - imperative. it is a demand
• "I abhor the dull routine of existence"

  • hate, disgust
  • SH sole focus is on mental challenge not normal life
• "I have chosen my own particular profession... for I am the only one in the world"

  • narcissistic views
  • personal pronoun "I" - divide and separate SH from rest of society
• "the only unofficial detective" (JW)

  "the only unofficial consulting detective" (SH)

  • arrogance
  • pedantic, picky over word choice. wanting to be specific.
• "out of their depths - which, by the way, is their normal state"

  • SH commenting on police attitude
  • arrogance
  • superiority
• "the pleasure of finding a field for my peculiar powers, is my highest reward"

  • SH works not for the fame but for the mental stimulation
• "detection is, or ought to be, an exact science, and should be treated in the same cold and unemotional manner"

  • juxtaposition - no room for emotion (Watson has emotional traits)
  • logic + emotion should be detached for maximum focus and efficiency
  • SH is a social outcast
• "great powers, masterly manner, many extraordinary qualities" - JW about SH

  • idolising SH
  • SH is shown to be superior, more intelligent, more masculine traits - better than JW - almost like a competition
• "Athelney Jones are out of their depth- which, by the way, is their normal state"

  • humiliating police force
  • police are incompetent, SH can do so much better
  • bragging about his skill being better than those whose job it actually is to solve crimes
• "Eliminate all other factors and the one which remains must be the truth"

  • SH uses logic and deduction to solve mystery
  • he is intelligent
• "observation, deduction, and knowledge"
• "I cannot live without brain-work"
• "I crave for mental exaltation"