Sherlock Holmes And Christopher Boone English Language Essay

private detective Holmes And Christopher Boone English Language EssayIn Mark Haddons short-story, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time Christopher Boone, the protagonist has suggested several times that he, doing virtually detective work himself, is rattling much like Sir Arthur Conan Doyles far-famed character, principal investigator Holmes.Based on the protagonists rum behaviour and thoughts, many people think that he has some kind of mental illness. And, as he is so much like secret agent Holmes, who is a rather peculiar figure himself, we can absorb the main similarities and differences between the two fictional characters. As of Holmes character, I chose to pick the BBC adaptation of 2010 and 2012, because it is much closer in time and setting than that of the original stories. still, onwards starting the list, lets see what the main syndromes of Asperger argon, the assumed mental illness of Christopher.The severity of Asperger can vary from mild to severe. They usually do non tolerate comfortably any changes and often have obsessive r come forthines. They generally have a special interest, in which they argon really good. At young age, these symptoms can make to rigidity, but later in adulthood it actually might result in a sumptuous carrier. Especially if we considerate their ability to learn affectionate skills as oppo internet sites can learn how to ride a bike. But, at least at the beginning, they cannot always read body language and other non-verbal language and cannot handbill proper body space and they often avoid gaze. They appear to be particularly sensitive to particular sounds, touch, light, to which other people are not. This causes a really strange and odd behaviour sometimes. As a result, their mates will often see them an startsider and mock them for this. It will not help to hush this situation the fact that people who suffer from Aspergers syndrome have an innate naivety and a commonplace IQ, but have extr aordinary skill in a particular part. In terms of their use of language, they calculate to develop like everyone else. However, they often have a larger amount of vocabulary than others of their age, and also they are really straightforward in their choice of words. In other cases, they might encounter some hardships in language usage in social environment.1 at present that we have seen the main symptoms of Asperger, we can go on to the examples from Haddons work and how much they actually apply for its protagonist, Christopher. Parallelled to this, we will see the similarities and occasional differences between him and private eye Holmes. near scientists even presume that Holmes has many symptoms of Asperger, thus was the first character (although fictional), who suffered from this kind of mental illness, even thought it was described first in 1944 and acknowledged however in 1994.2Others think that Doyle, due to his medical studies, may have known some of these symptoms.3Firs t of all, as we have seen, the main characteristic of this illness is be antisocial. In the short-story, Christopher does not seem to know many people, nor does he desire to. His some important contact is with his father, with whom he lives and who understand him and is able to deal with his sons illness, on the contrary to his own mother. His mother wrote Christopher this, how she could not cope with the strange behavior of his son, but how patient was his father usually with him. After his father he mentions especially a lot Siobhan, the school-psychiatrist, who helps him and tries to t each(prenominal) him about social contacts. Moreover, she is one of the few who can draw Christopher out from his usual uncommunicative state. Similarly to the role of Siobhan in the boys life, Dr. Watson constantly tries to keep Holmes from hurting others feelings, and in general tries to motor him to behave in a socially acceptable manner. In some way, he is the normal counterpart of Holmes ab normal life.4Lestrade Weve found Rachel.private investigator Holmes Who is she?Lestrade Jennifer Wilsons only daughter. Sherlock Holmes You need to bring Rachel in. You need to question her.Ineed to question her.Lestrade Shes dead.Sherlock Holmes minuteSherlock Holmes How, when and why? Is there a connection? Therehasto be.Lestrade Well, I doubt it, since shes been dead for fourteen years. Technically she was never alive. Rachel was Jennifer Wilsons stillborn daughter, fourteen years ago.Sherlock Holmes No, thats thats not right. How Why would she do that?Why? John Watson You said that the victims all took the poison themselves, that hemakesthem take it. Well, maybe he I dont know, talks to them? Maybe he used the death of her daughter somehow.Sherlock Holmes Yeah, but that wasagesago. Why would she still be upset?(John stares at him. Sherlock hesitates as he realises that everyone in the flat has stopped what theyre doing and has fallen silent. He glances around the room and then looks awkwardly at John.)Sherlock Holmes Not good?John Watson identification numbernot good, yeah.When Christopher talks to other people, for example Mrs. Alexander, he states that it is difficult for him to converse with them, because he does not know them, thus does not trust them and also because chatting with individual is not easy for them. But, interestingly, the boy occasionally can overcome his difficulties and for some time can maintain a normal conversation with the old lady. Parallelly, Sherlock does not seem to have many friends, but still is more social than Christopher, he does not have a problem with talking to anyone. make up though both of them seem to encounter difficulties at the area of social contacts, the also both try to improve their skills. In the short-story we often read that Christopher says or does something just because he is told that is the proper thing to say or do. For example, when Ed Boone, his father prepares him some meal, we readAnd I s aid, Thank you for supper, because that is beingness polite.5In BBC Sherlock, in the episode Scandal in Belgravia at the Christmas party, Holmes jabbers a enormous and quite rude monologue about Mollys especially coquettish looks, with which she wishes to seduce a cabalistic boyfriend. When it turns out it is actually Sherlock with whom Molly is in love with, thus humiliating Molly in front of the whole room, Holmes finally apologies. For a abbreviated moment we can see Watsons face, which is clearly surprised by Sherlocks apology. From this scene we can see how he tries to redeem the insulting things he said out loud.In connection with this antisocial behavior, people who have this illness, tend to have some problem with emotions and their recognition. At the very beginning of his book, Christopher shows us some drawings of smileys. He says he can understand happiness and sadness, but not the other facial expressions which indicate more complex emotions.6It seems he is somehow insensitive to most kind of emotions. It especially shows in his choice of words and straightforwardnessAnd Mrs. Alexander said, Your mother, before she died, was very good friends with Mr. Shears.And I said, I know.And she said, No, Christopher. I m not sure that you do. I mean that they were very good friends. Very, very good friends.I thought about this for a while and said, Do you mean that they were doing awake?And Mrs. Alexander said, Yes, Christopher. That is what I mean.It seems that even death does not really bother him.This characteristic is found in Sherlock Holmes, too. In fact, this is his one of his most famous features being the man of logic and not that of emotions. For example in the morgue, in the same episode of BBC Sherlock, the Holmes brothers see a family on Christmas Eve who probably disordered a relative and they are, of course, devastated. But they just watch them, sayingSherlock Holmes Look at them. They all care so much. Do you ever marvel if theres som ething wrong with us?Mycroft Holmes All lives end. All hearts are broken. Caring is not an advantage, Sherlock.7Moreover, in The Hounds of Baskerville where Holmes deliberately poisons his only friend, and when Watson questions him about it, he does not seem to be very bothered about the matter.John Watson So you got it wrong.Sherlock Holmes No.John Watson You were wrong. It wasnt in the sugar. You got itwrong.Sherlock Holmes A bit. It wont happen again.8It is very important to note that on the contrary of Christopher, Sherlock can actually pretend any kind of emotion just to get some information, he easily manipulates anyone without a bit of regret.Sherlock Holmes Mrs Monkford?(She turns to him snifflyly.)Mrs. Monkford Yes.Mrs. Monkford Sorry, but Ive already spoken with two policemen.John Watson No, were not from the police were (Sherlock holds his hand out to her, his voice tearful and tremulous.)Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes. Very old friend of your husbands. We, um(As she sh akes his hand, he looks down as if fighting back his tears.)Sherlock Holmes we grew up together.Mrs. Monkford Im sorry, who? I dont think he ever mentioned you.Sherlock Holmes (still tearful) Oh, hemusthave done. This is this is horrible, isnt it?Sherlock Holmes I mean, I just cant believe it. I only saw him the other day. Same old Ian not a care in the world.(He smiles tearfully at her.)Mrs. Monkford Sorry, but my husband has been depressed for months. Whoareyou?Sherlock Holmes Really strange that he hired a car. Why would he do that? Its a bit suspicious, isnt it?(By now he has tears running down his cheeks.)Mrs. Monkford No, it isnt. He forgot to reincarnate the tax on the car, thats all.Sherlock Holmes Oh, well, that was Ian That was Ian all overMrs. Monkford No it wasnt.(Instantly Sherlocks fake persona drops and he looks at her intensely.)Sherlock Holmes Wasnt it? Interesting.In general, Holmes is quite rude to everyone, including Watson, and also, he sees himself as the o nly normal human being in the world. Here are two very good example of this from the first episode of the series, A Study in PinkSherlock Holmes Took me less than an hour to find the right skip.John Watson Pink. You gotallthat because you realised the case would be pink?Sherlock Holmes Well, ithadto be pink, obviously.John Watson (to himself) Why didntIthink of that?Sherlock Holmes Because youre an idiot.(John looks across to him, startled)Sherlock Holmes No, no, no, dont look like that. Practically everyone is.And elsewhereSherlock Holmes Anderson, dont talk out loud. You lower the I.Q. of the whole street.9(A Study in Pink)This feature shares also Christopher, when he talks about his schoolmates and he states that he is the only normal among them.Both of them are aware of their special skills, therefore both of them are quite proud, almost arrogant. Christopher, without any trace of modesty, is a hundred per-cent sure he will get his A-level in maths. Holmes, too, is always sure h e will solve the case, and when he makes an error, he is quite reluctant to admit it (see the The Hounds of Baskerville conversation above).They both has their special area of interest, although Christophers is much narrower (only maths) than Holmes, which includes everything from biology and chemistry to observation and deduction. They both tend to shut down when they occupy themselves with their work, they do not eat or speak for long hours, in some extreme cases, even for days. However, unlike Sherlock, Christopher has a range of special rules which tend to interfere with his everyday life, for example the quality of the day is base on how many red or yellow cars he sees on the way to school or he cannot eat his meal if they touched each other on his plate.They do not only tend to shock people with their lack of emotion, but also with their actual behaviour, thus both of them being outsiders in some way. For example, at the beginning of the story, Christopher hugs the dead, bloo dy dog. That is surely something most normal people would not do. Similarly, at the beginning of The Hounds of Baskerville, Sherlock suddenly appears at the door, covered in blood, nearly giving poor Watson a heart attack. He explains he could not come home earlier because not a taxi would take him, so he had to travel on the metro. Also, at the beginning of The Blind Banker, Holmes meets his old acquaintance from the university. This man briefly mentions what an outsider was Sherlock even at that time, due to his extraordinary skills.Sebastian We were at uni together. This guy here had a trick he used to do.Sherlock Holmes Its not a trick.Sebastian He could look at you and tell you your whole life story.John Watson Yes, Ive seen him do it.Sebastian Put the wind up everybody. We hated him.The description mentioned as one of them symptoms the sensitiveness of touch, light or smell which others are not even aware of. Christopher does not like to be touched by anyone, even his own par ents. Sherlock does not have any of this problem, but he does share the special ability to observe and remember people and characteristics which other people do not even see. When Christopher meets someone, he tends to mention the colour of his shoes, which is completely irrelevant, but still important to him. In the series, this ability of Holmes is illustrated by fancy texts which appear on the try out when he is observing someone, or he has many, rather inapprehensible monologues where he explains his deductions to the others.It is really interesting how similar is the way they both save their memories. Christopher describes it as a DVD, which he can rewatch again and again with the same accuracy, and Holmes has a mind palace where he can wander around and find the appropriate information.As a curiosity, both the short-story and the series mention the deerstalker, one of the most famous symbols of Sherlock Holmes, but in these works this hat does not seem to get as much attentio n as all the other adaptations of the Sherlock Holmes stories. Christopher writesIn the original Sherlock Holmes stories Sherlock Holmes is never described as wearing a deerstalker hat, which is what he is always wearing in pictures and cartoons. The deerstalker hat was invented by a ma n called Sidney Paget, who did the illustrations for the original books.And in the series, at the beginning of The Reichenbach FallSherlock Holmes Why is it always the hat photograph? Sherlock Holmes What sort of hat is it anyway? Sherlock Holmes Is it a cap? Why has it got two fronts?John Watson Its a deerstalker.Sherlock Holmes You stalk a deer with a hat? What are you gonna do throw it? Sherlock Holmes Some sort of death frisbee? Sherlock Holmes Its got flaps ear flaps. Its anearhat, John. John Watson this isnt a deerstalker now its a Sherlock Holmes hat.As we can see, there are many similarities and differences between these two characters. But in general we can say that the detective is much more functional and effective than Christopher, only a little peculiar.SourcesAlbrechtAlbrecht, Karl Ph. D. Did Sherlock Holmes Have Asperger Syndrome? print in October 13, 2011. From http//www.psychologytoday.com/blog/brainsnacks/201110/did-sherlock-holmes-have-asperger-syndrome-0HaddonHaddon, Mark The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Doubleplay, London, 2003. I used the page numbers from the copy found on this site https//sites.google.com/site/janoskenyeres/readingliterarytexts 2012-11-02 1750KirbyKirby, Barbara L. What is Aperger Syndrome? 2001. From http//scholar.google.hu/scholar?q=what+is+asperger+syndromebtnG=hl=huas_sdt=0 2012-11-16 0958SandersSanders, Lisa M.D. Hidden Clues. Published December 6, 2009, New York. From http//www.nytimes.com/2009/12/06/magazine/06diagnosis-t.html?pagewanted=all 2012-11-16 1134Sherlock. Created by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat. BBC, 2010 and 2012.VerheesVerhees, Ingrid From Hero and Zero to Butch and Sundance On the Evolution of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson Throughout a Century of Adaptation. MA thesis, 2011, Universiteit Utrecht. Fromhttp//igitur-archive.library.uu.nl/student-theses/2011-0919-201519/From%20Hero%20and%20Zero%20to%20Butch%20and%20Sundance%20-%20On%20the%20Evolution%20of%20Sherlock%20Holmes%20and%20Dr.%20Watson%20Throughout%20a%20Century%20of%20Adaptation.pdf 2012-11-16 1422Transcription of the seriesSherlock transcriptionhttp//arianedevere.livejournal.com/tag/transcript 2012-11-16 1911Imdbhttp//www.imdb.com/character/ch0036861/quotes 2012-11-16 1759