A Study in Scarlett's Indirect Characterization

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A Study in Scarlet By A. Conan Doyle begins with Dr. John Watson, the narrator, living in London in recovery from a wound and illness he obtained while at war as a military doctor during the Second Afghan War. One day he runs into an friend, Stamford, at a bar. Watson tells Stamford that he needs a new roommate. Stamford says that he has another friend that also has the same desire, and takes Watson to the university laboratory where his new roommate, Sherlock Holmes, is working on an experiment. Throughout this story there is obvious evidence that there is indirect characterization. Indirect characterization is the process when the personality of a character is revealed through the character's speech, actions, and appearance. A closer examination of Sherlock Holmes thoughts, his words, his actions, and Dr. Watson's thoughts will prove that there is obvious indirect characterization about Sherlock Holmes throughout the short story. Sherlock thoughts: Throughout the short story there is no given thoughts from Sherlock Holmes, but he does voice his mind freely. He will think out loud in a way it feels like he reader is reading his thoughts. A great example of Sherlock thinking out loud would be "There has been murder done, and the murder was a man, he was more than six feet high, was in the prime of life, had small feet for his height, wore coarse, square-toed boots and smoked a Trichinopoly cigar." (Doyle 19) continuing through the short story Sherlock explains in great detail about the unsolved mystery. In the end it expresses his personality in different ways and contributes to the readers vision. Sherlocks words: Sherlock Holmes has a way of drawing a reader in just by the way he speaks. He speaks as though he knows what everyone is thinking Actions: "gripping my hand with a strength for which I should hardly have given him credit." (Doyle 4). "he

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