pimpin aint easy

Sunil Dave’
English 95c
May 27, 2003
“The Woman”
Throughout the breadth of all literature, Sherlock Holmes stands as a true icon; his keen understanding of the nature of people and his reasoning of their actions is a trait craved by a number of his readers. Nevertheless, he goes against the societal norms of his time period in his views of women, specifically in the stories “A Speckled Band,” and a “Scandal in Bohemia”. The two female protagonists in the stories, Helen Stoner and Irene Alder, respectively, fit two vastly different models of their generations. Although Stoner seems to be the perfect match for Holmes based on her unchallenging, submissive house-wife like persona, it is Irene Alder with her extreme astuteness and challenging personality that becomes the fascination of Holmes’ desires. Throughout the 2 stories, Doyle uses the central themes, the tone of their respective characterizations, and specific diction to create this discrepancy.
The creati...