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Dr. Watson, in full Dr. John H.

Watson, fictional English physician who is

Sherlock Holmes’s devoted friend and associate

in a series of detective stories and novels by

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

The character of Watson, as written by Conan Doyle,is modest and intelligent.

He is a patient and sensitive observer, but hisdetecting capabilities are no match for the lightning-swift deductive reasoning of Holmes.

In the words of William L. De Andrea:

"Watson also serves the important function ofcatalyst for Holmes' mental processes... From thewriter's point of view, Doyle knew the importanceof having someone to whom the detective can makeenigmatic remarks, a consciousness that's privy tofacts in the case without being in on the conclusionsdrawn from them until the proper time. Anycharacter who performs these functions in a mysterystory has come to be known as a 'Watson'."

Watson is described as a crack shot and an excellentdoctor and surgeon. Intelligent, if lacking in Holmes'insight, he serves as a perfect foil for Holmes: thearchetypal late Victorian / Edwardian gentleman againstthe brilliant, emotionally-detached analytical machine.

Watson is well aware of both the limits of his abilities andHolmes' reliance on him:

"Holmes was a man of habits... and I had become one ofthem... a comrade... upon whose nerve he could place somereliance... a whetstone for his mind. I stimulated him... If Iirritated him by a certain methodical slowness in mymentality, that irritation served only to make his ownflame-like intuitions and impressions flash up the morevividly and swiftly. Such was my humble role in our alliance."– “ The Adventure of the Creeping Man”

Watson sometimes attempts to solve crimes onhis own, using Holmes' methods. For example, inthe Hound of the Baskervilles, Watsonefficiently clears up several of the manymysteries confronting the pair, and Holmespraises him for his zeal and intelligence.However, because he is not endowed withHolmes' almost-superhuman ability to focus onthe essential details of the case and Holmes'extraordinary range of recondite, specialisedknowledge, Watson meets with limited successin other cases.

Holmes summed up the problem that Watson confronted in onememorable rebuke from “A scandal in Bohemia”: "Quite so... yousee, but you do not observe." In “the Adventure of the SolitaryCyclist”, Watson's attempts to assist Holmes' investigationprove unsuccessful because of his unimaginative approach, forexample, asking a London estate agent who lives in a particularcountry residence. (According to Holmes, what he should havedone was "gone to the nearest public house" and listened to thegossip.) Watson is too guileless to be a proper detective. Andyet, as Holmes acknowledges, Watson has unexpected depthsabout him; for example, he has a definite strain of “ pawkyhumour”, as Holmes observes in theValley of fear.

In “The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier",one of only two stories narrated by Holmeshimself, the detective remarks about Watson:"I have often had occasion to point out to himhow superficial are his accounts and to accusehim of pandering to popular taste instead ofconfining himself rigidly to facts and figures";but the narrative style seldom differs, andHolmes confesses that Watson would have beenthe better choice to write the story. In anycase, Holmes regularly referred to Watson asmy "faithful friend and biographer," and onceexclaims, “I am lost without my Boswell”.

In A study in Scarlet, having just returnedfrom Afghanistan, John Watson isdescribed "as thin as a lath and as brownas a nut." In subsequent texts, he isvariously described as strongly built, of astature either average or slightly aboveaverage,

with a thick, strong neck and a smallmoustache.

Watson used to be an athlete: it is mentioned in“The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire” that heused to play Rugby Union for Blackheath (afamous old London club), but he fears hisphysical condition has declined since that point.In “the Adventure of Charles AugustusMilverton” Watson is described as "a middle-aged, strongly built man-square jaw, thick neck,moustache..." In His Last Bow set in August1914 Watson is described as "..a heavily built,elderly man with a gray moustache...".

The series of Sherlock Holmes films with BasilRathbone as Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Watsonportrayed the doctor as a lovable butincompetent assistant. Some later treatmentshave presented a more competent Watson.

Watson in the 1985 film young SherlockHolmes, narrated by M.Hordern as an olderWatson. Ian Hart portrayed a young,capable, and fit Watson twice for BBCTelevision, once opposite RichardRoxburgh as Holmes (in a 2002 adaptationof the hound of the Baskervilles, and for asecond time opposite Rupert Everett asthe Great Detective in the new storySherlock Holmes and the Case of the SilkStocking.(2004)

Watson was played by actor Andrè Morell in the 1959 film version of thehound of the Baskervilles, wherein Morell preferred that his version ofWatson should be closer to that originally depicted in Conan Doyle'sstories, and differ from Nigel Bruce’s interpretation of the role. Alan Coxplayed a teenage

In the Soviet/RussianShelock Holmes film

series, directed by Igor Maslennikov Dr. Watson

was played by VitalySolomin. He is portrayed

as a brave and intelligent man, but not

especially physicallystrong.

In the Guy Ritchie -directed Sherlock

Holmes movies, Watson is portrayed by Jude

Law. Law portraysWatson as brave,

intelligent, resolute, and thoroughly

professional, as well as a somewhat competentdetective in his own

right.

Think of how many times Holmes asks Watsonwhat he has observed of a visitor, only to findthat Watson has missed every important detail.We can't help but cringe a little when Holmessays to him, "You did not know where to look,and so you missed all that was important"(Identity.83). Or when Watson gives up in themiddle of "The Boscombe Valley Mystery,"exclaiming, "What a tissue of mysteries andimprobabilities the whole thing was!"(Valley.104).

Watson isn't just complimenting Holmes, as in, telling us how greathe is. He's also complementing Holmes, or in other words, showing usHolmes's genius by providing a constant point of comparison.

After all, Watson's a smartman – a medical doctor with aclear, cool writing style. He'ssomeone we respect. And ifHolmes is smart enough tomake a war vet doctor feeldumb, well then, Holmes mustbe brilliant.

Watson fills in gaps that Holmes lacks: he's the one who adds humaninterest to Holmes's stories, and who provides medical assistancethat Holmes can't handle (see, for example, Mr. Rucastle in "TheCopper Beeches").

Watson steps in and makes Holmes the greatestfictional detective ever. Watson makes cold,calculating Holmes…human. Sure, Watson keepsmentioning that Holmes despises feelings andwhatnot. At the same time, the clear bromancethat ties the two guys together – their mutualfriendship and respect – really speaks well ofboth of them as sympathetic, cool human beings.Watson also manages to bring out thepassionate side of Holmes's supremelyintellectual work.