Sherlock is in the House by Victor Rufer

It has been over one hundred years since Sir Arthur Conan Doyle brought Sherlock Holmes to life in A Study In Scarlet. He had no idea what he had created. Sherlock Holmes has gone on to be the most imitated character in the history of literature. I will be looking at one of today’s most popular TV shows, House M.D.

House M.D. debuted in 2004. The creators have said that the character of Dr. House is based on Holmes. We will start with a side-by-side comparison of the two characters. First, their names and the names of their friends are similar; we have Holmes and House, Watson and Wilson. Each can deduce a great deal by just looking at a person. Holmes was based on a doctor and House is a doctor. Holmes fights deadly criminals, whereas House fights deadly germs and diseases. Both use drugs: House uses Vicodin for leg pain and boredom; Holmes used cocaine to escape boredom. Both tend to call close associates by their last names. Holmes and House are both arrogant. In the times between cases House watches soaps and plays video games, Holmes reads the agony columns in the paper. Both tend to be lazy between cases; it seems to be an all or nothing kind of life. Each has one friend and roommate; to others they are aloof. Both live at 221B; we don't have a street for House but the connection is there. Music is another thing that these two have in common. Holmes plays the violin. House plays several instruments including the piano. House's staff could be compared to Holmes' Baker Street Irregulars; both groups seem to the grunt work. Lastly each use a cane, House because of his leg pain; Holmes' cane is part fashion, part self-defence.

Next we will see how the show’s creators have left the watcher clues that reinforce the Holmes/House link. In the first show, the patient being treated was Rebecca Adler. At the end of season two, House is shot by a deranged patient named Jack Moriarty. In season four, as part of a prank, House receives a book by Joseph Bell, the man who inspired Doyle, sent by Irene Adler. We later find out that Wilson really sent it. In another episode House receives a second edition Conan Doyle book. House's leg pain is similar to Watson's leg wound. House also makes reference to Wilson having been in Afghanistan at some time. This would link to Watson's service in Afghanistan.

What follows are quotes from Holmes himself that could apply to both men. From A Study in Scarlet: “I have a lot of special knowledge which I apply to the problem, and which facilitates matters wonderfully.” Holmes has his knowledge of crime and House has knowledge of medicine. From The Sign of Four, Holmes remarks “. . . three qualities necessary for the ideal detective . . . the power of observation and that of deduction . . . [and] knowledge.” Three factors that are well used in solving crimes or curing disease.

As much as the two are alike, there are some great differences. While both men are aloof, Holmes ignores those he feels are unimportant to the case at hand, he silently goes about his duties while tolerating others. House, on the other hand, seems to delight in tormenting his staff and, at times, his patients. House goes by the rule, after you eliminate all possibles, what's left is the truth. A fine idea, but, in the meantime, he tries cure after cure until the bulb comes on and the patient is snatched back from the brink and sent home cured. Holmes doesn't guess; he gets the facts and then gives his conclusions. Neither has time for romance. Holmes' distrust of women, plus his under estimation of Irene Adler, has led to his lack of interest in women. House is interested in women, but seems to try to drive them away.

There is no doubt that Greg House is forever linked to Sherlock Holmes. In upcoming shows, we will be looking for those clues that Holmes is alive and well in 2010.

House M.D. is not the only show that uses Holmes’ methods to solve crime, it is just the most obvious.

0003: THE SIGN OF FOUR

THE ORIGINAL TREE WORSHIPPERS OF ROCK COUNTY

DATE
Saturday, July 24, 2010
11:00 a.m.

LOCATION
Hedberg Public Library Public Meeting Room

MEMBERS PRESENT
Linda Fredell, Resa Haile, Elaine Khan, Gayle Lange Puhl, John Richter, Victor Rufer

CHARTER MEMBER
James Haile

STORY: THE SIGN OF FOUR
Tom Drucker, although not present, sent his quiz, and Gayle provided the swag. Gayle and Resa tied for first place, followed by Linda and Elaine in second and third, respectively.

Gayle read her original paper, “The Jewels of the Agra Treasure or Honestly, Officer, The Box Was Empty When I Opened It.” Resa read “The Sign of Four as a Sign of the Times” by Susan McCloskey, which appeared in the Baker Street Journal of Autumn 2003.

Elaine thought there was a loophole in the story in that Jonathan Small could know so much. It was pointed out that he did have a spy among the servants, but she thought he was on the scene too quickly. Gayle thought he was probably nearby, making money by exhibiting Tonga, and was brought on the scene by a telegram.

Resa noted Holmes’ consideration of Watson and also suggested he has a life beyond Watson, as he must go somewhere to study and practice boxing, etc. Also, he seems able to make friendly acquaintances, as his name has the effect of gaining entry from both Sherman and McMurdo in this story. Gayle said she had a theory that Sherman was a groundskeeper at the Holmes estate when “Mister Sherlock” was growing up.

Victor said that this story shows how important the cases are to Holmes’ well-being; as Holmes says, “I cannot live without brainwork.” There was some discussion about Holmes’ emotional and intellectual life. Gayle thought he had had a disappointing romance in his youth. Elaine pointed out that Buddhist monks live a similarly celibate life, devoting themselves to other things that take the place of romantic concerns.

The meeting closed with a group recital of “221B” by Vincent Starrett.

NEXT MEETING
A SCANDAL IN BOHEMIA—August 28, 2010, 11 a.m.

Minutes prepared by Resa Haile.

0002: A STUDY IN SCARLET

DATE

Saturday, June 26, 2010

11:00 a.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT

Ron Del Ciello, Tom Drucker, Resa Haile, Elaine Khan, Gayle Lange Puhl, Victor Rufer.

CHARTER MEMBER

James Haile.

NEW BUSINESS

Resa noted that our new blog is up. Tom talked about the importance of maintaining a paper presence as well as an electronic presence, submitting some papers to university libraries, etc. There was a discussion of the group putting together some type of publication; Gayle suggested once or twice a year. Everyone agreed this was a good idea. Gayle presented a quiz on A Study in Scarlet and Tom supplied the prizes in the form of books which related in some way to the Holmes stories, including a book about Boswell and the reminiscences of a French detective. Victor presented his paper, First Impressions, detailing how Holmes is viewed through the eyes of Stamford, Watson, and Victor himself.


(This paper is available for view on the blog and on the Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/The-Original-Tree-Worshippers-of-Rock-County/121545477857624?v=app_2347471856&ref=sgm.)

STORY DISCUSSION: A STUDY IN SCARLET

This is the first of the four Holmes novels by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the first Sherlock Holmes story ever, and the story in which the significant first meeting of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson takes place.

Ron brought up the question of whether there could be bruising after death, with which Holmes was experimenting before the story begins (as Stamford explains to Watson). Gayle noted that this was also used in the series Murder Rooms, which features Dr. Joseph Bell and Arthur Conan Doyle as the detectives. Elaine noted that she Googled about Conan Doyle and the Mormons and found that he had apologized for his portrayal of them but that sometimes religious fervor leads to these cult situations, which is close to what is in the story. There was a lively discussion of Mormonism and polygamy, as portrayed in the story and in reality, with input from everyone. Tom pointed out that Sherlock Holmes evolves from his first appearance, when his character is similar to Poe’s Dupin or to Badger from The Wind in the Willows, to a more emotional, full character, that he becomes a different kind of personality. Resa noted that Holmes sort of “wooed” Watson, playing on his curiosity.

NEXT MEETING

The Sign of Four (a.k.a. The Sign of the Four)

Minutes prepared by Resa Haile.

The Original Tree Worshippers of Rock County: June Meeting

Our discussion of A Study in Scarlet on Saturday, June 26, was very successful, with a lively discussion of the American and British aspects of the case, the accuracy or inaccuracy of the depiction of Mormonism, religious freedom and responsibility in society, and, of course, the beginning of the Holmes and Watson relationship.