Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler: An Unfulfilled Romance
Is there a romantic element between Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler in the original Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle? After delving into the original canon, the answer is no; Holmes and Adler's interaction mainly revolves around admiration and respect rather than love or romance. Let's explore their relationship in more detail.
No Romantic Outcome in the Original Stories
After Sherlock Holmes's encounter with Irene Adler in the story A Scandal in Bohemia, there is no mention of any romantic connection between them. The story concludes with Adler marrying a lawyer named Godfrey Norton, suggesting no continuation of their relationship. Watson describes her as the late Irene Adler, indicating that she was already married by the time of the story's recounting.
Watson notes, 'To Sherlock Holmes she is always the woman. I have seldom heard him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses and predominates the whole of her sex.' This indicates that Holmes holds Irene Adler in high regard, not from a romantic perspective but as a formidable intellect and a rare adversary.
Sherlock's Admiration for Adler
Holmes's admiration for Adler is evident in his repeated references to her in later stories. For instance, in 'The Sign of the Four,' when Mary Morstan appears, Watson remarks, 'What a very attractive woman!' Holmes's response is telling: 'Is she? I did not observe.' This exchange shows that for Holmes, emotion and personal qualities are irrelevant when faced with a client or case.
Watson's quote from 'A Scandal in Bohemia' further reinforces Holmes's stance: 'To Sherlock Holmes she is always the woman. I have seldom heard him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions and that one particularly were abhorrent to his cold, precise, but admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never spoke of the softer passions save with a gibe and a sneer. They were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely adjusted temperament would be to introduce a distracting factor which might throw a doubt upon all his mental results.'
Later Interpretations
Some adaptations of the Sherlock Holmes stories, including films, have portrayed a more romantic relationship between Sherlock and Irene Adler. However, these interpretations are not part of the original canon. For instance, in some Sherlockian literature, Adler and Holmes are said to have a later liaison resulting in a child, Nero Wolfe, who bears more resemblance to his uncle Mycroft.
Despite these later interpretations, the original stories leave no doubt that Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler's relationship was one of intellectual respect and mutual admiration. Any romantic involvement would have been contradictory to Holmes's character as a cool, calculating, and emotionally restrained detective.
In conclusion, while Irene Adler is a memorable and pivotal character in the Sherlock Holmes stories, her relationship with Holmes remains one of respect and admiration rather than love or romance. This distinction is preserved in the original works, making it clear that their encounter was not meant to be a romantic one.