“… It’s an ugly business, Watson, an ugly, dangerous business, and the more I see of it the less I like it. Yes, my dear fellow, you may laugh but I give you my word that I shall be very glad to have you back safe and sound in Baker Street once more” (Doyle, 53).
Here, at the end of chapter 5 of The Hound of the Baskervilles, we get a new glimpse into Sherlock Holmes’ personality. Where he usually appears to be analytical and emotionally detached, Holmes is now genuinely frightened by what he has experienced. Not only that, but Holmes actually wants Watson’s company because he is so disturbed by the developments in the Baskerville case that have come to pass. Before, Holmes had made it clear that he really mainly enjoys having Watson around because his “stupidity” encourages Holmes to more quickly deduce the truth in any of his cases. However, after uncovering the fact that someone is trailing Holmes and those involved in the Baskerville case, as well as impersonating Holmes himself, it becomes clear that Holmes is frightened, and he wants the company of Watson to make him feel safer. While initially appearing out of character for Holmes, this situation reveals something interesting about his relationship between himself and Watson.
This interaction demonstrates that Watson serves as more than a mundane, average-joe sidekick for Sherlock Holmes. In his fright, Holmes somewhat indirectly reveals that he views Watson as a friend and true companion. Although he usually behaves condescendingly towards Watson, Holmes genuinely needs him around for the simple reason that Watson is a good friend to him. This, to me, seems adjacent to the idea of the homosocial relationship and the erotic triangle that we saw between Robert, George, and Clara in Lady Audley’s Secret. While there is no woman in The Hound of the Baskervilles yet to complete the erotic triangle, Holmes and Watson’s work relationship and dysfunctional friendship is best understood through the lens of Victorian male homosocial desire.
I found this quote out of place when I read it for the first time. I agree with what you analyzed about Holmes usually exuding confidence and lording his knowledge over Watson to be flipped on its head. The way the erotic triangle was also very important to the story. Though incomplete, this triangle is the basis for all the Sherlock Holmes novels because it sets the stage for the Holmes and Watson duo. The pair can’t seem to live without the other, and the idea of something happening to Watson sends Holmes into a nervous frenzy.
I found this analysis to be very interesting especially considering what we talked about in class regarding the relationship between Holmes and Watson. Despite Holmes clearly appearing to be intellectually superior to Watson there is no doubt that Watson is a vital part of their operation and without him Holmes would not be able to solve a majority of these cases. Another interesting point that you made was the idea that Holmes genuinely enjoys the company of Watson. I believe this is very accurate because if the author didn’t want his character to be taking seriously he simply would have had a revolving set of side characters around Holmes depending on the case. Because he doesn’t there is clear evidence that Holmes views Watson as the only man who can properly aid him despite his “inferiority”