Skip to main content

Why did the King of Bohemia seek Sherlock Holmes's help in "A Scandal in Bohemia"?

Irene Adler has a picture of herself and the King of Bohemia, and he wants Holmes to get it back.

The King of Bohemia explains to Holmes that when he was only a prince he made a bad decision.  This decision was to have an improper relationship with Irene Adler.   Now that he is king, she is using it to blackmail him.



“… Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and is now desirous of getting those letters back."



At first, Holmes is not too concerned. He doesn’t see how Irene Adler can prove anything.  He says that the king can just say the letters are forged.  The issue, of course, is the photograph.  This is actual proof.



"My photograph."


"Bought."


"We were both in the photograph."


"Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an indiscretion."


"I was mad -- insane."


"You have compromised yourself seriously."



Holmes has to get the picture back from Irene Adler.  Irene Adler is not just any woman.  In fact, Watson tells us that she is “the woman” to Holmes.  In her, he sees his intellectual match.  Holmes is very impressed with every feature of Irene Adler!


Five other attempts were made to get the picture before the king hired Holmes.  She is threatening to send the picture to the king’s future wife, and he says she will do it because she has “a soul of steel.”  His family will not approve, and it will ruin the marriage.


Watson doesn’t see the problem.  Holmes is Holmes, after all.  Is there anything he can’t do?  Watson says, “So accustomed was I to his invariable success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to enter into my head.”  Holmes plans an ingenious attempt to get the picture involving setting a fire so she will have to get it out, and he will see it.


It turns out Irene Adler has heard of Sherlock Holmes.  She is a master of disguise and highly intelligent.  However, she is impressed with Holmes’s attempts to get the picture, and she gives him the picture.  What is Holmes’s payment for this remarkable case?  It is the picture of Irene Adler.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

Discuss movements that were inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and list one success for each group.

African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change... African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change for their agendas. Two examples of moveme...
Post a Comment
Read more

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...
Post a Comment
Read more