A.N. Wilson says he can tell Sherlock Holmes was a homosexual drug-addict, even if Conan Doyle didn’t know it. Can we agree that fictional characters are not as constant as live people? So an author might reimagine his character in a way different than originally written, making arguments that “this guy was really . . . ” irrelevant. (via Book Trib)
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This is personal. If the fact that someone never marries, and has no known sex life, proves homosexuality, then I must be homosexual too. And I’m not.
Actually, this came up on a discussion board in a Facebook group I belong to, recently. It’s a group devoted to Avoidant Personality Disorder, and I suggested that Holmes might have had AvPD. It would be an equally satisfactory (arguably far better) explanation of the data.
Yes, and a more thoughtful explanation, not an easy explanation.
I recall Wilson speculating on the sexual life of CS Lewis as well. (Maybe it’s a hobby of his.)
– Wasn’t Holmes modeled after a doctor that Doyle knew?
– this is a sad instance of stereotyping; even if we are talking about a fictional character. People are far more different (unique)than the psychological establishment will allow.
– I watched a documentary last night on Paul Erdos (who supposedly had Asperger’s) and he never married; and apparently did nothing but study mathematics.
Yes, Holmes was modeled after Dr. Joseph Bell of the University of Edinburgh, under whom Doyle had studied. Dr. Bell was married. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Bell
It must be noted that when you say a fictional character is based on a real person, that doesn’t (usually) mean the character is meant to be identical to that person.
The character Dr. Gregory House on the “House” TV series is based on Sherlock Holmes, by the way. And House shows no signs of same-sex attraction that I can see.