Quintanilla 1 Francisco Quintanilla Dr.

Lynda Haas Writing 37 13, February 2014 Holmes and Watson / Yin and Yang Yin and Yang are two opposites that complement each other, one needs the other to function properly. Yin is known as being passive and absorbing, on the contrary yang is known as being active and penetrating. In the yin-yang symbol there is a dot of yang in the center yin and a dot of yin in the center of yang, this portrays that even though they might seem opposite deep inside the share similar characteristics. Light and darkness is a form of yin and yang. Both can be either yin or yang; if there is light, then light is yang because it is active and darkness is yin because it is being passive. If it is dark, then darkness is yang because it is active and light is yin because it is passive. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are yin and yang in the way that they need each other and they complete each other. In the novel, written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Hound of the Baskervilles, published in 1902 and in the short story The Red Headed League, published in 1892, the relationship between Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson is an example of yin and yang. In the novel, The Hound of the Baskervilles, Dr. Mortimer introduces Sherlock Holmes and Watson to a case; the Doctor claims that the Baskerville family is cursed. Holmes sends Watson to investigate the curse, while Holmes gathers Watsons notes and observes the sight from a distance. At the end the two tie together their leads and figure out that the neighbor Mr. Stapleton was planning on taking the Baskerville fortune. In the novel there is a large portion where Holmes seems to play yin and Watson plays yang. Watson is out trying to solve the mysterious case while Holmes is observing and taking notes from afar. This is a bit odd because in most of the stories it is Holmes being active examining scenes in search for clues, while Watson observes. Doyle gives Watson the active role in this

Quintanilla 2 novel because he wants to show the balance between both. Like yin and yang, Watson has a little Holmes in him, which in the novel he uses to come up with conclusions while he is finding clues and investigating. On the other hand Holmes has a little Watson in him as he takes a somewhat backseat to the investigation as he collects information through observation. In the short story, The Red Headed League, published in 1892, a man named Jabez Wilson who felt like he was victim of a prank after being invited to the Red-Headed League and later found out the League never existed. Holmes deduces the knowledge given and figures out that the pranksters are actually professional forgers, so Holmes takes Watson to investigate and then uses his knowledge and the help of the police force to catch the criminals. When Mr. Wilson is describing his issue Holmes, Watson walks in, Mr. Wilson then asks Watson to step out the room Holmes jumps in and says, Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also. In making this comment, Holmes acknowledges Watson being his other half. Doyle recognizes that without Watson, Holmes would not have solved all the cases he has solved. The little bit of Watson also comes out in this statement of Holmes, he shows emotion when he says, my partner and helper, Doyles point is that not only are the pair roommates, but they also have a strong connection. Watson is more than just Holmes sidekick, they are interdependent. If Watsons personality was not opposite to Holmes personality then they would not complement each other so well. They would not be able to live with each other and they would not be able to work and solve cases. In modern day television shows that relate to Sherlock Holmes there is also the yin yang balance. In Psych, Shawn (Holmes) is wild and a makes a lot of jokes, his best friend/partner Gus (Watson) is moderate and takes things serious.