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Burton Gui
Dr. Lynda Haas
Writing 39B
Aug18th, 14
Rhetorical Analysis
Dr. Watson The Time Epitome
As the years progressed, moreIn the last three decades, acclaimed play, s and classic
literatures hasve been reinterpreted and reproduced into films and network TV shows. The mix of
visual impacts, powerful throwing,<<I dont know what powerful throwing means and
cinematography makes an encounter that cannot be matched by other media; consequently, these
new adaptations arouseing a new round of explorations for twenty-one-the 21
st
century aesthetic
needs and infusing vitality into these classics.<<Im not sure what this last part meansthe
adaptations arouse explorations for the 21
st
century aesthetic needs and . ? what is the subject
and verb of this idea? Revise for clarity>> The incredible Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir
Arthur Conan Doyle are not special cases joining the trend. A conventionThe of the relationship
between the detective and the sidekick is a convention has supportedfrom Doyles storiesa that
has lasted for over one a century, in which Dr. Watson has been an iconic character
complementary for the eccentric and intelligent Holmes. The brilliant creation of Dr. Watson,
according to T.J. Binyon in Murder Will Out, <<its a book, so use italics provides readers with
the authentic and plausible adventures by his narratives through his prosaic, stolid
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personality(10). Dr. Watson as the narrator not only helps Doyle develop the stories by hiding
vital aspects of mysteries from readers but also represents the majority of Victorian middle-class
men, as Panek supported clais in Beginnings, a chapter fro his book, An Introduction to the
Detective Story (80). His very averageness makes him the representative of societal norm, adds
ed byliterary scholar <<<introduce your sources, especially the scholars!!>> April Toadvine in
her article The Watson Effect(52). Hence, observing and analyzing the alterations of Dr.
Watson within current Holmesian adaptations provides an insight into how modern-day texts
continue to use Watson to represent and cater to its twenty-one-century audiences. In BBCs TV
series Sherlock, directed by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, John Watson is portrayed as a
former military doctor back from Afghanistan. Throughout Sherlock, John Watson follows many
of Doyles classic conventions: he is still characterized as a loyal, professional, moral and
ordinary partner of Sherlock Holmes but with distinct age epitomes,<<not sure what you mean
by age epitomes where he reflects unique circumstances among twenty-one century,<<this
should be written as 21
st
century compared to the original context. In addition, the
relationship between Holmes and Watson becomes a cure of Watsons mental distresses. Another
TV series adaptation for the American channel of CBS, Elementary, transforms Mr. John into
Miss. Joan, a female former surgeon who has strong self-esteem, with which she has impacted
andwhich rewrittesn the relationship between Watson and Holmes. Among modern Holmesian
adaptations, Watson is still a representative of ordinary people but the character is now
imbued<<I think thats the word you mean<endued with thenew zeitgeist and adapts more
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modern values to accurately imageof the 21
st
century; also, Watsonshis relationship with Holmes
has been reinterpreted into a new form, sometimes even reversing the classic relationship, which
is done, for example, in such as the new reversed parent-child in Elementary, to fit contemporary
viewing requirements.which often features Watson as the parent and Holmes as the child.
The mModern Watson in Sherlock still plays the role of reflecting issues faced relevant
within the social context. According to literary scholar Leroy Panek, when Doyle created Watson
as narrator, he is fully considered the new class of readers who at that time were brought into
being by universal education and the urge to self-improvement(Beginning 9). Thus, Panek
points out that Holmes takes a high hand with the nabobs and robber baronsand concentrates
on the problems of the modest middle-class(Doyle 76). To catch the maincapture a wide
audience, modern texts also considered the problems that can make resonatenance with current
viewers. According to Toadvine in The Watson Effect, Toadvine precisely notes: whereas
Sherlocks John is as professionally skilled as his literary predecessor, he is nondescript (54). As
a doctor, he still has problems on obtaining jobs and adapting into civic life. Toadvine points out
that Watson is a representative of modern concerns, including unemployment and social identity
for returning soldiers, those of social problems that are familiar to the modern viewers (55). Also,
Sherlocks Watson is haunted by PTSD, which manifests current concerns about psychological
health; these were not issues , which were not drawnthat were given much attention in the
Victorian era. In the episode 1, A Study in Pink, the story begins with Dr. Watsons nightmare
in which he flashbacks to the battlefield in Afghanistan, and he is suddenly awakened in a cold

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sweat. The director uses a birds-eye -view camera angle angle combined with a medium shot
to depict both the battlefield background and Watsons panic and the horror in his eyes within
one frame. With low-key lighting, the audience can barely can picture his appearance, and the
effect heightens the sense of pain and depression. During the next scene, a therapy session,
Watsons his psychiatrist suggests him tothat he write his daily life into blogs to help him step out
of his the post-war trauma. Within the scene, the director makes use of an unusual composition to
create some extent of aesthetic discomfort by framing main characters inclined closely to the one
side, and the frame emphasizes Watsons inner torment, standing at the edge of the mainstream
civic life. The adaptation begins with these first two scenes, introducing withwith a a modern
broken man who needs both mental and physical regeneration, and who resonates with problems
suffered by many in the viewing audience. to seek for life purpose by setting up the modern
injured person both mentally and physically. Sherlocks Watson attracts more audiencesinvites its
viewers to experience a rehabilitative journey shared with the common audiences. as he plunges
into the adventures of Sherlock Holmes. <<<Very nice analysis, Burton! And your identification
of and explanation of the cinematic elements are all relevant to the point your makinggood job.
In Elementary, Joan Watson stands for values treasured by most American viewers: respect,
equality and independence, which executecreating another Watson Effect, according to
criticisms from Emily Asher-Perrin and the review by Rhiannon Thomas, <<I had to poke
around on this site a bit to find her name, but this is the name of the writergood site>> An
Ode to Joan Watson. In Battling Super Sleuths: The Awkward Case of Elementary, Sherlock,
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and Building the Better Adaptation, Asher-Perrin notices, Rather than playfully belittling his
partner the way that Cumberbatchs version is frequently known for, Johnny Lee Millers
Sherlock holds Watson in an esteem that is expressed outwardly to her, and to their colleagues
They are played as equals according to the shows premise. She is not inferior to Holmes;
instead, she is much his equal as a counterpart. Furthermore, An Ode to Joan Watson addresses
that the success of Elementary is that Watson fights for her respect and her independence when
Holmes hurts her feelings or oversteps the boundary between their friendship. In the Pilot,
Elementary, Holmes infers the murder is still alive after the suspects body is found. Joan Watson
tries to soothe his anxiety from Holmess outburst; h. However, Holmes discloses Watsons
miserable memory about a surgery accident causing her lose aspiration in life to flaunt his
accurate deductive skills. The director<<go on imdb.com and find out who directed this episode
and use the specific nameusing details and specifics always increases your own credibility as a
scholar takes a handheld camera to portray the argument, in which Watson keeps silent and calm.
The camera slightly shakes when capturing Watsons reaction, which pictures disturbances of her
emotional instability and depicts the chaotic situation. Listening to Holmess great deduction,
Watson stands stiffly and stares forward, and a close-up shot along with shallow focus pictures
her tolerance of the affront. However, she does not been defeated by her superior sober
companion. The shot is suddenly fixed, and Watson with sharp eyesight fights back. She
indifferently replies, I noticed you dont have any mirrors around here (their apartment)It
means I think you know a lost because when you see one. She criticizes Holmess apathy about

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others feelings even though Holmes has higher intelligence. Joan Watson needs respect instead
of insults and emotional attacks from the friend who is merely smarter than her. Then, Watson
chooses to leave behind Holmes, who is full of regret. From the scene, Watson is depicted as a
strong American female, who is independent from Holmes. She is not a mocking target; instead,
she is an individual as equal as Holmes, which the relationship is a standard among 21
st
century.
<<this plays well with Elementarys main audience, which is majority female
Another update in Elementary is the parent-child relationship between Watson and Holmes has
been reversed. According to Heroism, Culture, and Dread in The Sign of Four, Kirby Farrell
suggests an interesting perspective to view the relationship between Holmes and Watson, as a
parent and a child (42). While facing the dread of death, Holmes usually reacts in calmness and
composure; in contrast, Watson, as an ordinary man, usually feels panic and shocked by the
mystery. For example, in The Sign of Four, as they approach to the scene of Sholtos murder, the
main characters act as little children who are threatened by horrible situations, feeling helpless,
[and] appealing the expression of a terrified child (Doyle loc 735). Sherlock acts as a parent,
giving instructions and orders to lead them to solve the myth. However, the relationship lasting
for one century has been rewritten in Elementary. In the TV series,, in which Watson becomes
more like a guardian of Holmes, educating him about ordinary social manners and teaching him
how to get along with others. Even, Watson even reproaches Holmes misbehaviors when he
treats others on inappropriately treating people. This relationship is established from the first
episode of the series; iIn the Pilot,", Season 1 and Episode 1, Holmes has found a survivor from

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a serial murder, Eileen Renfro, who might provide crucial clues to help them track down the
murder. When they investigatequiry several questions related to the case, the victim avoids
directly answering Sherlocks questions and deniesying her experience. To obtain the name of the
murderer, Holmes expatiates describes the happening of the case and forces the victim to recall
her miserable memories ry by using aggressive words in an impolite manner. In the scene,
Holmes is standing higher than the victim, acting as the controller of the conversation. The
director utilizes a high angle and close-up shot to portray Holmes as the one in control. Within
the frame, Holmes is like a naughty boy who keeps ing providing unreasonable requests, and the
angle of the shot gives him more aggressiveness. When depicting Watson, the shot is as the same
as the victim, a low angle and close-up shot. It seems that Watson is also enduring Holmess
rudeness, like the parent of the bad-mannered child. When the victim begins to release what she
is holding, Holmes appears to be more bellicose. Watson sits ahead and leans forward, and those
actions display the signs that a mother wants to stop the disturbance of the child. Finally, after
she throws him three warnings, Watson stands up and shouts at Holmes, to asking him to
leaveing. The scene completes the twist of the relationship. Then, Holmes angrily leaves the
room like a child who has just receiveds a punishment. Within the adaptation, completing the
reversal of the the parent-child relationship has been reversedbetween Watson and Holmes.
As a loyal and faithful sidekick, Dr. Watson has been serving as a foil for Sherlock Holmes
for over a one century; as a narrator in Doyles detective stories, Watson opens a path letting
readers follow the greatest detective to experiences exciting adventures but more importantly, as

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an ordinary Victorian middle class man, Watson is labeled with conspicuous time marks, which
provide adequate materials to examine time spirits beneath his role. Stepping into 21
st
century,
Sherlocks Dr. Watson in modern adaptations still reflects his society; he presents modern
concerns about unemployment, self-identification and psychological health. In Elementary, s; he
also absorbs modern morality and values to require respect, equality and independence in her the
relationship with Holmes; finally and, Dr. Watson inverts the classicre-establishes his roles
within a longof the Holmes-Watson parent-child relationship, as a moral parent of Holmes. Now,
Dr. Watson has been transformed to reflect the 21
st
centuryin a zeitgeist, continuing to
accompany the worlds most well known detective in his adventures, and attracting an even
wider audience. extend his adventures with the greatest detective in 21
st
century.
REALLY nice draft, Burton! I think you have given the most insightful and detailed analysis of
the scenes and done an extremely good job at tying all this together to help develop your
controlling idea. Good work.







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Work Cited
Thomas, Rhiannon. An Ode to Joan Watson. Feminist Fiction. Feminist.com. 2013 Web. 10
th

Sep. 2013. http://feministfiction.com/2013/09/10/an-ode-to-joan-watson/
Asher-Perrin, Emily. "Battling Super-Sleuths: The Awkward Case of Sherlock, Elementary, and
Building the Better Adaptation." Tor.com, Macmillan, 24 Feb. 2014. Web. 11 Aug. 2014.
Binyon, T.J. "Murder Will Out": The Detective in Fiction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1989.
9-12. Print.
Doyle, Arthur Conan. The Sign of the Four. Seattle: Amazon Digital Services, 2013. Kindle
eBook. Online.
Farrell, Kirby. "Heroism, Culture and Dread in The Sign of the Four." Studies in the Novel 16.1
(1984): 32-51. Print.
Panek, Leroy. An Introduction to the Detective Story. Bowling Green, OH: Bowling Green State
University Popular Press, 1987. Print.
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Toadvine, April. "The Watson Effect: Civilizing the Sociopath." Sherlock Holmes for the 21st
Century. ed. Lynette Porter. Jefferson, NC: Macfarlane & Company, 2012, 47-62. Print.

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