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Elizabeth Tong Lynda Haas Writing 37 20 February 2014 A Shift in Attitude toward Woman In the Sherlock's Holmes novels, Conan Doyle presents many genre conventions, but the convention of how women were portrayed in the Victorian Era has positively changed the way women are viewed in modern-day interpretations. Throughout Conan Doyle's stories women were looked down upon, hardly appearing in his stories and if they did they were not given huge roles. In The Hound of the Baskervilles, Beryl Stapleton was one of the few women who appeared in this story, playing a fragile and apprehensive woman who didn't have the courage to say much, but who knew a lot of valuable information. Watson who is one of the main characters is recognized as Sherlock Holmes sidekick and has always been introduced to us as a male, but in the Television show Elementary Watson's role is actually played by a female actor. This gender switch has a significant impact on today's preconception of women, showing women are just as equal to men and that they have the capability to not only play a leading role in this television series, but to play a man's theatrical role, forming the same effect as if a male actor were to play it. Elementary is a modern-day revision of Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories, updating the role women play for its 21st century audience; women are no longer view as defenseless like they were in the Victorian Era and are instead seen as equal, showing dominance. Women were dominated by the masculine sexuality and were expected to follow the social mold crafted by men in the Victorian Era. Once a woman became married her rights and every decision she made was under supervision of her husband (Historical Analysis). In Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles, the audience is introduced to the Stapleton siblings, Mr. and Mrs. Stapleton and throughout the novel the students become aware of the siblings strange relationship, coming to the conclusion that they are actually married to one another. Mr. Stapleton is physically and verbally abusive of his wife making Mrs. Stapleton afraid of him. When she refuses to take part of her husband's murderous plans to kill Sir Henry and claim the fortune, she ends up getting punished, causing her to feel belittle. As much as she wants to confront Sir Henry about the dangers that will occur to him, she has no courage to actually tell

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him and instead leaves him hints and warnings of the troubles that await him. In the end of the novel, When Holmes and Watson is looking for Mr. Stapleton who flees the scene once when he realizes he has been caught, they hear a sound coming from one of the rooms in the Stapleton house. As they opened the door they see Mrs. Stapleton curled up on the floor with a towel around her throat secured by another towel wrapped around a pillar. After untying Mrs. Stapleton she cries out in despair, "Oh, this villain! See how he has treated me! She shot her arms out from her sleeves, and we saw with horror that they were all mottled with bruises" (Doyle 257). The bruises that appear on Mrs. Stapleton arms show how men had so much power over women in this era and that they often abused their authority. The fact that Mrs. Stapleton husband abuses her represents how men in this era had no respect for their wives and women in general; they often viewed women as the weaker species. Mrs. Stapleton who is not able to stick up for herself shows how selfless women were since she did not have the courage to leave her husband even though she was clearly unhappy and the fact that she was against her husband's actions and she still didn't speak up against him shows the influence he had over her. Another reason why she felt obligated to stay and unable to betray her husband was because all she wanted was to be loved and feel wanted; showing women are needy but also vulnerable, giving men the power to be superior over them. It is clear that women felt force to conform to society's role of how women should be behaving; being compliant and underrated. In Elementary, Episode 4 Season 1 Watson who is played by a female actor, comes to the rescue and saves Holmes from being killed. Holmes comes to a conclusion about a case and confronts the culprit, telling her that he knows she is the one who is killing people in the company she works in. Feeling exposed, the fugitive takes out her taser and uses it on Holmes, handcuffs him and puts him in the back of her car. While all this is occurring, Watson keeps texting and calling Holmes since she is his sober companion and she hasn't heard from him in hours so she thinks he relapsed. She then she gets a text from "Holmes" saying he is fine and he is heading back. By the way Holmes responded to her on text she knew that Holmes is in trouble and that he didn't write that message. Watson tells the police about Holmes disappearance and the police show up just in time before the lady who abducted Holmes was about to shoot him. Right off the back we see Watson playing a significant and dominant role in this television show. Although Watson is a woman she exhibits courageous and self-reliant behaviors that are not seen in women in the Victorian Era. Throughout the television show there are countless scenes where the camera is directly focused on Watson, revealing the importance of the role she plays. Watson is not only seen as a sidekick who helps Holmes solve cases, but also as a companion keeping Holmes in check and looking out for him. In this series, it is made evident to us that Watson earns Holmes respect and even though she is a female Holmes isn't afraid to

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respect Watson for her competence, nor her ability to tolerate him; he even shows bits of deference and appreciation towards her (Lee). Holmes even admits to Watson that he works better with her and feels more focus. This shows how in modern day society, women are receiving credibility for their actions. Although Watson is a female the dynamic between Watson and Holmes remains true to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's vision. Watson's part that is usually seen as male character and is being played by a woman actor in the television show Elementary caused a lot of controversy for the viewers. The question whether Watson and Holmes will have romantic entanglements in this series arose, but from what we have seen the pair works together splendidly, though, as Holmes and Watsons must so it doesn't drift away from Conan Doyle's stories in a way that seems gaudy or disrespectful (Nelson). Having a female play this role as Watson in this television show appeals more to the modern audience due to percentage of women present on television today. This not only shows how now day's women are viewed equally to men, but women are also gaining respect. This gender switch is how you keep traditional characters in famous novels current.

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Works Cited Doyle, Arthur Conan. The hound of the Baskervilles. Raleigh, N.C.: Alex Catalogue, 199. Print. "Historical Analysis: Women as the "the Sex" During the Victorian Era." N.[.,n.d. Web 18 Feb. 2014 <http://webpage.pace.edu/nreagin/tempmotherhood/fall2003/3/index.html> Lee, Marissa. "Racebending.com."Racebendingcom. N.p., 25 Sept. 2012. Web. 21 Feb. 2014. . Nelson, Jenny. "Sherlock Holmes Deathmatch! Elementary vs. Sherlock vs. Sherlock Holmes NYU Local." NYU Local Sherlock Holmes Deathmatch emElementaryem vs emSherlockem vs emSherlock Holmesem Comments. N.p., 5 Oct. 2012. Web. 21 Feb. 2014. .

"Season 1 Episode 4." Doherty, Robert. Elementary. CBS. 27 Sept. 2012. Television.