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The Complete Decoding the Subtext Decoding the Subtext Being an examination of the homoerotic subtext contained within the Sherlock Holmes Canon Nekosmuse 1 Copyright © 2007 Contents 1 iii Contents Introduction 1 The Gloria Scott 2 The Musgrave Ritual 6 A Study in Scarlet 8 The Speckled Band 16 The Resident Patient 23 The Noble Bachelor 29 The Second Stain 34 The Reigate Squires 39 A Scandal in Bohemia 46 The Man with the Twisted Lip 55 The Five Orange Pips 63 A Case of Identity 67 The Red-Headed League 72 The Adventure of the Dying Detective 79 The Blue Carbuncle 88 The Valley of Fear 94 The Adventure of the Yellow Face 103 The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter 107 The Sign of [the] Four 112 The Hound of the Baskervilles 136 The Copper Beeches 155 The Boscombe Valley Mystery 164 The Stockbroker’s Clerk 171 The Naval Treaty 177 The Cardboard Box 183 The Engineer’s Thumb 190 The Crooked Man 194 Wisteria Lodge 201 Silver Blaze 206 The Beryl Coronet 211 The Final Problem 215 iv 1 Decoding the Subtext The Empty House 228 The Golden Pince-Nez 241 The Three Students 245 The Solitary Cyclist 249 Black Peter 256 The Norwood Builder 259 The Bruce Partington Plans 265 The Veiled Lodger 273 The Sussex Vampire 277 The Missing Three-Quarter 281 The Abbey Grange 288 The Devil’s Foot 293 The Dancing Men 301 The Retired Colourman 305 Charles Augustus Milverton 312 The Six Napoleons 320 The Problem of Thor Bridge 324 The Priory School 330 Shoscombe Old Place 335 The Three Garridebs 339 Lady Frances Carfax 345 The Illustrious Client 352 The Red Circle 359 The Blanched Soldier 363 The Three Gables 370 The Mazarin Stone 375 The Creeping Man 379 The Lion’s Mane 384 His Last Bow 389 Appendix I: Abbreviations 394 Introduction 1 1 Introduction Decoding the Subtext is a series of essays which examine each of the Sherlock Holmes stories for homoerotic subtext. Here, the author suggests that Holmes and Watson were more than mere friends, and attempts to prove this theory by examining the sub-textual evidence contained within Canon. It should be noted that this series was written while reading Baring-Gould’s annotat- ed Sherlock Holmes. As such, the stories have been examined in the order suggested by Baring-Gould’s chronology. Newcomers to Sherlock Holmes should first read Canon in publication order, before moving on to Baring-Gould’s chronology. Baring-Gould’s dates, as well as publication dates, have been noted. 2 1 Decoding the Subtext The Gloria Scott Dates: The Gloria Scott was, by all accounts, Holmes’ first case. Baring-Gould dates the case in the summer/fall of 1874 (seven years prior to Holmes meeting Watson). The story is told in retrospect, Baring-Gould suggesting a date in the winter of 1887 or 1888 for the re-telling. The Gloria Scott was first published in April of 1893. Synopsis: In The Adventure of the Gloria Scott, Holmes spends a month with a college friend at his friend’s father’s estate. Here, the story of a long forgotten ship, the Gloria Scott, its convict passengers bound for Australia, and its mutinous crew first comes to light. This is the first occasion where Holmes realizes that perhaps his powers of deduction (which were once a mere hobby) might provide for an actual career. The Subtext: The Gloria Scott introduces a figure of Holmes’ past; a man by the name of Victor Trevor, whom Holmes refers to as a close friend. It should be noted that Trevor is the only friend Holmes mentions in association with his time at University. Here we must examine Holmes’ introduction to Trevor, for the entire situation (not to mention the dialogue) is very suggestive. “You never heard me talk of Victor Trevor?” he asked. “He was the only friend I made during the two years I was at college. I was never a very sociable fellow, Watson, always rath- er fond of moping in my rooms and working out my own little methods of thought, so that I never mixed much with the men of my year. Bar fencing and boxing I had few athletic tastes, and then my line of study was quite distinct from that of the other fellows, so that we had no points of contact at all. Trevor was the only man I knew, and that only through the accident of his bull terrier freezing on to my ankle one morning as I went down to chapel. “It was a prosaic way of forming a friendship, but it was effective. I was laid by the heels for ten days, but Trevor used to come in to inquire after me. At first it was only a minute’s chat, but soon his visits lengthened, and before the end of the term we were close friends. He was a hearty, full-blooded fellow, full of spirits and energy, the very opposite to me in most respects, but we had some subjects in common, and it was a bond of union when I found The Gloria Scott 1 3 that he was as friendless as I. Finally, he invited me down to his father’s place at Don- nithorpe, in Norfolk, and I accepted his hospitality for a month of the long vacation. Understandably, male-male friendships in the Victorian era were considerably dif- ferent than they are today. To begin with, it wasn’t until 1905 (when Freud first put forth the idea of sexuality as a form of identity) that close male-male friendships (often referred to as romantic friendships --although, this term was often reserved for close female-female friendships) began to disappear. The concept of homosexuality existed before this time, but affection between two men was not considered a sign of latent homosexuality (as it would be today). Still, the formation of this friendship (between Holmes and Trevor) has an unusual progression, which suggests the potential development of a romantic relationship, rather than a platonic one. To begin with, their encounters occur alone, behind closed doors, and they progress, from ‘minutes’ chats’ to ‘lengthened visits’, suggesting the build up of something more intimate. Then, there is the manner in which Holmes describes Trevor. Holmes uses words such as ‘full-blooded’ and ‘filled with spirits and energy’, implying something of a physical, rather than an emotional, exchange. The increasing intimacy between the two men cumulate into a month long visit with Trevor’s family, something that, again, suggests an extremely close bond. The visit does not go well, but the two part on amiable, but certainly less gen- ial terms, than before. Still, seven weeks later, Trevor requests Holmes’ presence, and Holmes ‘drops everything’ to rush to Trevor’s side. It is interesting to note here that this is the first time Holmes mentions Trevor to Watson, implying that their friendship has not been sustained. In fact, neither Watson, nor the reader, hears of Trevor again, suggesting that the two parted ways sometime after the completion of the Gloria Scott case. This ending is far more suggestive of a break-up than the disintegration of a friendship. It occurs rather suddenly, and Holmes mentions, several times during his narrative, the discomfort he experienced in the tail end of his visit, Holmes cutting his visit short due in large part to this awkwardness. It is telling, too, that Holmes does share this with Watson. At this point, using Baring-Gould’s chronology, Holmes and Watson have been living together for some 7-8 years. In all that time, Trevor has not been mentioned (implying that Holmes no longer keeps in touch with his only college friend), except on this one occasion. Here, Holmes does not mention him in passing. In fact, Holmes shares the entire incident, 4 1 Decoding the Subtext as well as his previously close association with Trevor, in precise detail. When you consider how long Watson has been requesting the details of Holmes’ past, it is highly interesting that Holmes would have waited so long to share this par- ticular case. There is no reason for the case itself to remain hidden, and yet Holmes waited, years upon years, before revealing its nature, and the characters involved. But share it he did, and this is very suggestive of a close, intimate relationship be- tween Holmes and Watson. It should be pointed out that we are not suggesting that Trevor was Holmes’ first lover (although it is certainly probable). This is completely unsubstantiated. But it is highly probable that their relationship marked a turning point for Holmes, as prior to his friendship with Trevor, Holmes appeared to be (from what little we know) a highly recluse individual. There is no indication that Holmes cumulated any close friendships prior to Trevor, nor is there any indication that he formed any close friendships after Trevor (until Watson, that is). He maintains several acquaintances, and professional peers, but no close friends. Again, this implies that perhaps Trevor (like Watson) was a good deal closer to Holmes (or meant something more to Holmes) than a mere friend. Whether this relationship contained a sexual element is unknown, but it certainly contained an emotional one. Outside of Holmes’ relationship with Trevor, the story itself presents several ele- ments that could be considered homoerotic in nature. I refer of course to the tale of Trevor Sr., who, when referring to the origins of the Gloria Scott, referred to the man responsible for the mutiny in the following manner: The man next to me, upon the aft side, was one whom I had particularly noticed when we were led down the quay.
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