C is for Character.....and also for Caricature
Character --- an account of the qualities or peculiarities of a person or thing.
Caricature --- the ludicrously exaggerated qualities or peculiarities of a person or thing.
Or, more simply, character is the 'grocery list' version of someone. While, caricature is the mutated 'grocery list from Mars' version of someone.
One makes for a memorable figure, the other does not....
A Study in Sherlock
The intrepid consulting detective. Eager for a mystery to solve. Intelligent. Calculating. Precise. When taken at the surface, not very different from the mild-mannered, ex-army doctor, Watson. But, had the stories, which were chronicled by faithful, loyal Dr. Watson, focused on two such mild-mannered individuals, I fear we never would have met Sherlock Holmes.
It is Sherlock's 'Martian grocery list' that cements him indelibly in our minds. His rat-like tenacity. His refusal to eat while working-- to prevent energies from being wasted on non-essential tasks such as digestion. His boredom-reducing cocaine addiction. And, of course, his ability to tell from a single speck of clay on the outside of your left shoe, where you've been for the past week as well as what you've eaten the last 3 breakfasts.
Of course, one can not forget Holmes' talent for stepping into the disguise of another. He was a master of self-caricature art!
It's obvious which specimen would firmly plant itself in the memory and consciousness of any reader. But, as the great detective said himself, "There is nothing so elusive as an obvious fact."
So, which shall it be......
Character --- an account of the qualities or peculiarities of a person or thing.
Caricature --- the ludicrously exaggerated qualities or peculiarities of a person or thing.
Or, more simply, character is the 'grocery list' version of someone. While, caricature is the mutated 'grocery list from Mars' version of someone.
One makes for a memorable figure, the other does not....
A Study in Sherlock
The intrepid consulting detective. Eager for a mystery to solve. Intelligent. Calculating. Precise. When taken at the surface, not very different from the mild-mannered, ex-army doctor, Watson. But, had the stories, which were chronicled by faithful, loyal Dr. Watson, focused on two such mild-mannered individuals, I fear we never would have met Sherlock Holmes.
It is Sherlock's 'Martian grocery list' that cements him indelibly in our minds. His rat-like tenacity. His refusal to eat while working-- to prevent energies from being wasted on non-essential tasks such as digestion. His boredom-reducing cocaine addiction. And, of course, his ability to tell from a single speck of clay on the outside of your left shoe, where you've been for the past week as well as what you've eaten the last 3 breakfasts.
Of course, one can not forget Holmes' talent for stepping into the disguise of another. He was a master of self-caricature art!
It's obvious which specimen would firmly plant itself in the memory and consciousness of any reader. But, as the great detective said himself, "There is nothing so elusive as an obvious fact."
So, which shall it be......
"Excellent!" I cried.
"Elementary," he said.
Love this post! As a Holmes fan, I'd say you sketched his personality perfectly.
ReplyDeleteAnd "rat-like tenacity" is my favorite phrase of the day. What a smashing (and spot on) backhanded compliment!
If you like Holmes, you might give Carole Nelson Douglas' Irene Adler series a go. I feel she's done an excellent job of developing a character worthy of capturing the attention of Holmes.
Thanks for the delightful post!
Best,
Joe
Dead Reckoning
Oooo, I didn't know there was an Irene Adler series. I may just have to check that out. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteLast summer I became mildly obsessed with Mr. Holmes and read everything by Arthur Conan Doyle. Best two weeks of the summer. Seriously. And keep in mind that I live next to a Sicilian beach.
ReplyDeleteI would think the Sicilian beach would have made a GREAT place to indulge in all things Sherlock! I bet it made a wonderful backdrop :-)
ReplyDeleteReally good pics of Holmes. I think I like Robert Downey Jr best, tho...
ReplyDeleteHappy C & D day!
Robert Downey, Jr. is very good...but, Jeremy Brett will always have a special place in my heart. He, to me, is the epitome of Sherlock Holmes :-)
ReplyDeleteHappy C & D day to you as well!