Personal Habits

Image Courtesy Wikipedia

Dr. Watson often despised Holmes' habit of using drugs

Sherlock Holmes is depicted to be a person of unusual, irregular and often unhealthy habits. His biographer and close friend Dr. Watson states in one of the stories that Holmes has irregular habits and often his papers, chemical equipment used to be scattered in the room. He used to place his tobacco in a persian slipper, and was a regular user of cigars, cigarettes and pipes.

Holmes often concealed the truth or bent the truth, in order to protect someone’s honor and dignity. In many stories Holmes carries out illegal actions to meet a god purpose. In ‘The Adventure of Charles Milverton Augustus’, afterlong discussion both the friends agree to break in a house to get important papers.

While working on an important case, Holmes will stop himself from eating and sleeping. Dr. Watson describes Holmes as a late riser but when on an imporatnt case, Dr. Watson often woke up to find that Holmes had left earlier. Holmes showed aversion to the female sex and often he remarked that it was due to lack of trust. In all his life Holmes admired only one lady, Irene Adler in ‘ A Scandal in Bohemia’.

The Scotland Yard often asked Holmes for assistance in certain cases and Holmes often tested their patience when he did not disclose the truth till the last moment. He used to give clues and hints to the officers in particular ‘Inspector Lestrade’, who showed dislike towards Holmes. In ‘The Adventure of The Naval treaty’, holmes remarks in amusement that out of the last 53 cases Scotland Yard had taken all the credit in 49.

Holmes is mainly a reserved person and his ego is strong which made him seem arrogant. Holmes’ another special trait was his ability to change disguise which also helped him in many cases. Holmes is a strong patriot as well and in a few stories he also served the British Government.

On foggy days in London when no serious cases came to homes, Dr. watson explains that this was the most painful occasion to see Holmes indulging himself in drugs and torturing him self.