Meyer’s The Seven-Per-Cent Solution
Comparison – Contrast Essay in Meyer’s The Seven-Per-Cent Solution
Father of detective work, Sherlock Holmes and father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, can be compared and contrasted in Nicholas Meyer’s The Seven-Per-Cent Solution. Sherlock Holmes can be identified as one of the most brilliant fictional characters of the 19th century period. As a “consulting detective”, he uses his extraordinary abilities and logical reasoning to solve some of the most difficult cases. Equally as brilliant in his field, Sigmund Freud is identified in the novel as a neurologist that extensively studies the human mind and behavior. Both Sherlock Holmes and Sigmund Freud share many similarities in Meyer’s novel. One obvious parallel is each character’s remarkable abilities in their profession. In chapter IV Holmes does an impressive analysis of the Dr. Freud and surprises everyone after using clues to identify many of the Dr.’s personal and professional characteristics. Freud’s intelligence is likewise showcased when he is able to reveal the underlying cause of Holmes’ addiction to cocaine in the last paragraph of the story. Another similarity is that both characters are loners. Other than Dr. Watson, Holmes does not trust or allow others in his life. As for Dr. Freud, he is excluded from society and colleagues due to his radical ideas and methods of work. Both characters also happen to smoke Tobacco. For Holmes it was “huge amounts of shag”, during his cases whereas Freud would indulge in cigars. Although both Holmes and Freud shared many similarities, they also have many differences. A prominent difference derives from the antagonist, Cocaine. In the novel, Holmes is clearly addicted to cocaine when Meyer writes, “but as for help, you must put it out of your minds, all of you. I am in the grip of this devilish malady and it will consume me!” As for Dr. Freud, all though he was addicted at one point, he is the one that discovered the drug and was able
Father of detective work, Sherlock Holmes and father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, can be compared and contrasted in Nicholas Meyer’s The Seven-Per-Cent Solution. Sherlock Holmes can be identified as one of the most brilliant fictional characters of the 19th century period. As a “consulting detective”, he uses his extraordinary abilities and logical reasoning to solve some of the most difficult cases. Equally as brilliant in his field, Sigmund Freud is identified in the novel as a neurologist that extensively studies the human mind and behavior. Both Sherlock Holmes and Sigmund Freud share many similarities in Meyer’s novel. One obvious parallel is each character’s remarkable abilities in their profession. In chapter IV Holmes does an impressive analysis of the Dr. Freud and surprises everyone after using clues to identify many of the Dr.’s personal and professional characteristics. Freud’s intelligence is likewise showcased when he is able to reveal the underlying cause of Holmes’ addiction to cocaine in the last paragraph of the story. Another similarity is that both characters are loners. Other than Dr. Watson, Holmes does not trust or allow others in his life. As for Dr. Freud, he is excluded from society and colleagues due to his radical ideas and methods of work. Both characters also happen to smoke Tobacco. For Holmes it was “huge amounts of shag”, during his cases whereas Freud would indulge in cigars. Although both Holmes and Freud shared many similarities, they also have many differences. A prominent difference derives from the antagonist, Cocaine. In the novel, Holmes is clearly addicted to cocaine when Meyer writes, “but as for help, you must put it out of your minds, all of you. I am in the grip of this devilish malady and it will consume me!” As for Dr. Freud, all though he was addicted at one point, he is the one that discovered the drug and was able