Why Sherlock Holmes is immortal: character and legacy

Abstract

Sherlock Holmes has been an endearing figure in the public consciousness for over a hundred years now. He has transcended the pages of the novel to become much more than Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the author, could ever have imagined. From faithful adaptations to whimsical cartoons and reimagined, gender-swapped retellings, Holmes has endured and will undoubtedly continue to endure. As media evolves, Sherlock Holmes too will evolve. This paper aims to break down the reasons for Holmes‘ initial surge in popularity in the Victorian Era, and also tries to see why a mere pop fiction is so beloved by readers and viewers alike to this day.