Sherlock Holmes' Supernatural Abilities

Logic vs. The Supernatural

Throughout all of Doyle's stories read about Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, a constant debate between science and superstition has always been apparent. Specifically, within Sherlock's mind, he pays such close attention to so many details that everyone else, including John Watson and readers, completely overlook. Regardless of the most far-fetched or puzzling details given, Holmes uses his "powers of deduction" to find a truly reasonable and rational explanation for even the most difficult of mysteries, his own mind being almost supernatural or magical. Throughout all of the adaptations and stories, it is easy to see that Holmes is completely against leaving any mystery unsolved, or solely ruling it out due to magic, for he does not believe it in. But with this being said, the ways of Sherlock's mind are indescribable, having no explanation or comparison to any others. Through the character of Sherlock Holmes, Doyle found the ability to take mysteries and to make them seem reasonable and literal, and in a profound way, Sherlock Holmes' mind defies everything he is against. 

Specifically, within BBC adaptation's episode of the novel, "The Hound of the Baskervilles," as viewers, we are torn between these two opposite forms of explanation, science and the supernatural, attempting to find the reasoning and existence for the creation of a giant hound. As the mystery continues, we walk the line between the two possible reasonings, and we are shown signs of Sherlock beginning to do the same. Within the BBC adaptation, we are allowed to visually recognize Sherlocks inexplainable deduction process at the end of the episode, making him seem all the more powerful and unreal, and also generating a great reveal once he had solved the mystery. As viewers, we are distanced from Sherlock by his small, but still noticed, belief in the supernatural, making his mind seem even more incredible and indescribable, or everything he is against, at the end of the episode. This idea is also shown within the 1902 novel, for when Sherlock is disguised, we are distanced from him as our stunning protagonist. As we are shown the mystery of the murder of Sir Charles Baskerville through solely Watson's eyes, we attempt to figure things out on our own. Soon, we realize that we are no match for Holmes, proving once again, that he has the supernatural ability to create a completely logical and reasonable explanation out of almost nothing of the kind.