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A Scandal In Belgravia Analysis

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“A Scandal in Bohemia” and “A Scandal in Belgravia” both have many similarities, as well as differences that help lay the foundation for the different adaptations. A couple of differences that you might notice whilst reading is the fact that the earlier edition of Arthur Conan Doyle’s is set in the late 1800s, and that the newer adaptation by the BBC is set at present time. This makes the plot in the BBC version weigh more heavily on technology to make it a modern adaptation of Sherlock, with the antagonist (Adler) using a phone instead of a photograph to blackmail the subject. Something else that you might notice is the way some of the key plot points play out. In the BBC version we get to see Sherlock confront Irene in her room with the …show more content…

You don’t need to read too much into both of the stories to notice the obvious technological contrasts, such as the use of a cell phone compared to a single photo in terms of the sensitive information. The cell phone that holds the intel is quite an advancement itself in terms of security with several countermeasures to ensure that the information can’t be accessed by anyone else but Irene Adler. Some of the countermeasures include the fact that it has some sort of explosive in it, or acid, automatic detection to burn the hard drive if anyone attempts to open the case, and the use of two passcodes, one to open the phone, and another to delete the …show more content…

In the tv-series, we see the mastermind that Holmes really is when he manages to decode the passcode to Adler’s phone. He does this by establishing that Adler had feelings for him by taking her pulse, and seeing her enlarged pupils. All definite signs of affection. Sherlock then inputs the four letters “S, H, E, and R” to spell out “I AM SHERLOCKED” on the phone’s screen, and unlocks the phone. In the short story, Sherlock and Co. are left with a letter, and photo of Irene Adler. She writes in her letter that she had found out that the King of Bohemia had employed Detective Holmes, and began to suspect if they were after her. Adler also explains that she had sent John (the coachman) to watch them, and has confirmed her suspicion. She then writes that she has gone away with her husband, and would not trouble the King anymore, but that she had kept the photograph as a mean of security if the King ever decided to come after her. But the King of Bohemia actually admires her and was quoted as saying “What a woman -- of what a woman” after reading the letter. Mycroft also praised Adler’s brilliance in the tv-series saying: “You’ve been very thorough, I wish our law was half as good as you” when Irene explains all the possible outcomes if she doesn’t get what she

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