The rivalry between Sherlock Holmes and Professor James Moriarty is legendary. The two are intellectual equals with verbal and physical confrontations as thrilling as their battles of wit and will. Their rivalry is often compared to a game of chess, and Moriarty sees their feud as a game where he is the player and Holmes is the piece he wants to capture. The most famous encounter between the two occurs in “The Final Problem” at the Reichenbach Falls, where they both fall to their presumed deaths. However, Conan Doyle eventually brought Holmes back to life, revealing that he faked his own death.
Introduction
Sherlock Holmes and his trusted friend, Dr. John Watson, are two of the most iconic fictional characters in literature. Together, they make up one of the most formidable duos in detective fiction. However, their most famous adversary, Professor James Moriarty, is equally matched in intelligence, cunning, and wit. In this article, I will analyze the dynamic between these three characters and their legendary rivalry.
The Characters
Sherlock Holmes is a detective who uses his keen observation skills, deductive reasoning, and encyclopedic knowledge to solve crimes. He is portrayed as analytical, aloof, and unemotional. Dr. John Watson is a retired military physician who serves as Holmes’ friend and biographer. He is the everyman of the duo, acting as a contrast to Holmes’ eccentricity. Professor James Moriarty is a criminal mastermind and the arch-nemesis of Sherlock Holmes. He is portrayed as the genius equal of Holmes, with a powerful intellect and a devious mind.
The Rivalry
The rivalry between Holmes and Moriarty is the stuff of legend. In their first encounter, Moriarty is described as having a “face like a hawk, with keen eyes and a sharp nose.” The two are portrayed as intellectual equals, with Moriarty often staying one step ahead of Holmes. Their verbal duels are as thrilling as their physical confrontations, and their battles of wit and will are legendary.
The Chess Analogy
The rivalry between Holmes and Moriarty is often compared to a game of chess. In “The Final Problem,” Holmes describes their relationship as “the highest court of appeal in detection.” Holmes sees Moriarty as the embodiment of evil and describes their feud as a “struggle between the two moieties of the brain.” Moriarty, on the other hand, sees their feud as a game, where he is the player and Holmes is the piece he wants to capture.
The Sign of Four
In “The Sign of Four,” Watson falls in love with a young woman named Mary Morstan. Moriarty sees this as an opportunity to strike at Holmes and uses Morstan as leverage to frame the detective for murder. Holmes ultimately clears his name and saves Morstan, but the episode illustrates the lengths Moriarty will go to defeat his rival.
The Reichenbach Falls
The most famous encounter between Holmes and Moriarty occurs in “The Final Problem.” In this story, Moriarty is on trial for murder and Holmes is testifying against him. Moriarty threatens to kill Holmes and his friends, prompting Holmes to flee to Switzerland. There, he and Moriarty have a final confrontation at the Reichenbach Falls. The two engage in a physical struggle and both fall to their presumed deaths.
The Aftermath
After the Reichenbach Falls, Conan Doyle received an enormous amount of mail from fans pleading for Holmes’ return. Eventually, the writer relented and brought the detective back to life. In “The Adventure of the Empty House,” it is revealed that Holmes faked his own death and that Moriarty had a brother who had continued the criminal mastermind’s work in his absence.
Conclusion
The rivalry between Sherlock Holmes and James Moriarty is one of the most iconic in literature. Their battles of wit and will are legendary, and their confrontation at the Reichenbach Falls is one of the most famous moments in fiction. However, their rivalry is not just about good versus evil or hero versus villain. At its core, it is a battle between two brilliant minds, each determined to outsmart and outmaneuver the other. Their rivalry is what makes them both great and what makes them timeless.