A CHARACTER ANALYSIS OF THE MAIN CHARACTER
IN SHERLOCK HOLMES MOVIE
A Thesis
Submitted to Letters and Humanities Faculty
in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree of Strata One (S1)
QAID ZUL HILMI205026000559
ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTMENT
THE FACULTY OF ADAB AND HUMANITIES
THE STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY
SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH
JAKARTA
2011
1
ABSTRACT
Qaid Zul Hilmi, A Character Analysis of The Main Character in Sherlock Holmes Movie, Thesis: English Letters Department, Adab and Humanities Faculty, Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University, Jakarta 2011.
The study in this paper concerns with the characterization of Sherlock Holmes as the main character in the Sherlock Holmes movie. The writer tries to analyze the characterization of Sherlock Holmes by collecting the data analysis: finding the correlative theories, watching the movie, and analyzing the data.
The method used in this paper is qualitative. In this research, the writer uses descriptive analysis technique. He analyzes the movie by watching it intensively and classifying each conversation. Then, the writer tries to find the proofs that can support and strengthen the characterization analysis.
As the conclusions, the writer finds that Sherlock Holmes has some characterizations. From the character analysis of the main character, the writer finally finds that Sherlock Holmes have some characterization, such as analytical, deductive-reasoning, famous, observant, and profiler.
i
APPROVAL SHEET
A CHARACTER ANALYSIS OF THE MAIN CHARACTER
IN SHERLOCK HOLMES MOVIE
A thesis
Submitted to Letters and Humanities Faculty in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree of Strata One (S1)
Qaid Zul Hilmi205026000559
Approved ByAdvisor
Moh. Supardi, M. Hum
ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTMENT
THE FACULTY OF ADAB AND HUMANITIES
THE STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY
SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH
JAKARTA
2011
ii
LEGALIZATION
Name : Qaid Zul HilmiNim : 205026000559Title : A Character Analysis of Main Character in Sherlock Holmes Movie by
Guy Ritchie
The thesis has been defended before the Letters and Humanities Faculty’s
Examination Committee on …………………., 2011. The thesis has already been
accepted as a partial fulfillment of the requirement the Strata 1 (S1) degree.
Jakarta, ……………….., 2011
Examination Committee
Signature Date
1. Drs. Asep Saefuddin, M.Pd (Chair person) NIP.150261902
2. Elve Oktafiyani, M. Hum (Secretary ) NIP.150 261 902
3. Moh. Supardi, M.Hum (Advisor) NIP.
4. ______________________ (Examiner I) NIP.
5. ______________________ (ExaminerII) NIP.
iii
DECLARATION
I hereby declare that this submission in my own and that, to the best of my
knowledge and belief. It contains no material previously published on written by
another person non material which to a substantial extent has been accepted for
the award of any other institute of degree of diploma of university of other
institute of higher learning, except where due acknowledgement has been made in
the text.
Jakarta, ………..…….. 2011
Qaid Zul Hilmi
iv
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
ـِم� ـِن� اللِه� ِب�ْس� َم ْح� ِم� الَّر� ْيـ� ْح� الَّر�
First of all, I would like to thank to Allah SWT for His willingness and
guidance to me in finishing this work. The writer does believe there is nothing he
could do without His help. All praise belongs to Him, the creator all the leaving
things and non living thing from being nothing into existence.
My salutation and benediction be into a noble of the prophet and
messenger, Muhammad SAW, who has selected as an intermediary and
messenger to guide human to the way of felicity and comfort.
The writer also absolutely deserves to thank to his advisor,
Mr. Moh. Supardi, M. Hum, who has guided the writer by counseling and
advising him in finishing the paper. Without his guidance, this paper will never be
completed.
The writer also wants to thank to:
1. Dr. H. Abdul Wahid Hasyim, M. Ag, the Dean of Faculty of Letters and
Humanities, Syarief Hidayatullah State Islamic University.
2. Drs. Asep Saefuddin, M. Pd, the Chairman of the English Letters
Department, Faculty of Adab and Humanities and Mrs. Elve
Oktaviani, M. Hum, Secretary of English Letters Department.
3. All lecturers in English Department who gave the writer knowledge of
English literature and education during the writer’s study in the
University.
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4. My family, especially to my beloved parents, who always do the best
things and provide innumerable useful suggestion during the lifetime.
So, the writer is not able to imagine the world without them. The writer’s
beloved brothers and sisters, who always make his optimist to finish this
paper.
5. A special thank is rewarded to some of writer’s classmates in English
Letters Department, Andina, Deni, Didin, Bedi, Famela, Farida, Sady,
Fitri, Firdaus cannot be mentioned one by one.
6. Some staffs of the libraries who give him a permission to get the
references to completing research.
Finally, the writer hopes his research can be useful for himself and for all
other students who do a similar study.
Jakarta, ……………… 2011
The Writer
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT .................................................................................................... i
APPROVAL SHEET ..................................................................................... ii
LEGALIZATION .......................................................................................... iii
DECLARATION ........................................................................................... iv
ACKNOLEDGEMENT................................................................................. v
TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................. vii
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ............................................................. 1
A. Background of The Study ............................................. 1
B. Focus of The Study ....................................................... 4
C. Research Question ........................................................ 5
D. Significance of The Research........................................ 5
E. Research Methodology.................................................. 5
1. The Objective of The Study...................................... 5
2. Research Method...................................................... 5
3. Technique of data Analysis...................................... 6
4. The Unit of Analysis................................................. 6
5. Instrument................................................................. 6
6. Time and Place......................................................... 6
CHAPTER II THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK .................................. 7
A. Character Definition ..................................................... 7
B. Characterization............................................................. 10
CHAPTER III RESEARCH FINDINGS ................................................ 13
A. Data Descriptions ......................................................... 13
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B. Character Analysis ....................................................... 16
1. Analytical .............................................................. 16
2. Deduction .............................................................. 19
3. Famous .................................................................. 22
4. Observant .............................................................. 24
5. Profiler ................................................................... 26
CHAPTER IV CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS ....................... 29
A. Conclusions .................................................................. 29
B. Suggestions ................................................................... 29
BIBLIOGRAPHY .......................................................................................... 31
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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of Study
Movie encompasses individual motion pictures, the field of movie as an
art form, and the motion picture industry. Movies are artifacts created by specific
cultures, which reflect those cultures, and in turn, affect them. Movie is
considered to be an important art from, a source of popular entertainment and a
powerful method for educating–or indoctrinating–citizens.
A movie is produced to be watched has some intrinsic elements, such as
setting, plot, and the most important is character. A character is someone who
acts, appears, or is referred to as playing a part in a literary work1. All characters
of a movie are supporting each other and without a character, there is no story.
By a character, the author conveys his purposes to the people through the
character’s thoughts, acts, and speech.
In this research, the writer would like to analyze the characterization of
main characters of Guy Ritchie’s movie, Sherlock Holmes, which was released on
December 27th, 2009 in Indonesia. This movie tells us about adventure of
Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) and his partner Dr. Watson (Jude Law) in
solving cases.
The movie tells us how Holmes’ abilities to solve mystery of black magic
follower and serial killer, Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong). Blackwood has an
1 J. Paul Hunter.et.al.,The Norton Introduction to literature(New York : W. W. Norton & Company.Inc.,2002).p.102
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ambition to control the world by controlling the people’s fear. He murdered five
women and stopped by Holmes when he was trying to kill the sixth.
The movie begins in 1890 London, famous consulting detective Sherlock
Holmes (Robert Downey, Jr.) and his partner Dr. John Watson (Jude Law) race to
prevent the ritual murder of a woman by Lord Henry Blackwood (Mark Strong),
who has killed five other young women similarly. They stop the murder before
Inspector Lestrade (Eddie Marsan) and the police arrive to arrest Blackwood.
Holmes goes into hiding and studies Blackwood's rituals, concluding that
the next target is Parliament. Holmes tricks Coward into revealing that the plan is
to kill its members. He, Adler and Watson discover a machine below the Palace of
Westminster, based on Reordan's experiments, designed to release cyanide gas
into the Parliament chambers, killing everyone but Blackwood and his supporters.
As Holmes and Watson battle Blackwood's men, Adler removes the cyanide
containers from the machine and flees, pursued by Holmes.
Blackwood and Coward realize their plan has failed; Coward is captured
but Blackwood escapes. Holmes confronts Adler on top of the incomplete Tower
Bridge but is interrupted by Blackwood. Holmes tricks him into becoming
entangled in the ropes and chains hanging over the Thames, while Holmes
explains the technical trickery behind Blackwood's supposed magic. As they
battle, Blackwood, with a noose of chains around his neck, falls from the bridge
and is hanged.
Adler explains that her employer is Professor Moriarty, warning that
Moriarty is as intelligent as Holmes but far more devious. As Watson moves out
2
of 221B, the police report to him and Holmes that a dead officer was found near
Blackwood's device. Professor Moriarty used the confrontations with Adler and
Blackwood as a diversion while he took a key component, based on the new
science of radio, from the machine. Holmes looks forward to the new case and
new adversary.
Three months later, a bored Holmes' eccentric behavior again annoys
Watson, his roommate. While he enjoys their adventures together, Watson looks
forward to marrying Mary Morstan and leaving 221B Baker Street. Blackwood is
sentenced to death and requests to see Holmes in prison, where he warns of three
more impending deaths that will cause great changes to the world. Blackwood is
subsequently hanged and pronounced dead by Watson.
Three days later, Holmes is visited by Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams), a
professional thief and his former adversary, who asks him to find a missing man
named Reordan. After her departure, Holmes follows her as she meets with her
secret employer, hidden in the shadows of a carriage. The concealed man states
that Reordan is the key to Blackwood's plans. Holmes only learns that the man is a
professor and that he intimidates Adler.
Blackwood's tomb is destroyed from the inside out, Reordan is found dead
inside the coffin, and sightings of a living Blackwood cause public panic.
Following a series of clues from the body, Holmes and Watson find Reordan's
home and discover experiments attempting to merge science with magic.
After they survive a battle with Blackwood's men, Holmes is taken to the
Temple of the Four Orders, a secret magical organization. The leaders—Lord
3
Chief Justice Sir Thomas Rotheram (James Fox), Ambassador Standish (William
Hope), and Home Secretary Lord Coward (Hans Matheson)—ask Holmes to stop
Blackwood, a former member of the society and, as Holmes deduces from
physical similarities, Sir Thomas' son. Sir Thomas and Standish are later killed
through apparently supernatural means by Blackwood, allowing him to control the
Order. He plans to overthrow the British government, then conquer the United
States and the world. Lord Coward, secretly working with Blackwood, issues an
arrest warrant for Holmes.
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective character of the late 19th and early
20th centuries, first appeared in publication in 1987. He was the creation of
Scottish author and physician, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. A brilliant London-based
“Consulting Detective”. Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his
ability to take almost any disguise, and his forensic science skills to solve difficult
cases.
The writer has an interest in analyzing Sherlock Holmes because he has
interesting characterization appeared in the movie through his thoughts, speech,
and gestures of his social life.
B. Focus of Study
In this research paper, the writer focuses on analyzing the characterization
of main character in Sherlock Holmes Movie.
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C. Research Question
Based on the background and the focus of study, the writer would like to
identify the problems:
1. How are the main characters’ characterization described in Guy Ritchie’s
movie Sherlock Holmes?
D. Signification of the Research
This research significance is to identify the major character and the
characterization of main characters in the movie. The writer hopes this research
can help the reader to have good understanding of main character’s
characterization in Sherlock Holmes movie. The result of this research hopefully
can be a good contribution to the readers and literary studies.
E. Research Methodology
1. The Objective of the Study
The objective of this study is to identify the main character and to
find out the characterization of main characters in Sherlock Holmes movie.
2. Research Method
The method that is used in this research is qualitative method and
writer tries to describe data analysis based on the characteristic theory.
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3. Technique of Data Analysis
In this research, the writer uses descriptive analysis technique to
analyze the data and the writer uses the relevant theories to research the
character in this movie.
4. The Unit of Analysis
The unit of analysis is Sherlock Holmes movie by Guy Ritchie
which is released on December 2009.
5. Instrument
In the research, the instrument of research is the writer himself, by
watching Guy Ritchie’s movie Sherlock Holmes and noticing the
dialogues and scenes which have correlation to the research.
6. Time and Place
The research begins in 2010 at English Letters Department, Adab
and Humanities Faculty, State Islamic University Syarif Hidayatullah
Jakarta.
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CHAPTER II
THEORITICAL FRAMEWORK
A. Character Definition
In a play or text, many writers insist that character is the single most
important element in the story. Theme may be misinterpreted, plot may be
disjointed, setting may be superficial, but the author who depicts intriguing
characters is successful on a major level. As a literary term, however, a character
is a person created for a work of fiction and we need to know about the
characterization and characterization to research it, because they are related.
About character, Jane Bachman Gordon said that:
“To say someone is a character suggests that he or she has a strange or eccentric personality; to say that a person has character implies his or her moral uprightness; to say something about a person’s character involves a discussion of his or her personal values and behavior.”2
Prof. Dr. Henry Guntur Tarigan says, “Seorang tokoh adalah suatu
‘complex of potentialities action’ bagi sejumlah gerak yang berbeda-beda, tetapi
tentu saja tidak untuk semua jenis gerak, hanya untuk jenis-jenis gerak tertentu
yang pada akhirnya dapat dianggap bersesuaian satu sama lainnya.”3
In its common usage with reference to literature, character simply means a
person (or personified or anthropomorphized animal, object, or deity) who acts,
appears, or is referred in a work.
2 Jane Bachman Gordon and Karen Kuehner, Fiction: The Elements of the Short Story (Ohio: The McGraw Hill Companies, 1999), p. 95.3 Henry Guntur Tarigan, Prinsip-prinsip Dasar Sastra (Bandung: Angkasa), p. 149.
7
Carl E. Bain stated that:
“In the aggregate the characters who appear in a work are called the dramatis personae, but most discussion of characters naturally concentrates on the “leading” characters. The most common term for the leading male character is hero, but the term has connotations of high virtue or someone who is “larger than life”, of almost godlike stature; he is the “good guy” who opposes the villain or “bad guy”4
A leading female character is called as heroine. Heroes and heroines are
usually larger than life, stronger or better than most human beings like writer said
above. But, in modern fiction, however the leading character is much more
ordinary, more like the rest of us. Such a character is sometimes called an
antihero, not because he opposes the hero but because he is not heroic in stature of
perfection, is not so clearly of simply a “good guy.” An older and more neutral
term than hero for the leading character, a term that does not imply either the
presence or the absence of outstanding virtue (and that has the added advantage of
referring equally to male and female character), is protagonist, whose opponent is
the antagonist.5
Characters are often described as being flat or round, static or dynamic. In
the delineation of character, the author has certain methods at his disposal. He
can describe his character physically: age, weight, height, and so forth. He can
develop a character through action: what he does in different situations, how he
reacts to problems. The author can also depict character through dialogue: how a
character talks, what he says. Sometimes the author tells the readers what the
character is thinking.
4 Carl E. Bain, et al., The Norton Introduction to Literature (New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1973), 1st edition, p. 383.5 J. Paul Hunter, et al., The Norton Introduction to Literature (New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1973), 8th edition, p. 383
8
Characters in plays, like characters in novels, film and short stories may be
round or flat, static or dynamic. Minor character are likely to be round, while
minor characters are apt to be flat. Through the play’s language and action of the
character, readers learn whether the players are multidimensional characters,
skimpily developed character, or perhaps merely foils, characters whose main
purpose is to shed light on more important characters. They also learn about the
emotions, attitudes, and values that help to shape the characters – their hopes and
fears, their strengths and weaknesses.
As Robert DiYanni said about the character in plays:
“They (characters) may remind us in some ways of ourselves; they may appeal to us because they differ from us. They may represent alternative directions we might have taken, alternative decisions we might have made. Although fictional characters cannot be directly equated with actual people, they are usually recognizably human, and as such, subject to the changing conditions of fate and circumstance.”6
A character on the stage who can present no convincing argument or
information as to his past experience, his present behaviour or his aspirations, nor
give a comprehensive analysis of his motives is as legitimate and as worthy of
attention as one who, alarmingly, can do all these things. The more acute the
experience the less articulate its expression.
E. M. Foster popularized a distinction between two kinds of characters as
flat character and round character: “A flat character is one who has one or few
dominant traits, who remains essentially consistent or two-dimensional, one who
can usually be categorized or described in a sentence or two. These usually
6 Robert DiYanni, Literature: Reading Fiction, Poetry, and Drama (New York: McGraw-Hill Higer Education, 2002), p. 1186.
9
minor characters. Round characters tend to be more complex. They are more
like real people.”7
Major character of central character is a character that holds on an
important role. This character is very dominant and always appears in each
conflict. On the other hand, there is another character appears only few times or
she or he might be in a short portion and this character is known as minor
character. 8
Fictional characters are finally as diverse as people themselves, and there
is a little point in trying to devise other type categories. We might note, however,
that the place of character, if not the function, has changed along with the
development of literature.
As Larry M. Sutton stated, If the character is someone who interests the
readers, with whom the readers are concerned, whom the readers remember, the
author has succeeded in effective characterization.9
B. Characterization
Characterization is the means by which writers present and reveal
character.10 Character creation is the art of characterization what the author does
to bring a character to life, to provide the reader with a sense of that character’s
personality, to make that character unique. Authors can characterize or develop a
character directly or indirectly. Characterization, then, begins with discovering the
7 Carl E. Bain (1973), Op. Cit. p. 385.8 Encyclopedia American: volume 6, 1985, p. 366.9 Larry M. Sutton, et al., Journeys: An Introduction to Literature (Boston: Holbrook Press, Inc., 1971), p. 5.10 Robert DiYanni (2002), Op. Cit. p. 55.
10
character’s motivating desire and process with breaking the role into small units
each with a clearly understood intention, which will help in accomplishing the
large purpose. It is a constant challenge throughout rehearsals and performance. 11
Characterization is a way to identify a character. The characterization of
character is the identification of a character, which is describe physically or seen
from attitudes and how he or she behaves. It is also the main point to really know
how a character is. Characterization is also a method, which is use by the author to
illustrate character. The director of characterization is the narrator whose
describes character in the story. Characterization is the method an author uses to
reveal or describe character and their various personalities. 12
Characterization is defined as in fiction, by what the character do, by what
they say, by what others say about them and setting in which they move. The
characters also defined in part by other characters that they in some degree
resemble or from whom they in some degree differ. 13
The characterization can be noticed in five different ways. The first way is
by showing the character’s appearance. The second way is by displaying the
character’s actions. From those two ways, the character’s physical qualities can
give the readers an immediate stimulation. The third way to understand the
character is by revealing the character’s thoughts. The readers can get some clues
about the character’s inner motivations toward certain actions as the reflection of
the individual’s character in the story. The fourth way is by letting the character
speak. By knowing the manner of speaking, the tone, the language, the diction,
11 Charles McGraw (1966), op. Cit. p. 100.12 http:/www.wilmette.nttc.org/characterization.htm., accessed on September 27th, 2010.13 Carl E. Bain (1973), Op. Cit. p. 746.
11
and the statements that are produced the readers can get some ideas about the
character of a certain person in the story. The fifth way to know the character is by
getting reactions of others. By observing the statements of the others about the
character, the readers can see the reactions toward the character.
12
CHAPTER III
RESEARCH FINDINGS
In this chapter, the writer would like to describe and analyze the
characterization of main character (Sherlock Holmes) in solving black magic case
by using the second (displaying the character’s actions), third (revealing the
character’s thoughts), and fourth (letting the character speak) ways of noticing
characterization as the writer mentioned above. The purpose of the individual is
the writer wants to explain about the characterization of main character in
Sherlock Holmes, such as: analytical, famous, and pay attention to tiny details
A. Data Description of Main Character
No Characterization Corpus
1. Analytical Sherlock Holmes : Head cocked to the left. Partial deafness in ear.First point of attack.Two: throat. Paralyze vocal cords, stop screaming.Three: got to be heavy drinker. Floating rib to the liver.Four: finally, drag the left leg. Fist the patella.Summary prognosis: conscious in 90 seconds. Martial efficacy: quarter of an hour at best.Full faculty of recovery: unlikely.
(00:01:40,634 --> 00:02:05,742)
13
Sherlock Holmes : First, distract target.Then block his blind jab. Counter with cross to left cheek.Discombobulate. Dazed, he'll attempt wild haymaker.Employ elbow block. And body shot. Block thorough left.Weaken that jaw. Now fracture. Break cracked ribs. Traumatized solar plexus. Dislocate jaw entirely. Heel kick to diaphragm.In summary: ears ringing, jaw fractured, three ribs cracked, four broken, diaphragm hemorrhaging.Physical recovery: 6 weeks.Full psychological recovery: 6 months.Capacity to spit at back of head...Neutralized.
00:17:20,394 --> 00:18:12,004
2. Deductive-reasoning
Sherlock Holmes : There was never any magic.Only conjuring tricks.The simplest involves paying people off.Like the prison guard who pretended to be obsessed outside your cell.Your reputation and the inmates' fear did the rest.Others required more elaborate preparations.Like the sandstone slab that covered your tomb.You had it broken before your burial and thenput back together using a mild adhesive.
01:50:42,736 --> 01:53:25,523
14
3. Famous Lastrade : And you were supposed to wait for my orders
Holmes : Besides, the girl's parents hired me, not the Yard. Why they thought you would require any assistance is beyond me.
00:06:14,139 --> 00:06:27,262
Holmes : For the life of me I don't know why it has taken so long for him to introduce us properly.
Mary : The pleasure is mine. It's really is quite a thrill to meet you, Mr. Holmes.
Mary : I've heard so much about you.
00:12:19,291 --> 00:12:33,945
4. Observant Holmes : Watson! Don't! Observe.
Watson : How did you see that?Holmes : Because I was looking for it.
00:05:03,271 --> 00:05:17,439
5. Profiler Holmes : Your student ...It's a boy of eight.
Mary : Charlie is seven, actually.Holmes : Then he's tall for his age.
He flicked ink at you today.Mary : Is there ink on my face?Watson : There is nothing wrong with your
face.Holmes : There are two drops on your ear,
in fact.India blue is almost impossible to wash off.Anyway, a very impetuous act by the boy, which you have experienced many times, which is why the lady for whom you work lent you that necklace. Pearls, diamonds, flawless ruby, hardly ... the gems of a governess.
15
Holmes : However, that jewels you are not wearing tells us rather more
Watson : Holmes!Holmes : You were engaged.
The ring has gone, but the lightness ofthe skin where it once sat suggests
00:13:58,368 --> 00:14:39,673
B. Character Analysis
In this part, the writer will analyze the characterization of Sherlock
Holmes in his social life and solving cases which are asked to him using clues
which can be found in his actions, speech, thoughts, explanations, and his
interaction with the others.
1. Analytical
Holmes has an amazing skill which is to predict condition accurately.
The characteristic is shown by his thought when he wants to rescue the
Blackwood’s sixth victim, a girl, in an old building in the start of the movie. He
sees a building guardian is coming to him and he predicts the results that he will
get by his actions:
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Holmes :
Head cocked to the left. Partial deafness in ear.First: point of attack.Two: throat. Paralyze vocal cords, stop screaming.Three: got to be heavy drinker. Floating rib to the liver.Four: finally, drag the left leg. Fist the patella.Summary prognosis:conscious in 90 seconds. Martial efficacy: quarter of an hour at best.Full faculty of recovery: unlikely.
(Sherlock Holmes 2009, 00:01:40,634 --> 00:02:05,742)
From his thoughts above, we can see that Holmes can predict the results
by his deeds. He analyzes the actions that he should do to the guardian step by
step and predicts the damaging effects of the actions, and the period of guardian to
recover from the effect.
He does another amazing analysis while he is in a battle with a big guy.
During the battle, he sees a handkerchief when he was hit by the big guy. He
knows the owner of the handkerchief by the initial “A” letter on it which refers to
Addler, his girlfriend in the past. He sees her and wants to end the battle by
saying, “It’s over, you won,” but the big guy spits on his head. He comes back to
the battle and analyzing:
Figure 1 Figure 2
17
Figure 3 Figure 4
Holmes:
First, distract target.Then block his blind jab.Counter with cross to left cheek.Discombobulate.Dazed, he'll attempt wild haymaker.Employ elbow block.And body shot.Block thorough left.Weaken that jaw.Now fracture.Break cracked ribs.Traumatized solar plexus.Dislocate jaw entirely.Heel kick to diaphragm.In summary: ears ringing,jaw fractured, three ribscracked, four broken,diaphragm hemorrhaging.Physical recovery: 6 weeks.Full psychological recovery: 6 months.Capacity to spit at back of head...Neutralized.
(Sherlock Holmes 2009, 00:17:20,394 --> 00:18:12,004)
As he does in the firs scene of the movie, Holmes does another prediction
and decision of the steps he will do to beat his rival in the battle. The dialogue
above showing that by his analysis, Holmes decides to distract target first, then
18
block his blind jab, counter the attack, and another acts. After doing those acts, he
can resume that his rival’s ears will be ringing, his jaw fractured, three ribs
cracked, diaphragm hemorrhaging, and he will need 6 weeks to recover his physic
and 6 months for full physiological recovery.
2. Deductive-reasoning
In logic, three kinds of logical reasoning can be distinguished: deduction,
induction, and abduction. Deduction means determining the conclusion. It is
using the rule and its precondition to make a conclusion.
The next scene is the deductive-reasoning which is made by Holmes.
He makes conclusion by explaining the tricks of Blackwood did. In this dialogue
and picture, Holmes explains to us that there is no magic. He shows to us that
Blackwood just uses some logical tricks in science field as medical, physic,
forensic, and chemical. This happens at the end of the movie where just Holmes
and Blackwood are there. This scene is on an unfinished building. Here, Holmes
will explain the detail of Blackwood’s trick from the first mysterious case. He
describes the tools, ways, and the processes of Blackwood’s tricks which makes
Blackwood is like a witch:
19
Figure 5 Figure 6
Holmes:
There was never any magic.Only conjuring tricks.The simplest involves paying people off.Like the prison guard who pretended tobe obsessed outside your cell.Your reputation and the inmates' fear did the rest.Others required more elaborate preparations.
Like the sandstone slab that covered your tomb.You had it broken before your burial and thenput back together using a mild adhesive.An ancient Egyptian recipe, I believe.A mixture of egg and honey,besides, it'd be washed away by the rain.Arranging for your fatherto drown in his own bathtubrequired more modern science.Very clever of Reordan to find a paralyticthat was activated by the combination of copper and water.and was therefore undetectableonce the bath water was drained.It might have been quite a challenge for me had henot also tested it on some unfortunate amphibian.The death of Standishwas a real mystery
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until you used the same compoundto blow up the wharf.An odorless, tasteless, flammable liquidgives it a burn with an unusual pink issue.Did Standish mistake it for rainas he entered the temple?All it took was a spark.
A simple rigged bullet in his gun.Ingenious.Like all great performers, you saved your pièce de résistancefor the endA chemical weapon distilled from cyanideand refined in the bellies of swine.Had it worked, your followersin Parliament would have watched unharmed as their colleagues were dying around them.They didn't know that you had given them the antidote.Instead they would have believedit was magic, and that you'd harnessed the ultimate power.And the world would have followed.Fear being the most powerful weapon of all.You'd better hope that it'snothing more than superstitionand that you performed all the rituals perfectly.The devil's due a soul, I'd say.
(Sherlock Holmes 2009, 01:50:42,736 --> 01:53:25,523)
Holmes does this deductive-reasoning at the end session of the movie,
when he explains all of the tricks which are done by Blackwood. He says that
from the first Blackwood never use a magic at all. He explains his analysis in
front of the actor, Blackwood himself. Holmes says that the broken sandstone
slab is broken using the ancient Egyptian recipe by Blackwood before the burial.
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Another trick, a paralytic that will be activated by the combination of copper and
water which is useful to kill Blackwood’s father in the bathtub, this recipe is
undetectable when the water drained. Also, Blackwood uses this recipe to kill
Standish in the temple.
From the dialogue and some explanations the writer mentioned above, we
can conclude Holmes says a fact that Blackwood never uses magic, he only uses
some conjuring tricks which correlated to some science fields such as physic,
chemical, and math. After Holmes describing the tricks, Blackwood tries to attack
him and end by Blackwood is hanged on a ship’s chain and dead.
3. Famous
As a detective who usually solves the cases brilliantly, Holmes becomes a
famous person in his town. It is shown in the dialogue between him and inspector
Lastrade. The scene happens after he rescued the Blackwood’s victim:
Figure 7 Figure 8
Lastrade : And you were supposed to wait for my ordersHolmes : Besides, the girl's parents hired me, not the Yard. Why they
thought you would require any assistance is beyond me.
(Sherlock Holmes 2009, 00:06:14,139 --> 00:06:27,262)
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From the dialogue and pictures above, we can see that Holmes is more
famous than the police department itself. The parents of the girl more believe in
him to save their daughter.
The writer can conclude that Holmes doesn’t need more popularity for
himself because he is famous enough to be hired than the police. This “famous”
characteristic is shown by Holmes’ answer to inspector Lastrade : “Besides, the
girl's parents hired me, not the Yard. Why they thought you would require any
assistance is beyond me.”
Another scene of Holmes’ popularity shown below:
Figure 9
From the picture above, it shows that Holmes is a famous person at the
time. His picture is displayed in the first page of the newspapers more than once
and his name became the headline on it. As a famous person, Holmes doesn’t
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need more popularity, his expression in the picture shows that he doesn’t want to
be exposed.
The next dialogue also shows the Holmes’ popularities. The dialogue is
between Holmes and Mary Morsten (Watson’s girlfriend) in their first meeting in
a restaurant:
Figure 10
Holmes : For the life of me I don't know why it has taken so long for him to introduce us properly.
Mary : The pleasure is mine. It's really is quite a thrill to meet you, Mr. Holmes.
Mary : I've heard so much about you.
(Sherlock Holmes 2009, 00:12:19,291 --> 00:12:33,945)
As a famous person, Holmes usually becomes the newspaper’s headline
and a hot topic to be discussed by the people.
The dialogue is located at a restaurant, when Holmes meets Mary. It shows
that Mary has a big pleasure to meet him because she likes so much the mystery
and detective novels. She knows that Holmes is a famous detective who never
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fails in solving cases. This characteristic is shown by Mary’s words “I've heard
so much about you”.
4. Observant
One characteristic that Sherlock Holmes has is being very observant. He
doesn't just look at objects and tings he makes very detailed mental notes about
them. He sees things that others wouldn't see because they don't look as closely as
he does. In the Red Headed League Holmes is trying to prove the point that he
doesn't just look, he observes to his sidekick Dr. Watson. To do this he asked
Watson how many steps there are on his staircase. Watson does not know the
answer but Holmes does. This is a characteristic that Holmes uses to help him
solve many of his mysteries. This characteristic is shown from the beginning of
the movie, when Watson will hit Blackwood:
Figure 11
Holmes : Watson! Don't! Observe.
Watson : How did you see that?
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Holmes : Because I was looking for it.
00:05:03,271 --> 00:05:17,439
As a detective, being observant is a must to prevent him from a harmful
things or accident which may be happened in his investigation. This character is
shown when Holmes prohibits his friend (by saying “Observe!”) to hit Blackwood
because he sees that Blackwood is holding a thin long-sharp glass drowns to
Watson on his hand. This scene shows that Holmes is observing a dangerous
thing which may be near Blackwood to harm even to kill them.
5. Profiler
There are some profiling methods which can be used to investigate a
person, such as Offender Profiling (also known as criminal profiling) and
Physiological Profiling.
Offender Profiling is a behavioral and investigative tool that is intended to
help investigators to profile unknown criminal subjects or offenders. Offender
profiling is also known as criminal profiling, criminal personality profiling,
criminological profiling, behavioral profiling or criminal investigative analysis.
During his investigation, Holmes usually uses the second method,
Physiological Profiling. Physiological Profiling is a method of suspect
identification which seeks to identify a person's mental, emotional, and
personality characterization
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In a diner, Holmes does the Physiological Profiling on Mary, Watson’s
girlfriend. He analyzes her by herself request to prove the analyzing skill of
Holmes:
Figure 12 Figure 13
Figure 14 Figure 15
Holmes : Your student ...It's a boy of eight.
Mary : Charlie is seven, actually.Holmes : Then he's tall for his age.
He flicked ink at you today.Mary : Is there ink on my face?Watson : There is nothing wrong with your face.Holmes : There are two drops on your ear, in fact.
India blue is almost impossible to wash off.
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Anyway, a very impetuous act by the boy, which you have experienced many times, which is why the lady for whom you work lent you that necklace. Pearls, diamonds, flawless ruby, hardly ... the gems of a governess.
Holmes : However, that jewels you are not wearing tells us rather moreWatson : Holmes!Holmes : You were engaged.
The ring has gone, but the lightness ofthe skin where it once sat suggests
00:13:58,368 --> 00:14:39,673
Holmes doesn’t know Mary at all at the time, but by noticing her
appearances, he tries to know her profile. After noticing a while, Holmes says
that Mary is a teacher of a seven year boy, known as Charlie. He knows her
profession by seeing a dot of ink on her ears. Also, he mentions the brand of the
ink and the possibility to wash it off. He says that Mary was engaged with a
person, by seeing the lightness on her finger where the ring was there.
Overall, the writer finds that Holmes is a protagonist character and has
static or flat characterization, because they are constant from the beginning to the
end of the movie such as analytical, deductive-reasoning, famous, observant, and
profiler.
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CHAPTER IV
CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
A. Conclusions
The Sherlock Holmes 2009 movie tells about a fiction character Sherlock
Holmes was created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
The character was played well by Robert Downey, Jr., an American actor.
After watching the movie intensively, the writer concludes that Sherlock
Holmes dominated almost the whole story in the movie. From beginning to the
end, the writer can say that Holmes never be separated from the story.
The reason of using character analysis in Sherlock Holmes 2009 movie is
to show the characterization of Sherlock Holmes, such as analytical, deductive-
reasoning, famous, observant, and profiler. Furthermore, the writer has a big
expectation that this paper can help everyone who wants to know about Sherlock
Holmes’ characterization, even his thoughts, attitudes, social life, and his
friendship with Dr. John Watson. The writer thinks that knowing the character’s
characterization will help us to understand the message or the purpose of the
author.
B. Suggestions
In this study, the writer discusses character as one of intrinsic elements of
literary works. As the main characters in movie, Sherlock Holmes has strong
characterization. Almost all of people who have ever read the novels or watched
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Sherlock Holmes movies will agree that Holmes is an interesting character.
However, the writer has some suggestion for people who want to analyze this
movie. If the people are interested in analyzing the character deeper, they can use
characterization approach. Then, find any evidence which is related to the
character’s characterization.
Other aspects of this movie also can be analyzed by using other
approaches, such as the culture, the technique of movie making, the comparison
between this movie and the book version, and the language which is used in the
movie.
Trough this study, the writer suggests for everyone who wants to analyze
this movie by any approach to understand the theory used. And also the writer
suggests for the writer himself and everyone to keep learning and improving the
personal knowledge and skill and never give up to anything.
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