Tuesday 6 October 2009

A case of identity: Sherlock Holmes, the worn typewriter and the hidden signature of the Persian poet Hafez.


The “Case of identity” by Arthur Conan Doyle first appeared in the Strand Magazine in 1891 and it is considered to be, despite its evasive and “dry” title, a corner stone in detective novel history. It is appreciated not only by the admirers of this unappreciated genre and Sherlock Holmes devotees, but by specialists of crime detection and forensic science as well. The latter pay tribute to the inductive way of thought and to the use of traces and imprints left by a criminal action initiated by this story. One can find references to it in Criminology and Police Science papers nowadays as well. (1)
The reader is amazed by the multiplicity of meaning and interpretations of “identities” revealed (or concealed) in a masterly manner in this story. One of them, I believe, is the Identity of the legendary hero himself, who is merged with its double, Hafez, the Persian lyric poet of the 14th century.

But first things first.

The “Case of Identity” appears to be a common Sherlock Holmes story. The client who pays Sherlock Holmes a visit, and whose identity as a person who is short sighted due to “so much typewriting” is revealed at a first glance by the detective, is Miss Mary Sunderland. Miss Sunderland is a woman, who despite the substantial income from the interest of a fund set up for her by her father, carries on earning a living by practising the profession of the typist.
In spite of the close supervision of her stepfather, she gets engaged to a quiet office clerk from London that has captivated her affections. Nevertheless, the fiancé disappears mysteriously before their wedding.


Miss Sunderland, full of anxiety turns for help to the brilliant detective, in order to find her fiancé.
At the end, it expires that the missing fiancé is the “double” of her stepfather, Mr. Windibank. Driven by the fervent desire to prevent his stepdaughter from marrying so that he can carry on exploiting her income, Mr. Windibank disguises himself into a bespectacled man with a moustache, and pretends to be Mr. Hosmer Angel, the would – be fiancé. The fact that Mr. Angel shows up when the stepfather is absent, the glasses and the moustache that cover his face and his strange voice make the discerning reader suspicious for a trap set by the author. The traces are clearly marked in order to highlight the gullibility of Dr. Watson, who cannot see through them.

The metaphorical meaning of the “Case of Identity” is not exhausted in the Identification of the fiancé with the stepfather, but it extends to the Identification of the letters that the unfortunate Miss Sunderland receives from him.

"they are very commonplace. Absolutely no clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once”
The absence of personal style and the typewritten signature conceal the identity of the author of the letters which is found in the identity of the prints of the typewriter: A revolutionary idea in forensic science

“ In each case”,
Sherlock Holmes proudly declares,
“not only are the "e's" slurred and the "r's" tailless, but you will observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen other characteristics to which I have alluded, are there as well."

Tracing and identifying the typewriter on which the alleged suicide note is typed is a common element of the plot in subsequent detective novels. Nevertheless, in the “Case of Identity” it is introduced for the first time.

There is one more reason for which the “Case of Identity” will go down in history. Although Sherlock Holmes solves the mystery, he chooses not to tell his client the truth about the “missing” fiancé, because he does not want to deprive her of her delusion.

“You may remember the old Persian saying, "There is danger for him who taketh the tiger cub, and danger also for who snatches a delusion from a woman." There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much knowledge of the world."

The enigmatic reference to the Persian lyric poet of the 14th century Šamsu d-Dīn Muhammad Hāfez-e Šīrāzī (2) at the end of the story is unexpected to those familiar with the prosaic nature of the detective. Nevertheless, Hafez is not a common poet. He is the one that knew the Qu’ran by heart. That is in fact the meaning of the name Hafez, and this was the name that the poet had chosen for himself. He had not only memorized the Qu’ran, but he also knew by heart the verses of his beloved poets Jalal ad-Din Rumi and Saadi.
The relation between Sherlock Holmes’ extraordinary capacity for memorizing and Hafez emerges. “Neither fascinating nor artistic” is the reference made to the police reports, in the beginning of the story, when the method of inquiry of the detective is mentionned: the search of the analogy of relevant elements of a case with corresponding aspects from other cases, that he has already solved and registered in his memory or can be found in police records. However his is a a meticulous job, done with style. A metaphor for poetry perhaps.

If the allusion to poetry as mnemonics is not yet convincing for the identification of Hafez as the “double” Sherlock Holmes/Hafez, let us take one more step towards poetry. Let us remember how the story begins. There is an unusual poetic mood of the hero, when Dr. Watson and Sherlock Holmes are in a reverie and discuss the mysteries of life. That mood puts quoting Hafez quite in the spirit of the time. After all, it was at that time that Gertrude Bell had translated the poems of Hafez in English. These poems were well received in the literary circles of Great Britain and Europe. Carlyle used to read them as well as the friends of Virginia Woolf’s father, as she writes in her diary.

This is how the Case of Identity starts, and it is in a poetic mood indeed:

"…life is infinitely stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the wonderful chains of events, working through generation, and leading to the most outre results, it would make all fiction with its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and unprofitable."

Nevertheless, there is more that in my opinion, points in the direction of a hidden signature, of a key that embraces all the identities/identifications in the story: The identification of Mrs. Sunderland as a typist, the identity of Mr. Windibank as Mr. Hosmer, the identity of his commonplace letters, and at the end the identity of the worn typewriter through the detailed examination of the imprints of the letters, the final imprint of the criminal, his real signature.

The multiplicity of identities revealed with intellect and style is the core of the story. They are characteristic of the masterly manner in which Sherlock Holmes solves the case and the author weaves the plot.

Similarly, Hafez, the poet, signs his poems with a nom de plume, in his priestly capacity. He has, as the poets of his era have, the habit of weaving his name into the last verses of the poems that he composes, like a unique signature. The identity of the poet is hidden in his verses, just like the slurred e's" and the tailless "r's" of a worn typewriter :

Am I a sinner or a saint,
Which one shall it be?
Hafez holds the secret
of his own mystery...

Or

I said, happiness and joy
Passing time will destroy.
Said, Hafez, silence employ
Sorrows too will end my friend.

“Fascinating and artistic” I believe.

(1) Stanton O. Berg, Sherlock Holmes: Father of Scientific Crime Detection, Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology and Police Science, Vol. 61, No 3, p. 446 – 460
(2) http://www.hafizofshiraz.com/hafizinfluence2.html
(3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hafez
(4) The excerpts were from the electronic edition: http://sherlock-holmes.classic-literature.co.uk/a-case-of-identity

http://cache1.bigcartel.com/product_images/3040394/strand.jpg

29 comments:

  1. A mystery upon a mystery, indeed! People would easily read Sherlock at face value, because the action demands that. The plot deepens, but crime is still punished at the end of the day!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Can you tell us more about this? I'd love to find out some additional information.
    Also visit my web page http://www.daily-wet-tshirt.com/two-hot-babes-at-a-restaurant-order-something-to-eat

    ReplyDelete
  3. It's remarkable to go to see this web site and reading the views of all friends concerning this paragraph, while I am also keen of getting experience.
    Also visit my web site ... http://www.Crazyteenpics.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for the good writeup. It in reality
    was once a amusement account it. Glance complex to more added agreeable from you!
    By the way, how can we communicate?
    Look at my web-site : Free Porn - Daily XXX Video Fix of teen porn with naked girls sex movies

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great post! We are linking to this great article on our
    website. Keep up the good writing.
    Here is my web blog ; Ricardo and Tina (New Mexico

    ReplyDelete
  6. Asking questions are actually fastidious thing if you are not
    understanding anything entirely, except this piece of writing presents nice understanding
    yet.
    Have a look at my site teen porn

    ReplyDelete
  7. I every time used to read piece of writing in news papers but now as I am a user of web
    thus from now I am using net for posts, thanks to web.
    Also see my website: Brandi Love Swingers Club

    ReplyDelete
  8. The other day, while I was at work, my sister stole my iphone and tested
    to see if it can survive a thirty foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation.
    My iPad is now destroyed and she has 83 views. I know this is totally off topic but I had to share it with someone!
    my webpage :: lorenzetti roma

    ReplyDelete
  9. I every time used to study article in news papers but now as I am a user of net so
    from now I am using net for content, thanks to web.
    Have a look at my blog post ... video chating

    ReplyDelete
  10. My brother suggested I would possibly like this blog.
    He used to be entirely right. This put up truly
    made my day. You cann't consider just how a lot time I had spent for this info! Thanks!
    Also visit my weblog Audio Visual

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am regular visitor, how are you everybody? This paragraph posted at this web site is truly pleasant.
    Also visit my site :: click the up coming site

    ReplyDelete
  12. This paragraph is truly a pleasant one it helps new
    web people, who are wishing for blogging.
    My page > this rental property

    ReplyDelete
  13. Awesome blog! Is youг theme custom made or did you
    download it from somеwherе? A dеѕign liκe yourѕ wіth a few simple adjustements
    would really makе my blog jump out. Plеasе let me knοw where you got уοur desіgn.
    Thanks

    Herе is my webpagе ... 1 month loan
    My page :: 1 month loan

    ReplyDelete
  14. I know this web page presents quality dependent posts and extra data, is there any
    other site which gives these kinds of information in quality?


    Stop by my site: how to download wordpress

    ReplyDelete
  15. I am sure this paragraph has touched all the internet people,
    its really really good post on building up new website.


    Here is my web page; Relaxing

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi friends, its impressive paragraph on the topic of tutoringand entirely defined, keep it up all the time.


    Feel free to surf to my website quotes on fake people

    ReplyDelete
  17. Teгrific wогk! Τhat iѕ the type of
    info that aгe ѕuppοsed to bе ѕhaгed аcroѕs
    the net. Disgracе on Goοgle for now nοt posіtіoning this submit upρer!
    Come on over and vіsit my site . Thank yоu =)

    Also ѵisit my websitе: payday loans

    ReplyDelete
  18. I've been exploring for a bit for any high quality articles or weblog posts in this kind of house . Exploring in Yahoo I eventually stumbled upon this web site. Reading this info So i'm glad to
    convey that I have a very excellent uncanny feeling I discovered exactly what I
    needed. I so much definitely will make certain
    to do not forget this site and give it a glance regularly.

    Have a look at my site ... Graduate Quarterly

    ReplyDelete
  19. Ӏ absolutely loνe your ωebsite.. Grеat colогs &
    themе. Did you create thiѕ websitе yοuгself?
    Pleaѕe reply back as I'm looking to create my own blog and want to know where you got this from or just what the theme is named. Thanks!

    Feel free to surf to my site :: payday loans

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hey Thеre. I found youг weblog the usage of msn.
    That is a very well written articlе. I will maκe suгe to bοokmark it and come bacκ to read extгa of youг uѕeful info.
    Thank yοu fοr the post. ӏ
    will definitely return.

    Lοok intо mу web pаge: Payday Loans

    ReplyDelete
  21. I usually do not drop a comment, but I read a few of the responses on
    "A case of identity: Sherlock Holmes, the worn typewriter and the hidden signature of the Persian poet Hafez.".
    I actually do have a few questions for you if it's allright. Could it be only me or does it give the impression like a few of these comments appear like they are coming from brain dead individuals? :-P And, if you are writing on other places, I would like to follow anything new you have to post. Would you list of every one of all your public sites like your linkedin profile, Facebook page or twitter feed?

    Here is my web-site :: Louis Vuitton Outlet

    ReplyDelete
  22. This pаragгаph gіveѕ clеar idea in support οf thе nеw usеrs
    of bloggіng, that reallу hoω to do running a blog.



    Look at my weblog ... small loans

    ReplyDelete
  23. When I іnitially commenteԁ Ӏ clіckeԁ thе "Notify me when new comments are added" сhеckbox and now
    еaсh time а cοmment is added Ι get four
    emails ωith the ѕame comment. Is there any way you can removе peοple from
    that sеrvicе? Thanks!

    Аlsо viѕit mу ωeb sіte: diamondlinks review

    ReplyDelete
  24. Simply desire to say your article is as amazing.
    The clearness on your publish is simply nice and that i can
    suppose you're a professional in this subject. Well along with your permission allow me to clutch your RSS feed to stay updated with approaching post. Thank you one million and please continue the gratifying work.

    Also visit my webpage ... Read More

    ReplyDelete
  25. magnificent issues altogether, you simply gained a brand new reader.
    What may you suggest about your publish that you simply made a few days ago?
    Any certain?

    Also visit my web site: Sac Louis Vuitton Pas Cher

    ReplyDelete
  26. Good info. Lucky me I recently found your blog by accident (stumbleupon).
    I've bookmarked it for later!

    Feel free to visit my web site Louis Vuitton Outlet

    ReplyDelete
  27. I visited multiple web sites however the audio feature for audio songs existing at this website is truly superb.



    Feel free to surf to my website; Michael Kors Bags

    ReplyDelete
  28. You should take part in a contest for one of the finest websites
    on the internet. I most certainly will highly recommend this site!


    Stop by my blog; Officiel Louis Vuitton Site

    ReplyDelete
  29. I tend not to leave a response, but I looked at a few
    of the responses here "A case of identity: Sherlock Holmes, the worn typewriter and the hidden signature of the Persian poet Hafez.".
    I do have a couple of questions for you if
    it's okay. Is it only me or do some of these comments appear like they are written by brain dead folks? :-P And, if you are posting at additional places, I would like to follow you. Could you post a list of the complete urls of your shared pages like your twitter feed, Facebook page or linkedin profile?

    Feel free to surf to my blog post - Cheap NFL Jerseys

    ReplyDelete