Sherlock Holmes?

Question

I really like the Sherlock Holmes stories and have read all of them, but there is one thing I have never understood. What happened to Watson's wife? It irritated me when Watson got married, but after a few stories she wasn't mentioned. Did she die? Did I miss something in the stories? Was she so unpopular that Arthur Conan Doyle just wrote her out?

Answer 1

Mary Morstan Watson did apparently die, but this is never directly discussed in any of the Holmes stories.

In "The Adventure of the Empty House", Watson makes a passing reference to his own "sad bereavement". This is the same story where Holmes returns after his supposed death. By the next story, "The Adventure of the Norwood Builder", Watson is living back into the Baker Street house again.

Later, in "The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier", Holmes mentions Watson's second wife. This is the only reference to Watson having remarried, though.

I don't know that Mary Watson was an unpopular character, but there wasn't really room for her in a typical Holmes story. In the late 19th century her place would have been in the home. She wouldn't have had any role in helping her husband solve mysteries.

Answer 2

Doyle was quite a misogynist, once her role was played he had no need for her.

Answer 3

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