Evidence suggesting Victorians liked Sherlock Holmes:
* Immense popularity: The Sherlock Holmes stories, written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, were incredibly popular during the Victorian era. They were published in magazines and newspapers, and sold in vast quantities.
* Critical acclaim: Critics of the time praised Doyle's writing, admiring the clever plots, intricate deductions, and vivid characters.
* Cultural impact: Holmes quickly became a cultural phenomenon, influencing everything from fashion to language. The "Sherlock Holmes" look with his deerstalker cap and pipe became iconic.
* Adaptation: The stories were adapted into numerous plays and even an early film, further solidifying their popularity.
Evidence suggesting some Victorians disliked Sherlock Holmes:
* Skepticism about deduction: Some Victorians, especially those in the scientific community, may have been skeptical of Holmes' methods, seeing them as more reliant on intuition and luck than scientific reasoning.
* Morality concerns: Some critics argued that Holmes' methods were morally questionable, as he often operated outside the law and could be seen as manipulative.
* Gender roles: Some female critics may have found Holmes' cold and detached personality unappealing, especially compared to the more emotional and romantic male heroes of the time.
Overall:
It's safe to say that a large segment of the Victorian population enjoyed Sherlock Holmes. The stories captured the imagination of the public, and Holmes became a beloved figure. However, it's also important to acknowledge that not everyone shared this enthusiasm, and there were some criticisms of the character and his methods.
Ultimately, the Victorians, like any population, had diverse opinions, and it's likely that some loved him, some disliked him, and many fell somewhere in between.