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Mrs. HudsonA fictional character created by Sir A.C. Doyle
Country:
 Great Britain |
Content:
- Mrs. Hudson: The Landlady of 221B Baker Street
- A Housekeeper with Opinions
- A Patient and Tolerant Soul
- A Respected and Generous Tenant
- An Enduring Legacy
Mrs. Hudson: The Landlady of 221B Baker Street
Mrs. Hudson is a fictional character created by Sir A.C. Doyle. She serves as the landlady of the apartment at 221B Baker Street, where Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John H. Watson reside.
A Housekeeper with Opinions
Mrs. Hudson is a woman who values cleanliness and order, often voicing her disapproval of Holmes's untidy habits. Dr. Watson describes her as an "excellent cook," though Holmes remarks in "The Naval Treaty" that her cuisine lacks variety, albeit being "tolerably well adapted to the Scottish palate" at breakfast time.
A Patient and Tolerant Soul
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle provides scant physical description of Mrs. Hudson, referring to her only by her given name, Martha, in "His Last Bow." Dr. Watson portrays a cordial relationship between Holmes and his landlady in "The Adventure of the Dying Detective." He paints Mrs. Hudson as a long-suffering woman subjected to an array of peculiar and often unpleasant individuals who ascend to Holmes's chambers at all hours.
Despite Holmes's eccentricities, such as his untidiness, the occasional violin recital at inappropriate hours, and firearms practice within her flat, Mrs. Hudson endures. She even tolerates Holmes's questionable and often foul-smelling chemical experiments. Moreover, she involuntarily becomes embroiled in the atmosphere of crime and danger that constantly surrounds the detective.
A Respected and Generous Tenant
Watson notes that Mrs. Hudson must appreciate Holmes's generosity, for he pays "princely" rent. Despite his often outrageous behavior, the landlady harbors a sense of reverence for Holmes, marveling at his intellect and never daring to contradict him. She admires his chivalry toward women, though Holmes himself professes a profound distrust and dislike for them.
An Enduring Legacy
In the story "A Scandal in Bohemia," Holmes mistakenly refers to his landlady as "Mrs. Turner." This error has given rise to much debate among Sherlockian enthusiasts. The true nature of any connection between Mrs. Turner and Mrs. Hudson remains unknown.
On screen and television, Mrs. Hudson is typically depicted as an elderly woman. Notable exceptions include the anime series "Sherlock Hound," where she is a young woman, and the BBC series "Sherlock," where she offers Holmes a reduced rent, maintains an amicable relationship with him, and shares progressive views with Sherlock and Watson.
In the American television series "Elementary," Mrs. Hudson is presented as a classical antiquity expert and a former acquaintance of Holmes. Due to romantic entanglements, she moves into his apartment as a housekeeper, maintaining order while Holmes employs her as an assistant. Notably, this portrayal features a transgender character played by Candis Cayne.
