The year of 1887 marks the real beginning of the detective story (Panek 79), Sherlock Holmes

and John Watson entered the world by Arthur Conan Doyle. Sherlock Holmes popularity had
soared up sky-high across the world and remains ever since. A great deal of Holmes popularity
is Doyles use of Watson as his narrator, which Doyle borrowed the technique from Poe (Panek
80). As a middle-class doctor, Watson is not only relatable to Doyles primary audience. In
addition, he embodied an ordinary, decent, and domestic Victorian gentleman, whose narration
and inner thoughts clouds the details from the readers, which allows a mystery to remain as a
mystery, and giving Holmes the opportunity to surprise everyone.
Doyle chose Watson to narrates the stories for Holmes, readers get a first person view of
Sherlock Holmes, and his character traits through Watson. In Doyles The Sign of Four, Holmes
criticized on Watsons writing on the previous case that Watson titled A Study in Scarlet.
According to Panek, Holmes, again and again, wants the narratives to be didactic, stressing the
intellectual side rather than the less dignified sensational elements incidental to crime and
detection (85). In which showcases how the stories of Holmes would be like if narrated by
Holmes or third person. Having a third person narration would make the readers feel distant from
Holmes. While Watsons narration allows the readers to receive first-hand information on the
case and Holmes bizarre characteristics seems more plausible. In addition, readers can put
themselves in Watsons shoes and immerse themselves into story.
Watsons presence in Holmes stories has another important factor to hide key details
from the readers. If the readers already know the explanations of that Holmes will be revealing,
the stories will not be as fascinating as it is narrated by Watson. the writer can use the narrator's
ignorance to hide important facts and through him can praise the detective and keep him civilly
reticent at the same time (Panek 80). Watsons narration is what makes the Holmes stories
intriguing and surprising and effectively taking readers into the story. The most important
element for detective stories is suspense. Like the reader, Watson is an average person who is
puzzled at the case and praises Holmes explanation. We as readers would feel the way Watson is
feeling as he adds his own nervous or impressions of Holmes. Most importantly, he allows a
mystery remains as a mystery till the revelation, and enhances the readers experience to
understand the plot.