Sherlock Holmes is an incredibly complex character who undergoes several arcs throughout 56 short stories and four novels. “A Case of Identity” presents Holmes in his heyday, before his encounter with the antagonist Professor James Moriarty. Holmes is a bachelor, living alone in a Baker Street apartment, which, until recently, he shared with his friend Watson. Watson’s visit, as well as the arrival of Miss Sutherland to launch him into a new case, excites and “exceedingly” interests Holmes (228). This plot, then, is as much an amusement for Holmes as it is meant to be for the reader.

With every mystery, the most appealing aspect to Holmes is critical thinking. Holmes enjoys puzzles. Conan Doyle based the character on Joseph Bell, a surgeon under whom he studied and whose diagnostic practices began with close observation and analysis. Holmes, rather than utilizing these skills for medicine, is a crime fighter and occasional collaborator with Scotland Yard. In “A Case of Identity,” Holmes displays his analytic ability by asking questions, accumulating evidence, seeking confirmation, and simply sitting quietly in deep thought; in fact, Holmes solves the case without ever leaving his apartment. His independence from traditional law enforcement promotes individualism and intellect over cultural ideology and tradition.