Gentleman Detective: Difference between revisions

{{trope|wppage=Gentleman detective}}

 

Subtrope of [[Great Detective]]. A sleuth who is known to belong to the higher strata of society - to have been raised in a privileged environment, and shows it, even if they have since rejected their background. Will tend to be some form of polymath, possibly autodidactic, at the least being very well-educated and well-read. Probably multilingual to boot, and often has notable eccentricities or unusual hobbies. Frequently a competent musician. Like the [[Great Detective]], this was first instantiated in the form of [[Edgar Allan Poe]]'s C. Auguste Dupin, and popularised by [[Arthur Conan Doyle]]'s [[Sherlock Holmes]].

 

{{examples}}

== [[Comic Books]] ==

* Some versions of [[Batman]], particularly those that lean toward the [[Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism|idealism end of the scale]].

== [[Literature]] ==

* [[Edgar Allan Poe]]'s C. Auguste Dupin came from a wealthy family, although he had been reduced to a more humble lifestyle. Holds the rank of Chevalier (Knight) in the Légion d'honneur. Likes hieroglyphs. Can spell ratiocination.

** Actually, Holmes acted ''very'' upper class (with country squires and French artists in his bloodlines), and Victorians would have recognized this. Not so noticeable these days, because he doesn't always come off as the ''modern'' idea of a Victorian gentleman. Watson was very much the gentlemanly ''middle class''. Both men being the younger sons in their families, they would have had to work for a living, however, no matter their families' financial circumstances.

* [[Dorothy L. Sayers]]' [[Lord Peter Wimsey]] is another archetype. Younger brother of a duke, he was educated at Eton and Oxford, he is notably eccentric, and collects 15th Century books as a hobby.

[[Category:Cops and Detectives]]

[[Category:Crime and Punishment Tropes]]