Why didn't Sherlock Holmes investigate the events surrounding Irene Adler?
In the 2011 Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,
Moriarty and Irene Adler have an brief conversation in a restaurant. After the exchange, she passes out before exiting. Later in the film, Moriarty converses with Sherlock Holmes and tells him that Irene contracted "a deadly form of tuberculosis" and presents him with a bloodied handkerchief, seemingly as proof to the claim that she is dead.
Holmes accepts the information with little doubt and then the subject is dropped entirely for the rest of the movie. My question is: why would Sherlock Holmes take his enemy at his word? Why wouldn't he investigate these claims to make sure Moriarty wasn't bluffing? Considering his relationship with Irene Adler, I thought more time would have been spent developing this plot element.
Best Answer
The simplest answer is probably best. Holmes had already taken the measure of Moriarty and knew him to be cold-blooded, methodical, and ruthlessly efficient. Having traced his operations for a number of months, as well as the methods Professor Moriarty was willing to engage (the bomb in the crowded auction hall for instance, the assassination outside said auction hall) he knew that Moriarty would not have hesitated to have Ms. Adler removed from play, treating her as little more than a chess piece in his game to draw Holmes into the open.
Holmes was neither a sentimental man, nor a foolish one, and Professor Moriarty hoped to used Ms. Adler's demise as a means of putting Holmes off-balance. Do not mistake the stoicism displayed by Holmes as a sign of not caring. He cared deeply for Ms. Adler. But with Moriarty making the stakes as high as they were, Holmes could not allow his feelings to be clouded by emotion. Holmes had tried to warn Ms. Adler several times of the threat of Moriarty, and being a capable adventurer, she was certain she could handle herself. Likely, against any other threat, she would have been able to.
Holmes did not follow the lead, because there was no need to. Professor Moriarty did not bluff and was perfectly willing to kill anyone that stood between him and his goal. If her death upset Holmes, so much the better. Icing, nothing more.
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Did Sherlock Holmes have feelings for Irene Adler?
Benedict Cumberbatch says that his character fell for the charms of Irene Adler. Benedict Cumberbatch has revealed that his character Sherlock fell in love with Irene Adler in 'A Scandal in Belgravia'.What happened to Irene Adler in Sherlock Holmes A Game of Shadows?
In Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, Irene Adler is murdered in a public restaurant during the first third of the film.Why did Holmes know there were seventeen steps but Watson did not?
Although Dr. Watson has climbed them innumerable times, he doesn't know. "I know there are 17 steps, because I have both seen and observed," says Holmes, who is always mindful. One of the constant, delightful features of his stories is how he can reveal so much about a person he has just met by what he observes.What did Irene Adler do to Sherlock?
She is brought to Sherlock's attention when he and John are summoned to Buckingham Palace by Mycroft and are asked to take on a case of national importance. Irene had taken compromising images of a young female member of the British Royal family during a dominatrix session.Why Didn't You Stop Me?
More answers regarding why didn't Sherlock Holmes investigate the events surrounding Irene Adler?
Answer 2
Flip the question around, you know how ruthless and efficient M is.
You know that Adler is in the firing line and is in extreme danger, you have warned her several times. You know if you were M you would kill her, you have half tried once with the bomb.
Why would M be lying about actually killing her?
Answer 3
The threat against the Watsons meant Sherlock had no time
At the same meeting that Moriarty revealed his disposal of Irene Adler, he issued a direct threat against John and Mary Watson, which was carried out quickly - note the overwhelming force deployed in the train sequence. Sherlock safeguards Mary by placing her with Mycroft, and John by recruiting him for one final mission. Until Moriarty is conclusively defeated, the Watsons are in terrible and present danger. That cannot wait for Sherlock to investigate the fate of Irene Adler.
Sherlock seems to have accepted Irene's fate
In a quiet moment on the ferry, Sherlock inhales deeply from Irene's bloodstained handkerchief and then throws it overboard. His disinclination to retain possession of such a clue suggests that he has accepted that there is little he can do to help Irene Adler now.Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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