A Scandal in Bohemia

by

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on A Scandal in Bohemia makes teaching easy.
Irene Adler is an opera singer, world traveler, and former lover of Wilhelm von Ormstein, King of Bohemia. She has kept letters and photographs that are evidence of her relationship with the King and, according to him, she plans to use them to blackmail him if he tries to marry the Princess of Scandinavia. While Holmes manages to trick Irene with a disguise and gain entry in to her house, she catches on quickly and disguises herself to spy on Holmes and Watson, ultimately outwitting them and fleeing before they can seize her photographs. Irene is initially portrayed as the story’s antagonist, but her intelligence and cunning earn Sherlock Holmes’s admiration, and she proves not to be a malicious person at all. In the end, even though she doesn’t hand over the photographs, she assures Holmes and the King that she means them no harm. Not only does the King of Bohemia proclaim that she would have made an excellent queen if she were not a commoner, but Sherlock considers her more intelligent than any other women he has met.

Irene Adler Quotes in A Scandal in Bohemia

The A Scandal in Bohemia quotes below are all either spoken by Irene Adler or refer to Irene Adler . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Logic vs. Emotion Theme Icon
).
Part 2 Quotes

“He’s a brave fellow,” said a woman. “They would have had the lady’s purse and watch if it hadn’t been for him. They were a gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he’s breathing now.” “He can’t lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?” “Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable sofa. This way, please!”

Related Characters: Irene Adler (speaker), Sherlock Holmes
Page Number: 256-257
Explanation and Analysis:

Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes.

Related Characters: Irene Adler (speaker), Sherlock Holmes
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number: 259
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 3 Quotes

I wish she had been of my own station! What a queen she would have made!

Related Characters: Wilhelm Gottsreich Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein (speaker), Irene Adler
Page Number: 260
Explanation and Analysis:

“From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a very different level to your Majesty”

Related Characters: Sherlock Holmes (speaker), Wilhelm Gottsreich Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, Irene Adler
Page Number: 262
Explanation and Analysis:

“Your Majesty has something which I should value even more highly,” said Holmes. “You have but to name it.” “This photograph!”

Related Characters: Sherlock Holmes (speaker), Wilhelm Gottsreich Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein (speaker), Irene Adler
Page Number: 262
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire A Scandal in Bohemia LitChart as a printable PDF.
A Scandal in Bohemia PDF

Irene Adler Quotes in A Scandal in Bohemia

The A Scandal in Bohemia quotes below are all either spoken by Irene Adler or refer to Irene Adler . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Logic vs. Emotion Theme Icon
).
Part 2 Quotes

“He’s a brave fellow,” said a woman. “They would have had the lady’s purse and watch if it hadn’t been for him. They were a gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he’s breathing now.” “He can’t lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?” “Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable sofa. This way, please!”

Related Characters: Irene Adler (speaker), Sherlock Holmes
Page Number: 256-257
Explanation and Analysis:

Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes.

Related Characters: Irene Adler (speaker), Sherlock Holmes
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number: 259
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 3 Quotes

I wish she had been of my own station! What a queen she would have made!

Related Characters: Wilhelm Gottsreich Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein (speaker), Irene Adler
Page Number: 260
Explanation and Analysis:

“From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a very different level to your Majesty”

Related Characters: Sherlock Holmes (speaker), Wilhelm Gottsreich Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, Irene Adler
Page Number: 262
Explanation and Analysis:

“Your Majesty has something which I should value even more highly,” said Holmes. “You have but to name it.” “This photograph!”

Related Characters: Sherlock Holmes (speaker), Wilhelm Gottsreich Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein (speaker), Irene Adler
Page Number: 262
Explanation and Analysis: