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Wilhelm Gottsreich Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein
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:
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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!”
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This is a conversation between Irene Adler and an unidentified woman, in the aftermath of a scuffle that left a clergyman seriously injured on the street in front of Irene’s house. The clergyman had stepped in when a group of men rushed at Irene’s coach in the hopes of earning a small tip for helping her out. The unknown woman points out the clergyman’s bravery and altruism, and Irene offers to let him rest on her couch. What Irene does not know until afterwards is that the clergyman is really Sherlock Holmes in disguise, and all of the other people Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis.
Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes.
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As Holmes walks back to 221B Baker Street with Watson, discussing his plans to wrap up the Irene Adler case in the morning, a “slim youth” greets him by name and quickly walks away. Holmes is confused by this, and notes that he has heard the voice before but cannot place it. That voice, of course, is Irene Adler’s. She had followed the two men from her home and heard the entirety of their conversation. Based on what she has heard, Irene is able to thwart Holmes’s plans to retrieve the photos that the King so desperately wants. Irene’s trickery, Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minu
Part 3 Quotes
I wish she had been of my own station! What a queen she would have made!
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The King of Bohemia is discussing Irene as he, Holmes, and Watson travel to her house to retrieve her photos. Although the case itself is based on the King’s desire to erase all evidence of his relationship with Irene in order to marry the more suitable Princess of Scandinavia, it is clear that the King still likes and admires Irene. This statement highlights the disconnect between love and marriage in high society, but especially among nobility. Social status and royal lineage are the only prerequisites for marriage, leaving the King of Bohemia with little choice in the matter. The woman Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitati
“From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a very different level to your Majesty”
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Once the King, Holmes, and Watson realize that they have been tricked by Irene, the King of Bohemia reiterates his earlier claim, that Irene would have made an exceptional queen had she been on his level. The King is referring, of course, to his noble lineage, which again reinforces the importance of status over love. However, Sherlock’s response to the King, that Irene is on a very different level, conveys a different idea altogether. From the beginning, Sherlock has had little interest in the King himself, and has shown little reverence for his royal status. He is concerned exclusively with Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explic
“Your Majesty has something which I should value even more highly,” said Holmes. “You have but to name it.” “This photograph!”
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Irene Adler has escaped with the photographs that the King so desperately wanted, and Sherlock must apologize for not bringing the case to a more successful conclusion. The King, however, is thoroughly satisfied with this outcome, as Irene has vowed not to expose the King or impede his marriage to the Princess of Scandinavia. He offers to pay Sherlock with an emerald ring, presumably an item of value, but the detective has no interest in that form of payment. Irene has left behind a photograph of herself, not the one that the King was looking to destroy, but one of Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accus
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Irene Adler Character Timeline in A Scandal in Bohemia
The timeline below shows where the character Irene Adler appears in A Scandal in Bohemia. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 1
...Yet despite his abhorrence of anything akin to “love,” Watson recalls, there is one woman, Irene Adler, who “eclipses and dominates the whole of her sex.” To Holmes, “she is always...
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Recalling when Holmes met Adler, Watson notes that he had recently gotten married, and their difference in lifestyles had, for...
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...he was younger, he had a short relationship with a “well-known adventuress” and opera singer, Irene Adler. He sent her a number of letters and a photograph of the two of...
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Part 2
...the persona of a horse-groom and socialized with the other grooms at the mews near Irene Adler’s house, in order to get information about her. He heard from the men that...
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While Holmes was still observing Irene’s house, Godfrey Norton arrived, spent about half an hour in the house, and then hopped...
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...the ceremony, still dressed in the disguise of the out-of-work groom, and when they finished, Irene gave him a sovereign coin, which he still keeps with him as a souvenir of...
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...arrest. Watson agrees enthusiastically and Holmes explains the plan. Holmes and Watson will be at Irene Adler’s house when she returns home at 7:00 p.m. Sherlock will be involved in “some...
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As they wait for Irene, Holmes and Watson discuss her marriage to Godfrey Norton, guessing that she will not want...
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At that moment Irene’s carriage pulls up, and as she exits, she is rushed by two men hoping to...
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...the street, Holmes explains to Watson that he employed everyone on the street, other than Irene, as part of his plan. He orchestrated the fire alarm because he knew that Irene...
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...in the company of the King, at 8:00 a.m. They will arrive early to catch Irene by surprise. As they arrive at the door of 221B Baker Street, a youth passes...
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Part 3
...plan and the three men hop into the King’s carriage and make their way to Irene’s. On the way, Holmes informs the King that Irene is married—this is good news, because...
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As the men arrive at Irene’s house, her housemaid informs them that she has already left England for Europe, never to...
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In her letter, Irene explains that she realized too late that Holmes had tricked her into revealing her hiding...
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...the King for an unsatisfactory ending to the case, but the King is satisfied with Irene’s promise. He offers Holmes a valuable emerald ring as payment, but the detective asks only...
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