In the domestic academic circles, there are few studies on the gentleman's image in the novels of the nineteenth century, and the research is not balanced, because the study of “gentleman” is mainly focused on the cultural connotation of the gentleman。 Therefore, studies on the image of gentleman need to be further expanded。

2。 The Social Background of Sherlock Holmes 

Sherlock Holmes lived in late 19th and early twentieth centuries。 It was Victorian era that time。 Victorian era was the peak period of the British Empire。 It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence for Britain。 Enclosure movement, the completion of the primitive accumulation of capitalism, and the progress of the capitalist industry promoted the development of the British Industrial Revolution and this country reached a prosperous period。 Victorian era was the main stage of forming and developing British social etiquette。 So this era was called civil society, and the British became known to the world as a state of ceremonies。 文献综述

In this period, the British gentleman culture developed greatly。 Because of the development of capitalist industry and commerce, the traditional sense of the gentleman was also changing。 A poor man can be a gentleman if he had noble behavior and struggled to be success in business。 People no longer regarded a man as a gentleman based on his ancestry or medals he wore, but based on his behavior。 This is very close to today's standards。 At that time, in almost all kinds of social behavior, the British people showed the gentleman culture。 This period was famous for Victorian morality。 It was the moral views of people living at Victorian era and many of these values spread throughout the British Empire。 Victorian morality can represent any set of values that espouse sexual restraint, low tolerance of crime and a strict social code of conduct。 The morality and values of this period could be classed to religion, morality, elitism, industrialism and improvement。 These values took root in Victorian morality, creating an overall change in the British Empire。

3。 Sherlock Holmes’s Appearance

Sherlock Holmes’s appearance was such as to strike the attention of the most casual observer。 In height he was rather over six feet, and so excessively lean that he seemed to be considerably taller。 His eyes were sharp and piercing; and his thin, hawk like nose gave his whole expression an air of alertness and decision。 His chin, too, had the prominence and squareness which mark the man of determination。 His hands were invariably blotted with ink and stained with chemicals, yet he was possessed of extraordinary delicacy of touch。 

Holmes would put on his overcoat and reminded Watson got his hat before they went out to other places。 When they took train to the Boscombe Valley, Holmes wore a long gray traveling-clock and close-fitting cloth cap。 In Victorian era, hat was almost the necessary thing when gentleman went out。 There are two kinds of hats for gentlemen to wear on formal occasions。 One is the Top Hat, which was designed in the end of 18th century。 The hat made man look dignified and because of the design, it was not easy to be blown away when men rode the horse, so the top hat was loved by the nobles and gentlemen in Victorian period。 Another one is the Bowler Hat, which fist showed in the mid-19th century and it was popular with working class at first。 It did not accept by the upper class until the late 19th century。 Gentlemen would compete that whose hat was more upstanding。 Besides formal hats, deerstalker is also notable, it is one of the classic image of Holmes。 Deerstalker has brims both front and back, and it has earmuffs。 In the original work, Conan Doyle did not express clearly that the cap Holmes wore was a deerstalker cap。 The first show of Holmes wearing a deerstalker was in an illustration painted by Sidney Paget who published it in The Stand Magazine in 1981。 来*自~优|尔^论:文+网www.youerw.com +QQ752018766* Coat, waistcoat and trousers was the classic three piece for gentlemen。 At that time, even in the room, one could take off his coat, but he had to wear waistcoat。 When gentleman went outside, he must dress himself neat and appropriate。 Even the case was urgent, Holmes must first go to the living room doorway to put on his coat of three piece, then ran down the stairs to put on his cloak coat。 The first coat was Under Coat, and the second coat was Over Coat。 This Over Coat was an Ulster。 In the story, Holmes was enveloped in an Ulster, a long, single-breasted coat with a small collar and an attached a hip-length cape。 When stay at home, Holmes would wear suit or a dressing-gown。 “He took off his coat and waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown。” (The Man with the Twisted Lip) “He was lounging upon the sofa in a purple dressing-gown。” (The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle) “He had thrown off the seedy frock coat, and now he was the Holmes of old in the mouse-colored dressing-gown which he took off from his effigy。”(The Adventure of the Empty House) Dressing-gown was introduced by the India businessmen into Britain in the early 18th century。 Affected by the Middle East and Eastern culture, dressing-gown’s fabrics were very perse, silk, brocade, cotton printing and even velvet。 It was also one sign of the upper class。 Men would wear it at home or in the office for it was comfortable and stylish。 19th century was the golden period of the development of the pocket watch。 Pocket watch was one of gentleman’s wearing jewelry, and was also a symbol of status。 Of course, Holmes also wore a pocket watch。 “The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion。”(A Scandal in Bohemia) The pocket watch was generally buckled in the waistcoat of three piece, one head of the chain hanging the pendant, another head hanging the watch。 Double Albert chain was also very popular at that time which the other chain could hang a cigar cutting tool, a knife, a match box, etc。 In Victorian times, the gloves were also an essential item for gentleman。 The social etiquette required that when in strangers presenting occasions, as long as one was middle class origin, he/she had to wear gloves。 For upper class, wearing gloves meant that servants would deal work and themselves did not need to do labor, so it was a proof of noble identity。 In the early 19th century, pipe was upper class’s mainly smoking method。 The cigarette’s position in the royal family caught up with the pipe till the mid-19th century。 Holmes loved thinking case in the cloud of smoke。 Sometimes he would use the number of pumping pipe to calculate the length of time。 In addition, he also judge one’s character, identity and even appearance according to his habit of using a pipe, tobacco and the embers of pipe。