Detection, Psycoanalysis and Visuality in House

Abstract

If we read or watch crime stories, we will find that the authors allow some moments of glory for their detectives: the previously sceptic police are humbled in front of Miss Marple, those who doubted Poirot walk away ashamed and wiser, Sherlock Holmes enjoys Dr Watson’s undivided admiration. Even House has his moments, when patients realize that he may look like a rude and insane drug addict, but he is (also) a brilliant doctor. I cannot settle for less, either. This paper started with the presupposition that House works like classic crime stories and House is the contemporary version of the likes of Sherlock Holmes. However, during my investigation I hope I could reveal that House is much more than a twenty-first century Holmes: he bears some resemblance to most great detectives of fiction. Although the character was partly based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s creation, he is also related to Vidocq, Miss Marple, Poirot, Father Brown, Philip Marlow, Inspector Rebus and a number of other classic and modern detectives the viewer cares to recognize.