Aging
The narrative is not the typical Sherlock Holmes story where he is an exceptional detective solving a crime mystery. Rather it follows Holmes as an old man navigating through his failing memory at a Sussex farmhouse. Therefore it is more of a character study of the renowned detective as he struggles with the downsides of aging. Holmes is attempting to recall his last case but due to his deteriorating mind and memory, he is having a hard time. He even attempts to seek means to ensuring his mental acuity is at par as it was when he was younger. Gradually, he has to come to terms with the inevitability of aging and explore other things in his life that do not center on his brilliance. As a man who has built his legacy around his mental sharpness the fact of aging is something difficult for him to grapple with. He has to come to a point of acceptance even though his current mental capacity is still much more insightful than an average individual.
Meaning of Life
Holmes reflects on both his past and present and begins placing his fame, brilliance, and age into perspective. He prides himself as a man of logic and rationale thus has evaded the haziness of romantic or irrational emotions. However now in his old age reflecting on his past when he developed an infatuation for Mrs. Keller. Consequently, easing his inclination towards emotions in the present after his housekeeper challenges his lack of empathy. Thus, reaching a point where he surrenders to the fact that certain human experiences are just too indefinable and complex to simply rationalize or solve. He has to come to terms with conceding his mythic status and become an average man yielding to his emotions. His outlook on life is altered at an old age since it is the juncture that forces us to grapple with our past or present and ask, what is life all about?
