Watson: Maslow's pyramid

In the beginning of the novel, Watson is struggling to find employment and shelter. He travels in search of fulfilling his basic life needs. He is also looking for security, both financial and mental, and order in his life after the chaos of eh war in Afghanistan. He spends this period of time on his own for the most part and receives little support from other people. His communication with family and friends is almost nonexistent. When he moves in with Sherlock at his apartment, the first two tiers (basic life needs and safety needs) are fulfilled. Watson now has a home, food and drink, and more stability in his life. As he gets to know Sherlock better and becomes friends with him, the third tier (family and relationships) is also fulfilled. Sherlock becomes Watson's roommate, friend and colleague. Watson now has someone to talk to and spend time with, instead of wandering around alone. He eventually becomes more involved in Sherlock's job (consulting detective) through the case of Drebber's death. After the case is resolved, he seeks to fulfill the fourth tier (esteem needs: achievement, status, responsibility, reputation) by preparing to publish a journal on Sherlock's skills. Through the journal, Watson hopes to achieve more and gain more of a reputation, promoting Sherlock at the same time. Throughout the course of the first part of  A Study in Scarlet, Watson gains more self-fulfillment: he finds a purpose in life and no longer wanders aimlessly around London as he did before. Thus by the end of the story, he has worked from the base of Maslow's pyramid to the top tier.