U N I T

I(1)
Arthur Conan Doyle, The Sign of the Four

Sulanbeni Odyuo

Structure
A. Study Guide
1. Learning Objectives
2. About the Author
3. On Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson
4. British Imperialism
5. Detailed Summary of The Sign of the Four
B. Critical Analysis of The Sign of the Four
1. Detective Fiction and The Golden Age of Detective Fiction
2. Anthropological prejudices in colonial fiction
3. Victorian Society and forms of moral policing
4. Character Analysis
5. The Agra Treasure

A. Study Guide

1. Learning Objectives
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel, The Sign of the Four, published in 1890, is part of your
course ‘Genre Fiction.’ You are advised to read the novel before going through this study
material. The main objectives of this study material are to:
‹ ‹Familiarize students with the history of detective fiction;
‹ ‹Help students to develop a deeper understanding of the genre;
‹ ‹Draw their attention to Sherlock Holmes’ methods of investigations; and
‹ ‹Encourage them to think critically about fiction.

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2. About the Author

Arthur Conan Doyle was born on May 22, 1859, to Mary and Charles Altamont Doyle.
He wrote his first novel at the age of six. After being educated at home and in schools
in the neighbourhood, his uncles sent him to the Jesuit Preparatory School of Hodder in
Lancashire when he was only nine years old. While at school, he would write letters to
his mother and also adventure stories, which he read aloud to his classmates. Later on,
he was sent to Austria for further studies, and it was during his stay there that he read
some of his favourite authors: one is Edgar Allan Poe whose detective Auguste Dupin
became the prototype for his Sherlock Holmes. Apart from Poe, he is said to have been
influenced by Jules Verne and his professor Joseph Bell too.
In 1881, Doyle completed his Bachelor of Medicine and Masters of Surgery degrees
and later earned the title of “Doctor” through practical experience. During his study there,
his professor Joseph Bell’s ability to deduce his patients’ illnesses after closely observing
their behaviour, inspired him to imbue his detective with remarkable deductive capabilities.
Later on, he wrote the stories of Sherlock Holmes to while away his time when he had
fewer cases to handle. It was in A Study in Scarlet in the year 1887, that Holmes was
introduced to the reading public by Arthur Conan Doyle.

3. On Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson

In 1887, Sherlock Holmes first appeared along with Dr. Watson in A Study in Scarlet
published in Beeton’s Christmas Annual. Sherlock Holmes is more than just a fictional
character spawned from a book, he and his investigative adventures are larger than life.
What makes this fictional character so alive is that the author Arthur Conan Doyle presents
Holmes as a complete human being by borrowing attributes from not just his own character
but from real people with whom the author has had interactions. One of the most notable
inspirations for Holmes was Doyle’s tutor at Edinburgh University, Dr. Joseph Bell, who
had a knack for deducing a man’s problem just by taking a glance at a patient entering
his room. Sherlock Holmes also possesses this talent for arriving at the right conclusions
so much so that Holmes does the same deduction of Watson’s background when they are
first introduced in A Study in Scarlet.
Sherlock became the ideal gentleman for the contemporary Victorian audience and
his popularity grew further after he started appearing in The Strand; a British monthly
magazine published from January 1891 to March 1950. The first short story of Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle to feature in The Strand was “A Scandal in Bohemia” in July 1891. It is

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 ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE, THE SIGN OF THE FOUR

mentioned by Doyle in his autobiography Memories and Adventures that he started writ-
ing Holmes stories to establish himself in The Strand, which of course was one of the
most popular magazines at that time. In 1893, The Adventure of the Final Problem was
published, where Holmes was killed. Conan Doyle felt that the character of Holmes had
become too successful so he decided to kill the detective. But the public did not like it
and demanded the return of Sherlock Holmes, to which Conan Doyle responded by writing
The Hound of the Baskervilles.
From the first few pages of The Sign of the Four, we learn that he is someone who
is consulted when the police force and other moral apparatuses fail. He does not receive
credit for completing the task; yet, the thrill of solving crimes excites him. He is extremely
proud of his skills and says it aloud;
“I am the last and highest court of appeal in detection. When Gregson or
Lestrade or Athelney Jones are out of their depths - which, by the way, is
their normal state - the matter is laid before me. I examine the data, as an
expert, and pronounce a specialist’s opinion. I claim no credit in such cases.
My name figures in no newspaper. The work itself, the pleasure of finding
a field for my peculiar powers, is my highest reward.” (Doyle 11)
Holmes is accompanied by Dr. Watson in his adventures. Dr Watson not only shares the
flat with Sherlock Holmes but also provides assistance to Holmes in solving crimes and
mysteries. Dr. Watson is a war-torn hero who has just returned from Afghanistan, seek-
ing medical help for the trauma he has borne during the wars. Sherlock feels that Dr.
Watson’s knowledge of medicines and science would be of great help to him so from day
one itself, he seeks Dr. Watson’s help. He keeps a detailed account of Holmes’ cases; his
memoirs make Holmes popular.

4. British Imperialism
During the nineteenth and early twentieth century, the British empire grew in size, wealth,
and population. Britain was one among many European countries trying to build an
Empire through armed conquest and economic expansion. The British Empire had around
one-quarter of the earth’s surface under its control. The Industrial Revolution in their home
country pushed them to take on an aggressive expansion policy. They built settlements
in the countries which were under their control and even established administrative rule
there. There were swift changes taking place in the field of science and technology, and
the development of railroads and industries demanded economic resources; thereby leading
Britain and other countries of Europe to seek new avenues of expansion.

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This expansionist policy was also driven by social, political and religious factors;
based on a belief in their own superiority over the so-called backward societies. The
British Empire viewed the natives in their colonies as inferior to them. Imperialism and
its impact could be seen in every sphere of life in British society. Their ideas about what
was morally right and morally wrong were also shaped by the forces of imperialism. The
contacts and communications that were created as a result of imperialism led to a society
which became a fertile breeding ground for crime and criminals. Other than imperialism,
the social, political and cultural turmoil created as a result of the Industrial Revolution
led to the large-scale rise in crime in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century.
The birth of the modern policeman took place with a sudden spurt in criminal activities.
In fiction, the figures of the modern policeman and the detective assuaged the rising
anxieties associated with real crime.
In The Sign of the Four, it is against this political and social backdrop that the events
of the novel take place. India was one of Britain’s most precious colonies.

5. Detailed Summary of The Sign of the Four

This is Arthur Conan Doyle’s second novel, published in 1890. It relates the story of the
mysterious disappearance of Captain Morstan and how, a few years later, his daughter
Mary Morstan seeks Holmes’ help when she receives a mysterious letter. Holmes who is
in dire need of an interesting case to break his monotony quickly lends his help to Miss
Morstan.

Chapters 1-3
“My mind,” he said, “rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me
work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram or the most intricate analysis,
and I am in my own proper atmosphere. I can dispense then with artificial
stimulants. But I abhor the dull routine of existence. I crave for mental
excitation.” (Doyle 10)
This is how Doyle’s The Sign of the Four begins, by showing Holmes’ obsession with the
employment of his mind. Holmes is introduced as someone who is dependent on drugs
like cocaine and morphine, and Dr. Watson strongly disapproves of his friend’s habit.
Sherlock Holmes is seen sitting in his velvet-lined armchair and taking a syringe of co-
caine into his forearm. This, Dr. Watson observes, has been going on three times a day
for the past many months. Watson had become concerned with Sherlock’s habit; to the
point of summoning enough courage to confront him. Sherlock Holmes is not offended

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 ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE, THE SIGN OF THE FOUR

but believes that it helps his mind transcend reality and gives him clarity of thought.
Watson is concerned that Sherlock’s drug usage may prove harmful to the qualities he is
endowed with. Sherlock Holmes replies that his mind abhors the dull routine of existence
and that he craves mental excitement. And this is the reason why he likes and chose his
profession as the “only unofficial consulting detective” (Doyle 11). Solving intricate cases,
like a puzzle involving his mind, gratifies him and this chapter especially shows how he
is deprived of thrill and excitement because no interesting case is coming his way.
They briefly discuss Watson’s write up which is about Sherlock Holmes’ Jefferson
Hope Case. Watson is annoyed by Sherlock’s criticism of his work as being too emotional
and romantic. Sherlock tells Watson about his exploits and to further prove his intelligence
deduces the owner’s background by taking one look at the watch that he has inherited
from his brother. And just then there comes the landlady announcing the arrival of Miss
Mary Morstan.
Miss Mary Morstan gives an account of the case of her missing father. Her father,
Captain Morstan was an officer in the Indian regiment. He had sent her to a boarding
establishment at Edinburgh when she was quite young, since her mother had passed away
and she had no relatives in England. In the year 1878, her father who had obtained a long
leave, telegraphed her to come and meet her in Langham Hotel, London. On reaching
the hotel she found out that her father had gone out the night before and had still not
returned. And that was the last time she heard from her father and to this day, ten years
later, he was still missing. They found his luggage, which had some clothes, books and
many items from the Andaman Islands. He was one of the officers in charge of the convict
guard in the Andamans. The only friend she knew her father had was one Major Sholto
who belonged to the same regiment as her father’s, the 34th Bombay Infantry, who told
her that he had no idea about his friend Major Morstan being in town.
Mary Morstan further narrates how she saw an advertisement in the newspaper ask-
ing for her whereabouts, when she had just started to work with Mrs. Cecil Forrester.
She published her address in the newspaper column and on the same day she received a
cardboard box which contained a pearl, which experts deemed to be rare and of consid-
erable value. In total, she had received six pearls over the course of six years. And on
this particular day of her meeting with Sherlock Holmes, she had received a letter which
instructed her to come to a certain spot with two of her friends, who should not be from
the police. Miss Morstan requests Holmes’ help and on hearing this, Holmes quickly in-
forms her about his decision to accompany her, along with Dr. Watson. Dr. Watson finds
Miss Morstan attractive whereas Sherlock sees her as a client and nothing more.

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The next chapter shows Sherlock in a good mood. After prolonged boredom, Sherlock
finally finds himself in an engaging case and feels already accomplished. He deduces
that the disappearance of Mary Morstan’s father has something to do with the pearls she
is receiving. He connects the disappearance of Miss Morstan’s father to Major Sholto’s
death; as he was the only person he apparently knew. He feels that Major Sholto’s heir
must have some information about the mysterious disappearance of Miss Morstan’s father
and that the pearls were sent o her to compensate for the loss of her father. Later, Miss
Morstan meets Holmes and Dr. Watson to go to the address mentioned in the mysterious
letter she has received. She also brings a paper which she had found on her father’s desk
which she feels would be of some significance to Holmes’ quest. On proper examination
of the paper, Holmes sees that the diagram shows a plan of part of a building and notices
a hieroglyphic like “four crosses in a line with their arms touching” (Doyle 26). Next to it
is written “the sign of the four,” along with the four names of Jonathan Small, Mahomet
Singh, Abdullah Khan, and Dost Akbar. He cannot see any relation of that paper with the
case he has taken up but figures out that it holds importance. At the appointed place, a
coachman comes to take them to the house of the person who had written the letter to
Miss Morstan. The doors are opened by a Hindoo servant and the three then are directly
taken to the owner of the house, Thaddeus Sholto, son of Major Sholto.
Check Your Progress
1. Why is Sherlock Holmes bored at the beginning of the novel?
2. Write a few lines about miss Morstan’s father?
3. What was found in Mr. Morstan’s luggage?

Chapters 4-6
The fourth chapter shows Thaddeus Sholto’s residence which is well decorated with ar-
tefacts from the East. Thaddeus Sholto requests Holmes and Watson to keep the meeting
confidential and explains to them the reason behind it. He tells them how his father Major
John Sholto seemed to live in fear of something, which he never shared with anyone and
would always keep two prize fighters with him. They are told how Major Sholto had re-
ceived a letter from India in 1882 and fell ill after reading it. His health deteriorated and
he summoned his two sons and informed them about the secret Agra treasure. Thaddeus
Sholto informs them about his father confessing his guilt for not giving his due share to
Morstan’s orphan, who is none other than Miss Mary Morstan.
Their father further told them about his confrontation with Morstan and the heated
argument which followed, about the division of the treasure. When Morstan, who seemed

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to have a weak heart, got up to confront Sholto he fell down, hit his head on the treasure
chest and died. His servant Lal Chowdar, on hearing the quarrel and the sound made by
Morton’s fall, mistook the role of Sholto in the death of Morstan. Lal Chowdar then helped
his master to dispose off the body and Sholto became more convinced about his decision
to hide Morstan’s death when he realized that he could not convince even his own servant
about his innocence. His guilt arises, not only out of hiding Morstan’s death but also de-
priving his orphan of her due share of the treasure. Sholto pointed to a pearl-embedded
chaplet that he had taken out from the treasure test to send to Mary but couldn’t bear to
part with it. When Sholto was about to share the location of the treasure with his sons,
his appearance changed and he screamed at someone at the window. The sons saw a face
peering at them and when they rushed to the window, the man had disappeared. Later on,
that night they find no sign of the intruder but find a single footmark on the flowerbed.
In the morning, they find Major Sholto’s room in a mess, the windows open and on his
chest, a paper with the words “The sign of the four” written on it.
Thaddeus Sholto further tells the group that it was he who convinced his brother to
send Miss Morstan pearls at fixed intervals because he felt that Mary Morstan deserved
her share in the treasure. This generosity on Thaddeus’ part led to a rift between the two
brothers and he left Pondicherry Lodge with two servants. He had requested Miss Morstan
to come and see him because he had learnt that his twin brother Bartholomew Sholto
had found the treasure, in a secret garret above the ceiling of Pondicherry Lodge. Every-
one present there is shocked to know that the value of the jewels found in the treasure
amounts to half a million sterling. Thaddeus Sholto feels that they should immediately go
to Pondicherry Lodge in Norwood to demand a rightful share from Bartholomew.
Chapter Five opens in Pondicherry Lodge; it is nearly eleven o’ clock. The house seems
to be swallowed up by the darkness; filled with gloom and total silence, leaving Thaddeus
Sholto uneasy and confused as he had thought that his brother would be awake and antic-
ipating their arrival. In that instance, a woman’s shriek is heard, Thaddeus Sholto goes in
and comes out horrified. It is Mrs. Bernstone, the housekeeper, who screams after seeing
Bartholomew’s lifeless appearance through the keyhole. They force the door open when
there is no response from inside the room and, to their astonishment, find Bartholomew
motionless and still, with a fixed and unnatural smile, reclined in his wooden armchair.
Upon the table where Bartholomew’s hand rests, they find a peculiar instrument and a
note which says “The sign of the four.” Amidst all this, Dr. Watson finds himself alone
with Miss Morstan and feels an attraction toward her. On that night, they find comfort and
peace in each other. Holmes finds a thorn stuck just above the ear of the dead man and
declares it is a murder. Thaddeus Sholto who has been standing in the doorway, terrified,
breaks into a cry after noticing that the treasure is gone.
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While Thaddeus Sholto is sent to the police station to report the death of his broth-
er, Sherlock Holmes and Watson are left with only half an hour to search the room for
clues before the arrival of the police. Bartholomew’s room and windows are closed from
inside, there is no way to climb up, yet a man has entered the room from the window;
which is confirmed by the presence of muddy footprints on the floor and a thick rope
in a corner of the room. They also find an impression of a wood stump, which Holmes
deduces could have been left by a wooden-legged man. Next, they draw the conclusion
that a man must have climbed up the wall with the help of an aide, who had probably
lowered down the rope from the window.
They find out that the aide had entered through the roof to drop down the rope.
Sherlock Holmes and Watson examine the secret room, above Bartholomew’s room, in
which the treasure was hidden, and discover a trap door which leads to the roof. They
again find naked footmarks, probably half the size of an average man, on the floor which
startles both of them. Sherlock finds another small-sized footprint in the creosote (oily
liquid obtained from tar and used to heat wood) and is elated that the culprit will be caught
soon. Mr. Athelney Jones, the police inspector arrives at Pondicherry Lodge and jumps
to the conclusion that Thaddeus Sholto must have committed the murder and arrests him.
Check Your Progress
1. What made Thaddeus Sholto send the pearls to Miss Mary Morstan?
2. What do you learn about the Agra treasure?
3. Why does Thaddeus Sholto want to take Miss Morstan with him to see Bartholomew
Sholto?
4. What mystery awaits Sherlock Holmes at Bartholomew Sholto’s residence?

Chapters 7-9
In the seventh chapter, Watson escorts Miss Mary Morstan back to her home. Watson
empathizes with Miss Morstan and feels the urge to confess his love for her. But Watson
stops himself from doing so because he does not feel like taking advantage of a woman
in a helpless position. Afterwards, he sets off to Pinchin Lane, from where he brings the
dog Toby to Pondicherry Lodge, as instructed by Sherlock Holmes. They examine the
footprints again and detect a strong tarry smell. Sherlock Holmes climbs up the roof and
sees traces of the same small-sized footprints and finds a pouch with half a dozen sharp
spikes, like the one which had hit Bartholomew. Toby is made to sniff the creosote they
had found earlier, and the chase begins.

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Sherlock Holmes proposes a hypothesis in which he asserts that the wooden-legged

man must be Jonathan Small, who was a convict when he met the two English convict
guards. The map in the chart, which was in Captain Morstan’s possession, was drawn by
Jonathan Small and signed by him on behalf of his other associates, which he calls “The
Sign of the Four.” According to Holmes, Major Sholto must have remained in peace with
his treasure until the day he received a letter which informed him that Jonathan Small,
whom he had wronged, had been set free or escaped. Small probably kept a close watch
to get his treasure back. With the help of someone within the household, he learnt about
the treasure being in the possession of Major Sholto. It was he who had peeped through
the window when the Major was on his death bed. He had no grudge against Bartholomew
Sholto, it was the “savage instinct” of his associate which killed him. They have, by
this time, reached Kennington Lane, following Toby. But Toby leads them to a barrel of
creosote which was given to him to smell, only to make Holmes and Watson realize that
they have taken the wrong direction.
What puzzled the dog was that the scent led to two different trails, running in op-
posite directions. Toby leads them towards the river-side to the very edge of a small
wooden wharf. It looked like the miscreants have taken a boat from there. Sherlock
Holmes manages to find a small brick house with the name of the owner on a placard
and information about the steam launch Aurora, from the wife of one Mordecai Smith.
He is informed about the visit of a wooden-legged man which got her husband excited.
Holmes decides to track down the Aurora and plans to involve Athelney Jones, and then
sends a telegram to one of his lieutenant Wiggins. Wiggins is sent away with instructions
to find the steam launch Aurora. Sherlock Holmes unravels the mystery behind the other
man, the associate with the small footprint. The other man, according to Holmes, is from
the Andaman Islands, an aborigine of the islands which have the distinction of being one
of the smallest races on earth.
Sherlock Holmes is worked up and dejected as there is still no news from Wiggins
or Mrs. Smith about her husband. He barely speaks to Watson and keeps to himself from
evening up to the wee hours of the morning, by being engrossed in some chemical analysis,
heating and distilling vapours. One day, in the early dawn, Holmes goes down to the river
with the hope of finding clues and Watson is instructed to stay back as his representative.
Watson reads the newspaper and finds an advertisement in the agony column; about the
missing Mordecai Smith and his son Jim. It also mentions reward money and an address:
221b Baker Street. Watson quickly realizes that it is Holmes who has done this to give
the appearance of a wife’s genuine concern to find her husband and son and mislead the
perpetrators of the crime. At three o’clock in the afternoon, Athelney Jones shows up at

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221b Baker Street as he has received a telegram from Holmes, requesting to wait for him,
as he is close to tracking the culprits. As they both wait for Sherlock Holmes, he comes
to them disguised as a middle-aged man, clad in seafaring attire, looking for Holmes;
delighting both Watson and Jones. They discuss the course of action to be taken when
they have obtained the treasure and they have a merry time together as their expedition
is coming to a close.
Check Your Progress
1. What is Sherlock Holmes’ hypothesis about the entire mystery of the Agra treasure?
2. Why did Toby the dog lead Holmes and Watson in the wrong direction?
3. Describe Higgins and how he helps Holmes?
4. What does Dr. Watson notice in the agony column of the newspaper?

Chapters 10-12
Athelney Jones, Sherlock Holmes and Watson set out to pursue Jonathan Small and his
associate. Sherlock Holmes explains that when he was conducting his chemical experi-
ment, he placed himself in the shoes of Jonathan Small, and tried to think as a man of his
capacity would think. He, therefore, concluded that the steam launch Aurora, that Small
had taken, was neither on the land wharf nor in the river, it was concealed well some-
where. He figures out that Small must have given the Aurora to a boat-builder or repairer,
requesting only some minor changes so that the boat could be taken out at a few hours’
notice when required. All of them go down the river Thames and reach Jacobson’s Yard.
The Aurora is seen leaving the yard at full speed, giving them a hot pursuit. Watson
sees two figures on the deck, one holding on to something black between his legs and the
other appears to be a dark mass; described as a Newfoundland dog. They are none other
than Jonathan Small and his associate Tonga. Watson fires at the dwarf as he pulls out
a piece of wood and he falls into the stream. The wooden-legged man tries to escape to
the southern bank and jumps out from the boat but his wooden leg sinks in the muddy
land and gets trapped there. Holmes and his team capture Jonathan Small and recover the
treasure chest from the boat.
In the eleventh chapter, Jonathan Small is held captive. Small pleads innocence in
the death of Bartholomew Sholto and confesses that it was Tonga who had shot the poi-
sonous dart. Sherlock Holmes lets him know that if he gives him an honest account of
the matter, he may be able to prove his innocence, as Bartholomew was dead before he
reached the room. Jonathan Small also affirms to Athelney Jones that Mordecai Smith had

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no knowledge of the Norwood business. Athelney Jones agrees to hand over the treasure
box to the rightful owner and he lets Watson execute the duty. Watson is dropped off
at Vauxhall to deliver the Agra treasure to Miss Morstan. Watson narrates the events of
the expedition to Miss Morstan, and when he speaks about the treasure she shows no
eagerness or excitement. Since the key has been tossed into the bottom of the river by
Jonathan Small, they decide to force it open by using a poker. But to their surprise, the
box is empty. Watson exclaims a sigh of relief. All this time, Watson was dejected because
he thought that the treasure would make Miss Morstan rich and beyond his reach and he
admits as much to her.
The last chapter recounts the story of Jonathan Small, once he is apprehended by
Holmes. He was a soldier posted in India and lost his leg in an accident and got himself
a wooden leg after surgery. A colonel, who was fond of him, recommended his name to
look after the coolies on the plantation. But then the Indian mutiny happened and he had to
run for his life to the fort of Agra because that was where the nearest British troops were
stationed. At the Agra fort, he was given a duty to guard one of the gates, along with two
Sikh men. One night, those two Sikh men threatened him to keep an oath or get killed.
Jonathan Small agreed to take one if it did not compromise the safety of the fort. Small
was told about the plan of the two Sikh men, hatched with their other friend Dost Akbar.
A rajah in the Northern provinces was sending some of his valuables to Agra fort, along
with Achmet, his trusted associate, to be safeguarded and Dost Akbar was accompanying
him with that fortune. Dost Akbar, in turn, conspired with his two friends to kill Achmet
and steal the treasure but they needed Jonathan Small’s help because Small was posted
at the same spot. Achmet was killed and after burying his body and treasure, all four of
them took an oath to keep their secret sacred and signed it “The Sign of the Four.” But
they were soon apprehended for Achmet’s murder and got penal servitude for life.
Small was sent to the Andamans and it was here that he came across Major Sholto
and Morstan who had given in to gambling and had incurred losses there. Knowing how
terrible a financial condition Sholto and Morstan were in, Jonathan Small thought of taking
their help to flee the Andamans in exchange for giving them a fifth share of the treasure.
He speaks to his three other partners and they decide to give Sholto the coordinates of
the Agra treasure. Sholto was supposed to come back after confirming the existence of the
treasure. After that, he was supposed to send a yacht for Jonathan Small and his associates
to flee the Andamans for Agra. Captain Morstan was to apply for leave after Sholto’s
return, meet the group at Agra and take Sholto’s and his share. But Sholto never returned,
it was discovered that he had gone to London with the treasure and cheated the four and
his close friend Captain Morstan. Ever since then, as Small narrates, he had a desire to

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take revenge on Sholto because he felt that no other person had a right over that treasure,
except the four of them. He then tells them how he found out about Sholto’s residence at
Pondicherry Lodge and showed up at his place to find out about the treasure. He waited
patiently after Sholto’s death to learn about the treasure and one fine day, learns about
Bartholomew Sholto finding the treasure and goes after it once again. He further tells
them how it was not his intention to kill Bartholomew but it was Tonga who killed him
in the heat of the moment. Jonathan Small is taken away by Athelney Jones; Dr. Watson
finds himself a wife in Mary Morstan and Holmes goes back to his cocaine; maybe to
drive away his boredom once again.
Check Your Progress
1. Why does Holmes take Dr. Watson and Athelney Jones to Jacobson’s yard?
2. Why is Dr. Watson happy to find the treasure missing?
3. Briefly describe the plan Jonathan Small and his three associates designed.
4. Describe the treasure chest and its contents.

B. Critical Analysis of The Sign of the Four

1. Detective Fiction and the Golden Age of Detective Fiction

Tzvetan Todorov, in his essay “The Typology of Detective Fiction,” described the genre
and evolution of detective fiction. The first one, according to him, is the ‘whodunit,’ which
has two parts; it informs readers about the crime but the identity of the perpetrator is kept
a secret. The first part of a ‘whodunit’ describes the crime in detail, where the detective
carefully assembles clues and interrogates, and the second part reveals the perpetrator of
the crime and his/her intention behind carrying out the crime. Another form is the ‘thrill-
er’ which focuses more on finding out the criminal. The final form of detective fiction is
‘suspense,’ which has elements of both the ‘whodunit’ and the ‘thriller.’
Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849), an American writer, is seen as one of the first writers to
start the genre of detective fiction. In the year 1841, he introduced the figure of C. Auguste
Dupin in his first detective story “The Murders in the Rue Morgue.” In Poe’s story, we
see Dupin solving the crime, not for a reward of any kind, but for his own amusement.
The Moonstone, on the other hand, considered the first English detective novel, was writ-
ten by William Wilkie Collins in the year 1868. Collins introduced a professional police
officer as his detective; thus making his work different from the rest. The most popular
assumption about detective fiction is that it is dominated by men. Women are shown either

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as love interests for whom the hero fights or as those who perpetrate crimes. But we do
have female detective figures and women writers who have contributed equally to devel-
oping the genre of detective fiction. To name a few, Mma Precious Ramotswe from The
No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith, Agatha Christie’s Miss
Marple, Patricia Cornwell’s Dr. Kay Scarpetta and Peter O’Donnel’s Modesty Blaise are
popular female detectives created by both, women and men writers.
The most productive years for British detective fiction were at the end of the nine-
teenth century. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is considered one of the most popular British
authors of this period. He, along with Edgar Allan Poe, is said to have given birth to
the modern detective story, but it is with those writers who started their writing careers
after Doyle that we see the birth of the Golden Age of Detective fiction. The Golden
Age of Detective Fiction refers to the inter-war years, 1920-1939. Agatha Christie with
her well-known characters Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple is hailed as the Queen of
Detective Fiction. Other notable writers of this period are E.C. Bentley, G.K. Chesterton,
Father Ronald Knox and Dorothy L. Sayers. The prominent characteristic of fiction in
this era is the ‘whodunit’ or ‘who has done it?’ plot, where the main focus is on who has
committed the crime. The ‘whodunit’ informs readers about the crime but the identity of
the perpetrator is kept a secret. The detective in this kind of fiction is rather an amateur
detective or semi-professional detective. Readers are engaged in solving the mystery by
deducing the perpetrator of the crime through the clues provided by the narrator. The
crime is presented as a puzzle to be solved by the clues provided by the narrator usually
through interrogation and through the questions posed by the detective. Newspaper crime
reporting is said to have influenced a lot of writers in writing detective stories then.
Laura E. Nym Mayhall in “Indecently Preposterous”: The Interwar Press and Golden Age
Detective Fiction” explores how press coverage of crime and detective fiction co-existed
within the interwar cultural field. Dorothy L. Sayers’ Clouds of Witness can be taken
into consideration to show how techniques from journalism were taken to tell a story of
murder, suicide and adultery.
The two popular sub-genres of detective fiction are cozy mysteries and hard-boiled
detective fiction. The former concentrates on solving crimes, like pieces of a puzzle. The
perpetrator is usually non-violent, sane, rational and articulate and is able to explain why
s/he committed the crime. They are ordinary people who are members of a community
and hence they are able to hide in plain sight, and once unveiled they surrender without a
fight. The story is usually set in a rural area; a town or a village, and restricted to a small
space such that the detective has knowledge about the family history of the characters. The
puzzle-solving crime fiction was examined later by some American writers and they found

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it to be too clean and too unrealistic. They wanted stories based on real-life crime and
thus the hardboiled detective genre paved the way for depicting corrupt cops and heinous
organized crime. Hard-boiled detective fiction started appearing by the 1920s, whereas
in America it became popular as a genre between 1930-1950. Unlike the previous sub-
genre, the hard-boiled detective stories follow a little less predictable formula, sometimes
criminals act on impulse and the climax does not show a detective explaining the crime.

2. Anthropological Prejudices in Colonial Fiction

Although the novel is set in a colonial backdrop and the crime itself can be traced to
British exploitation of colonial wealth - such as the Agra treasure - the implications are
never examined. The narrator, Dr. Watson (Doyle) does not raise questions about the true
ownership of the jewels (the Indian rajah is the true owner). The narrator assumes, like
everybody else, that the rightful owners of the Agra treasure are the Sholto brothers and
Miss Morstan. The killing of Achmet, who was entrusted with the jewels, is never brought
up. Neither is the deceitful manner in which the treasure is acquired.
Note how Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson display anthropological prejudices that
were prevalent during imperial rule. The Sign of the Four is a classic example of con-
temporary colonial fiction. The antagonists are either natives or have returned from the
colonies, where, as the white man believed, only uncultured people and criminals reside.
Jonathan Small is shown as the loyal white man who cannot kill anyone but Tonga can
and does kill Bartholomew Sholto. Small the white man, is absolved of the murder of
Bartholomew Sholto but Tonga the native stays as the murderer. This passage, where
Watson describes Tonga, clearly illustrates such prejudices;
At the sound of his [Jonathan Small] strident cries there was movement in the
huddled bundle upon the deck. It straightened itself into a little black man –
the smallest I have ever seen – with a great misshapen head and a shock of
tangled, disheveled hair. Holmes had already whipped out his revolver, and
I whipped out mine at the sight of this savage, distorted creature.... Never
have I seen features marked with such bestiality and cruelty. (Doyle 100)
The Indian Mutiny of 1857 is described as a violent uprising and the English as hapless
victims before the angry multitudes; fighting to save themselves. Jonathan Small calls
the people of Agra “fierce devil-worshippers” (Doyle 115). There is a serious lack of
understanding about local culture.
Another instance of colonial prejudice is seen when Holmes tries to identify the asso-
ciate of Jonathan Small. Holmes practices “arm-chair” anthropology, wherein he forms an

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opinion of Small’s associate Tonga by reading a narrative written by some white colonial
administrator. The natives of the Andamans are described as “naturally hideous.”
It is apparent that the imperial background is just that - an exotic background to
showcase Holmes’ power of logic and reason. Doyle also demonstrates the British fasci-
nation for the exotic while describing Thaddeus Sholto’s residence.
ACTIVITY
Write a brief note on The Indian Mutiny. You can consult many online resources.

3. Victorian Society and Forms of Moral Policing

The Sign of the Four depicts the concerns and fears of Victorian society. Development in
trade, technology, and commerce made the movement of people easier, thus making cit-
ies like London accessible to people from all parts of the world. The fear of the “other”
constantly bothered Victorian society for which different forms of policing were required.
The rise in crime and insecurities among the public are assuaged by police forces and
a detective like Sherlock Holmes. A figure like Holmes comes to rescue the Victorian
public when the police forces are incapable of solving crimes. Athelney Jones is shown
as a conceited individual in The Sign of Four who dismisses Holmes’s opinion in the
beginning but later on seeks Holmes’ help to save his position. The presence of a charac-
ter like Sherlock Holmes is reassuring. He represents ‘reason’, ‘logic’, and ‘justice’- can
contain crime in society.

4. Character Analysis

Sherlock Holmes
Arthur Conan Doyle introduced Sherlock Holmes first in A Study in Scarlet. When Dr.
Watson is looking for accommodation in London, his friend Stamford takes him to Sher-
lock who is also looking for a flat mate to share the expenses towards rent. Holmes is
described by Stamford;
“… a little too scientific for my tastes - it approaches to cold-bloodedness.
I could imagine his giving a friend a little pinch of the latest vegetable al-
kaloid, not out of malevolence, you understand, but simply out of a spirit of
inquiry in order to have an accurate idea of the effects… he appears to have
a passion for definite and exact knowledge.” (Doyle 8, A Study in Scarlet)

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Sherlock is the protagonist of the novel, a private detective who is endowed with excep-
tional qualities, like a higher reasoning power. A very intelligent man who thinks less of
those who are not, boastful at times; he informs Watson how his services are requested
abroad as well. He thrives on challenges and boredom kills him; he is restless when there
are no cases to provide him with thrill and adventure. Sometimes, he indulges in writing
as well, which he declares in The Sign of the Four. He tells Watson;
“Yes, I have been guilty of several monographs. They are all upon technical
subjects. Here, for example, is one ‘Upon the Distinction between the Ashes
of the Various Tobaccoes.’ In it I enumerate a hundred and forty forms of
cigar-, cigarette-, and pipe-tobacco, with coloured plates illustrating the
difference in the ash.” (Doyle,12)
Similarly, he boasts about writing another monograph on footsteps and the use of plaster
of Paris while taking impressions of footprints. These show us Sherlock’s close attention
to detail and the importance of observing those details even when it holds no significance
for others. Take one example from The Sign of the Four, when we see Sherlock taking
out his lens from his pocket as soon as he suspects foul play at Bartholomew Sholto’s
residence. When the housekeeper informs them about her master Bartholomew’s state inside
his room, Holmes, along with Watson and Thaddeus Sholto, heads towards the room. Dr.
Watson narrates how Sherlock takes out his lens to examine marks on the stair-carpet which,
to him, merely appear as smudges of dust; “Twice as we ascended Holmes whipped his
lens out of his pocket and carefully examined marks which appeared to be mere shapeless
smudges of dust upon the cocoa-nut matting which served as a stair-carpet” (Doyle 45).
Observation, therefore, is the first step in his deductive process. He observes, calcu-
lates and then reaches a conclusion. To him, observation and deduction are two different
processes and he goes on to explain to Watson how these are different. Holmes says that
it is through observation that he could tell that Watson had gone to the Wigmore Street
post office because his instep had reddish-coloured soil, which he probably had got after
treading on the mud thrown next to the pavement. His close observation of his surround-
ings helped him to locate the exact place where he had gone, since that particular soil
was found only in that part of the neighbourhood. Next, he tells Watson that it is through
deduction that he finds out his purpose for going to the post office. Noticing that Watson
had not written any letter since the time they sat together, led him to conclude that he
had gone to the post office not to post a letter but to wire a telegram.
He is known for his deductive skills which he employs to come to a logical conclu-
sion. Holmes tells Watson to “eliminate all other factors, and the one which remains must
be true” (Doyle 14). Once Watson puts him to test to say something about the character

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 ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE, THE SIGN OF THE FOUR

and habits of the owner of a watch in his possession. Holmes rightly deduces that the
watch belonged to Watson’s elder brother; from the initials on the watch and infers that
his brother had financial problems. Holmes recalls that Watson’s father had died many
years ago and so this expensive watch would have passed down to the eldest son. He
could even tell the drinking habits of his brother by observing the dints and scratches on
the watch. For Holmes it is easy to deduce because he has a keen eye when it comes to
observation; he tells Watson that “what seems strange to you is only so because you do
not follow my train of thoughts or observe the small facts upon which inferences may
depend” (Doyle 16).
Holmes is a man of science and logic, a true representative of the scientific spirit of
the Victorian age. A man who is informed about almost everything; from the varieties of
tobaccos and the tracing of footsteps, to identifying lithotypes of different tradesmen. In
Chapter Six, recall how Holmes explains his theories to Dr Watson in an almost clinical
manner. They are at Bartholomew Sholto’s residence and examining whatever they can
before the arrival of the police. Holmes is methodical: first, he wants to find out the
entry and exit route of the intruder, who entered Bartholomew’s room. He very carefully
notices that there is no water pipe or any kind of support for the intruder to enter the
room. The visible round marks on the floor make him realise that those are not footprints
but the impressions made by a wooden stump. After eliminating certain possibilities, he
concludes that the intruder got help to climb Bartholomew’s room. After deducing all of
this, he even manages to see the smallest detail like the blood mark on the rope which
the intruder had used to climb up. Sherlock tells Watson;
“… our wooden-legged friend, though a fair climber, was not a professional
sailor. His hands were far from horny. My lens discloses more than one blood
mark, especially towards the end of the rope, from which I gather that he
slipped down with such velocity that he took the skin off his hand.” (Doyle 51)
He shows signs of a true detective. A private detective like Holmes is approached, instead
of regular police agencies, to keep the case out of the limelight. Holmes, you will see,
is more discreet and keeps the client out of the public eye as far as possible. He does
not use the regular means of communication to find out information and instead relies on
Baker Street irregulars who are just regular people. This is because he does not want the
antagonists to know that he is already aware of their identities and their movements. He
is adept at digging out information too; in the scene where he is asking Mordecai Smith’s
wife about him and his launch Aurora, he manipulates her into disclosing the truth. He
deliberately blurts out the wrong information so that Smith’s wife would speak the truth
and he is successful in doing so.

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But all of these qualities that Sherlock is endowed with come at the cost of remain-
ing detached from human emotions. He retains his intelligence, deductive abilities, logic,
and sharp memory because he does not preoccupy himself with emotional matters. When
Dr. Watson talks to him about Miss Mary Morstan’s beauty, he informs him that she is
nothing more than a client to him. He comments that “A client is to me a mere unit, - a
factor in a problem. The emotional qualities are antagonistic to clear reasoning” (Doyle
22). To which, Watson calls him a “calculating-machine!... There is something positively
inhuman in you at times.” (Doyle 22) He is unconventional, called inhuman, and has
no friends to rely on, yet Sherlock remains preoccupied and is most happy when he is
working on a case.

Dr. Watson
It is Dr. Watson, who is also the narrator, whom we are introduced to in Doyle’s first novel
A Study in Scarlet, even before Sherlock Holmes. A Study in Scarlet begins with Watson’s
narration of his life; his misfortunes and the injuries that he suffered during the second
Afghan war, which made him unfit to serve in the army as an assistant surgeon. He narrates;
… a medical board determined that not a day should be lost in sending me
back to England … I had neither kith nor kin in England, and was there-
fore as free as air … I naturally gravitated to London, that great cesspool
into which all the loungers and idlers of the empire are irresistibly drained.
(Doyle 6, A Study in Scarlet)
With very little financial resources to depend on, Watson could no longer stay in a private
hotel in London and started looking for alternative accommodations. This is when he was
introduced to Sherlock Holmes by a friend called Stamford and both of them start sharing
the flat at 221b Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes appreciates Dr Watson’s common sense and
affable nature and asks him to accompany him on his investigations. He keeps a record
of all of Sherlock Holmes’ cases and it is through Dr. Watson’s perspective that we read
about his detective skills. He is the first-person narrator and it is through his eyes that
we see the other characters.
At the beginning of The Sign of the Four when Sherlock is seen taking cocaine to do
away with his boredom, Dr. Watson is very much concerned about him and vehemently
protests it and informs him about the ill effects of consuming drugs. Dr. Watson’s intel-
ligence is of a different kind and he serves as an excellent foil for Sherlock Holmes. He
admires Holmes and does not hide his admiration for his abilities. His experience as a
surgeon during the war makes Sherlock take his help in solving the cases. Dr. Watson is
capable of seeing things through, and on many occasions turns resourceful for Sherlock.

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Dr. Watson may not be as active and sharp as Holmes but remains a constant com-
panion of Holmes. There are times when he is surprised to hear from Holmes that the
case is coming to a close only when he feels it is getting more mysterious. We understand
that he does not see the with the same clarity as Sherlock does, yet his suggestions are
indispensable for Holmes. Watson’s medical knowledge is also useful to Holmes: while
examining Bartholomew’s body, he says that his death was caused by “some strychnine-like
substance which would produce tetanus” (Doyle 53).
Dr. Watson is the ideal Victorian gentleman; polite and chivalrous, and stands in
contrast to his companion Holmes, who can be rude and conceited. Dr. Watson is intel-
ligent but emotional, unlike Holmes who does not rely on emotions lest they divert him
from reason. However, despite their different personalities, Watson stays with Holmes and
becomes his true confidante.
In The Sign of the Four, we see Dr. Watson professing his love for Miss Mary Morstan,
whom he finds attractive as soon as he sees her, even when Sherlock sees nothing sig-
nificant about her. He is seen cheering up Miss Morstan by sharing anecdotes about his
adventures in Afghanistan and feels sorry for the loss of her father. Throughout the novel,
Dr Watson is concerned for the well-being of Miss Morstan and to find the treasure for
her, on which, he believes, she had every right.
On hearing about the Agra treasure from Thaddeus and the share Miss Morstan would
get from it, Sherlock and Watson were shocked but more than that, Watson felt a little
disappointed. Watson was aware of the consequences if the treasure was found; he knew
that Miss Morstan’s treasure would create a huge difference in status between him and
her yet, he wanted to help Miss Morstan to secure it; “Surely it was the place of a loyal
friend to rejoice at such news; yet I am ashamed to say that selfishness took me by the
soul, and that my heart turned as heavy as lead within me” (Doyle 39).
He does not want to be selfish about his love for Miss Morstan, even at the cost of
putting her out of his reach. At times, he wants to confess his feelings to Miss Morstan but
stops himself so as not to bother her during her difficult times. He expresses his anxiety;
If Holmes’s researches were successful, she would be an heiress. Was it fair,
was it honourable, that a half-pay surgeon should take such advantage of an
intimacy which chance had brought about? Might she not look upon me as
a mere vulgar fortune-seeker? I could not bear to risk that such a thought
should cross her mind. This Agra treasure intervened like an impassable
barrier between us. (Doyle 59)

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At the end of the novel, when Watson delivers the treasure chest to Miss Morstan and it
turns out to be empty, neither Miss Morstan nor Dr. Watson are unhappy. Dr. Watson pro-
fesses his love for her as he now feels comfortable doing so, since the barrier between them
posed by the treasure is removed. Miss Mary Morstan happily accepts Watson’s proposal.

Miss Mary Morstan

Miss Mary Morstan is the orphan daughter of Captain Morstan. Her father had gone missing
on the day he had called her to meet him at his hotel in London. Miss Morstan reaches
the hotel but is unable to meet her father. She brings the case of her missing father to
Sherlock Holmes. He helps her discover the secret about her share in the Agra treasure
from Thaddeus Sholto. She falls in love with Dr. Watson and later marries him. She is
described as a young blonde lady; sweet and amiable, currently employed as a governess
at Mrs. Cecil Forrester’s place. Her presence at Bartholomew’s residence brings some
relief to the terrified housekeeper who had just seen her master in such a state before.
The old woman finds solace in Miss Morstan’s presence and tells her- “God bless your
sweet calm face! ... It does me good to see you. Oh, but I have been sorely tried this
day.” (Doyle 45). The Agra treasure, if it had been found intact, would have turned her
into a rich lady. She possesses a calm demeanour and remains unaffected even when she
finds the treasure missing.

Major John Sholto

Major John Sholto is the father of Thaddeus Sholto and Bartholomew Sholto. He had
amassed great wealth when he was in India through the Agra treasure he had recovered
from the convicts. He was supposed to take a share of the treasure, along with his friend
Captain Morstan, but he cheated the four convicts and his friend. On his death bed, he
confesses to bearing the guilt of not giving the due share of the treasure to his friend’s
daughter Miss Mary Morstan. It is his greed and fear for his life which always bothers him.

Captain Morstan
Captain Morstan is the father of Miss Mary Morstan. He was posted in the Andamans,
along with Major Sholto, whom he considered one of his closest friends there. Captain
Morstan was a part of the deal that the four convicts had made with him and his friend.
But he was cheated by his friend Sholto and deprived of his share of the Agra treasure.
He loved his daughter and had sent her to a boarding school at an early age. With his
history of a weak heart, he collapses to death when he and Major Sholto have a heated
argument over the division of the Agra treasure.

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Thaddeus Sholto
Thaddeus Sholto is one of the sons of Major Sholto. He is kind and generous in comparison
to his father and brother Bartholomew, as he decides to give Miss Morstan her due share
of the treasure. He decides to put up a front against his brother in claiming the treasure
for Miss Morstan. He stands up for what is right and he leads a very quiet and contented
life. He is happy with the wealth he already has and he thinks it would be an injustice
to let a young woman be deprived of her rights and live in destitution. Thaddeus is a
hypochondriac and thinks that he is unwell all the time; he requests a check-up as soon
as he learns that Watson is a doctor. He is not materialistic and likes to live a peaceful
life, appreciating art. His home is full of expensiv and original art.
Thaddeus is unlike his father and brother and, after his father’s death, he sends Miss
Morstan some extremely precious pearls. When he learns that his brother Bartholomew
has discovered the treasure, he immediately establishes contact with her and takes her
along with him to demand a share in the Agra treasure.

Bartholomew Sholto
Bartholomew Sholto is the twin brother of Thaddeus Sholto. He was Major Sholto’s favou-
rite son and is as greedy as his father. He has a disagreement with his brother for helping
Miss Morstan and detests the idea of writing to her. Major Sholto died before disclosing
the location of the Agra treasure but Bartholomew recovers it after much difficulty. Soon
after this, he is killed by Tonga, the associate of Jonathan Small when both of them come
to Pondicherry Lodge, after learning that the treasure has been found.

Athelney Jones
Athelney Jones is the police officer of Scotland Yard. His method of investigation is
different from those of Holmes which is because of the way he has been trained. He
confirms order and structure. At the beginning of the novel, we find him conceited and
he dismisses Holmes’s presence at Bartholomew’s residence. A quick conclusion that he
made makes him arrest Thaddeus Sholto and Bartholomew’s gatekeeper.

Jonathan Small
Jonathan Small is the wooden-legged man who is the main antagonist of the story. He
was in the British army and was posted in India. He seems to be a very unlucky man
who lost his leg in the Ganges to a crocodile attack. It was during his posting at the Agra
fort in India during the Indian mutiny that he met Abdullah Khan, Mahomet Singh and
Dost Akbar. Small along with these three others planned to kill Achmet and take away

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the treasure which he was bringing to the Agra fort for protection. Readers are informed
about Jonathan Small through the other characters even before his appearance in the book.
It was he who was at the window when Major Sholto was on his death bed. His enmity
was with Major Sholto and not his son Bartholomew because he felt that Major Sholto
deprived him and his partners of what rightfully belonged to them. He expresses his anger
with Tonga when he learns that Bartholomew has been killed. It was not his intention to
kill Bartholomew as he had no grudges against him. He is one of the members of “The
Sign of the Four” and he is depicted as loyal to the group as he always acts on behalf of
the four. Although he committed a crime to get the treasure, he believes he has a right to it.

Tonga
Tonga is Jonathan Small’s loyal companion, completely devoted to serving him. Tonga
never leaves his side ever since Small nursed him back to health. He helps Jonathan Small
in breaking into Bartholomew’s residence and he is the one who kills Bartholomew. He is
described as a savage islander and a black cannibal. And in the novel, he is described in
the most despicable manner suggesting the prejudices the British society harboured against
the natives. When Watson first sees a glimpse of Tonga, he says he saw “a dark mass
which looked like a Newfoundland dog” (Doyle 99). During the pursuit of the Aurora
in the river, the first description of Tonga according to Dr. Watson is full of prejudice.
Modern readers will find the narrator’s descriptions of Tonga disturbing. He is de-
picted as the image of evil and a pre-civilized being.

5. The Agra Treasure

It is important to think about the place of the Agra treasure in the novel. Remember Jon-
athan Small’s description of the treasure – full of diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and other
precious stones. The treasure chest is itself a work of art. However, it brings nothing but
misery to everyone. The rajah’s servant, Achmet is killed by Small, Dost Akbar, and the
two security guards, when he brings it to Agra. All the four men who killed him end up
in the jails of the Andaman Islands. Major Sholto, out of his greed, takes it with him to
London but can never bring himself to enjoy the treasure. He dies a guilty man and his
son, Major Morstan is accidentally killed when he lands up in London to claim his share
of the treasure from his friend. Bartholomew Sholto is killed during Small’s attempt to
reclaim what, he believes, is rightfully his. Eventually, the contents of the treasure 8chest
are thrown into the river Thames, when Jonathan Small realizes that he is about to be
arrested.

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The question of the true owner of the treasure is never raised and even Dr Watson
believes that Miss Morstan is a rightful heir.

Long Answer Questions

1. How does the figure of Sherlock Holmes represent the reason and logic that the
Empire stand for? Discuss.
2. Elaborately explain Dr. Watson’s character as a foil to Sherlock Holmes.
3. Comment on the colonial prejudices present in The Sign of the Four.
4. The mystery of the Agra treasure comments on human greed and desire. Comment
using suitable examples from the text.
5. What opinion do you form of women characters in Doyle’s The Sign of the Four.
6. Discuss the novel with respect to its title.

Suggested Readings
‹ ‹Doyle, Arthur Conan. The Sign of the Four. Insight Public: Kozhikode, 2021. Print.
‹ ‹A Study in Scarlet. Palmyra: St. Petersburg, 2017. Print.
‹ ‹Hardwick, Michael and Mollie. Sherlock Holmes’ Investigations. John Murray:
London,1963. Print.
‹ ‹Keep, Christopher and Don Randall. “Addiction, Empire, and Narrative in Arthur
Conan Doyle’s The Sign of the Four.” Duke University Press. Vol. 32, No. 2 (Spring,
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