The little man obeyed in a half-stupefied fashion, and we heard him stumbling down the stairs in the dark.
The typical “Who done it?” is not present in the “Sign of four” adding mystery around the crime. The reader finds out who committed the crime half way through the novel, differing from the normal rounding up of suspects in to one room and explaining the motive, chain of events and finally the guilty party.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle differs from the norm with a very relaxed detective,
Sherlock Holmes and I blankly looked at each other and then burst simultaneously into an uncontrollably fit of laughter.
When they do find the right trail, they find that the criminals are intelligent.
“We are out of luck,” said Holmes. “They have taken a boat here.”
Suspense is increased at this point, as the women knew that a man with a wooden leg came and hired a boat late at night.
“I don’t like that wooden legged man,”
In the first chapter the author establishes a social hierarchy; this differs from the social hierarchy of today. In the 19th Century the rich gentleman (non-working) were considered higher in status and intelligence than doctors or teachers which today would be considered higher in society than the gentleman. This attitude is reflected in Sherlock Holmes. He is a “gentleman” that is egotistical, misogynist and vain, yet he is always right. His knowledge is referred to at the start of the book when he is casually taking drugs. Again differing from the typical detective novel as usually you would not associate the hero, with being a drug taker showing differences in 19th century society to nowadays.
He smiled at my vehemence. “Perhaps you are right, Watson,”
As u can see Holmes is condescending Watson in the previous quote, showing the difference in society, as we would probably listen to a doctor if he told us something was bad. His intelligence shows again when he produces a likely (correct) storyline.
The most obvious difference in society from the 19th century is that the language has changed, sentences are said in different orders and words have “evolved” (e.g. from thus to that).
Watson is put in the Sherlock Holmes mysteries so the reader can relate to someone in the book. The reader relates to Watson because he finds out clues or puzzles the same time we do, he also finds out what Holmes is thinking when we do because Doyle chose to have a narrator involved in the story. This allows us to relate well. Watson is a very clever person making the reader relate even better as many people would not think of themselves as stupid. Watson has a personality which is a very calm, respectful, caring and modest. He never questions Holmes but is always mindful of what he is doing and obviously shows great respect for him:
“He did not seem offended. On the contrary, he put his fingers together, leaned forward on his chair like one who relishes conversation.”
Miss Morstan is the typical 19th Century Woman. Very frail, “angelic” woman needed to be protected by a strong man (Watson). Nowadays we would not see women as “frail” or “angelic” they are presumed competent to look after them selves. Doyle having lived in the 19th Century does not hold that opinion of women although unusually places a women at the center of the story. She, having lived in a boarding school since she was seventeen sees Watson as a “Father” figure and her feelings towards him grow stronger, and they eventually marry at the end of the book.
The other characters of this story include Thaddeus Sholto, Athenly Jones and Jonathon Small.
Thaddeus Sholto is a bizarre looking, bald man. He is often nervous as he has bodyguards who surprisingly are Indian. When he is first introduced in to the story he is wearing Indian clothing and smokes from a “Hookah,” his house is decorated in a typically Indian manner, he is a stereotypical hypochondriac and trusts no-one. Many 19th Century people thought that it was the best gift to be English, and people who chose to be or act a different way were considered to be mad. We nowadays would not think of foreigners as crazy unless we had met them, and got to know them well, this is associated with physiognomy, as people in the 19th Century firmly believed that they could tell if someone was bad by their facial features. He also has a great sense of moral value and respect.
Athenly Jones is normally one of the people who deals with the more trivial cases in the world and only crosses paths with Holmes when he is perplexed.
"When Gregson, Lestrade or Jones are out of their depths, the matter is laid before me." When they first encounter each other Jones has a hint of envy in his voice.
"You lectured us on the Bishopgate Jewell case."
He is obviously a man who does not like to be bettered and does not appear to have the same amount of respect and awe around Sherlock Holmes.
We are told that Jonathon Small is,
“A poorly educated man, small, active, with his right leg off, and he wears a wooden stump." And "He is middle aged, sunburnt, and an ex-convict."
This quote in the 19th Century due to there attitudes on Physiognomy would make the readers think that he was a man to be wary of, and not trust. In the book Small is represented in a resentful, unkind manner; and is portrayed as a man who has led a hard and tiring life only wanting justification for his life, receiving what is rightfully his.
Going back to the Physiognomy theory a controversial book was published in 1869 called "The Origin of the Species." It followed the widely accepted theory of physiognomy. It made people believe that black people or "savages" were less evolutionally developed than they were. So Smalls' accomplice from the Andaman Islands was viewed as a "savage" as well as being part of the smallest (height-wise) race on the earth. Being that they were "fierce, morose intractable people, with distorted features." However this view was wrong and when you became loyal friends, they were loyal back.
In the 19th Century many children did not attend school, either through poverty or they’re parents did not want them to go. They were left wandering the streets earning cheap money by doing errands. Sherlock Holmes refers to them as, “His dirty little Lieutenants.” He refers to them when he and Watson are hot on the trail of the Small and his accomplish.
I enjoyed this book as it differs greatly from the normal detective novels creating suspense, mystery and anxiety. The way Sir Arthur Conan Doyle structured this book was very well done and deserves great praise, it kept me interested all the way through and surprised me one or two times as well. This after all did not conform to my original preconceptions of the book.
