4.4 The Sign of Four- Novel
Writer: Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle:
Arthur Conan Doyle was a British writer and physician.
He created the character Sherlock Holmes. He created the character Sherlock
Holmes in 1887 for ‘A Study in Scarlet’. Four novels and fifty-six short
stories include Holmes and Dr. Watson. The Sherlock Holmes stories are
considered milestones in the field of crime fiction. The Sherlock Holmes
stories are generally considered milestones in the field of crime fiction.
Doyle was a prolific writer. Other
than Holmes stories, his works include fantasy and science fiction stories as
well as plays, poetry, non-fiction and historical novels.
The Novel: The Sign of Four:
‘The Sign of Four’ is the second novel of Arthur Conan
Doyle in which Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson solve the mystery of the hidden
treasure and murder. This story has references of Indian places. In the text book
the story begins from Chapter II. Here the suspense of the invitation and the
journey to find out the reality are given.
Characters:
Sherlock Holmes: He is the story’s protagonist. He is the famous
detective. He has a supreme or almost superhuman intelligence that allows him
to solve the difficult cases.
Mary Morstan: A young woman who needs Holmes’ help. Miss Morstan
comes to Sherlock Holmes to see if he can help her find out what happened to
her father, Captain Morstan, who disappeared a few years previously.
Thaddeus Sholto: Thaddeus Sholto is one of Major Sholto’s sons. He is brother
of Bartholomew Sholto. He is an unusual character. Thaddeus is the one who
decides to contact Miss Morstan and asks her to meet him.
Toby: Trained Dog
Dr.John Watson: He is the narrator of the story and Sherlock Holmes’
loyal assistant. He is a doctor by profession.
Major Sholto: Guard of Andaman, criminal
Tonga: He is a native of the Andaman Islands who was helped by Jonathan Small
when suffering from ill health. So, he is loyal to Small. (Criminal)
Jonathan Small: He is the wooden-legged man who seeks revenge on
Major Sholto for the theft of the Agra treasure. He is one of “the four”
original men who acquired the treasure. A wooden legged man, criminal
Captain Morstan: Captain Morstan was an officer in the British army
who served in India. He is Mary Morstan’s father, and his unexplained
disappearance is the catalyst for the novella’s plot. He was a friend of Major Sholto.
Major Sholto: He is the father of Bartholomew and Thaddeus Sholto. He was a friend of
Captain Morstan, with whom he served in India.
Abdullah Khan: He is an Indian man and one of the signatories of
“the sign of the four” and the man who told Jonathan Small about the Agra treasure.
Dost Akbar: He is an Indian man and one of the signatories of “the sign of the
four.” He lures the merchant—the man who is carrying the Agra treasure—into the
trap set by the other men.
Mahomet Singh: He is an Indian man and one of the signatories of
“the sign of the four.” He colluded with Jonathan Small, Abdullah Khan and Dost
Akbar to seize the Agra treasure.
Essence of Sign of the Four:
It has a complex plot involving service in India, the
Indian Rebellion of 1857, a stolen Agra treasure, and a secret pact among four
convicts ("the Four" of the title) and two corrupt prison guards. It
also introduces Dr. Watson's future wife, Mary Morstan.
Theme of the extract:
The theme of the novel revolves around the Agra treasure. Throughout the story, the appearance of the treasure leads to a direct and often tragic change in the lives of the characters. Because of this, it is important that the removal of the treasure would cause the characters to return to their previous position. The shallowness of wealth and the destruction that can come through it is also seen prevailing throughout the novel. As the Agra treasure directly and adversely affects almost everyone. In the course of the story, the Sheik’s emissary and Bartholomew are both murdered for the treasure, Tonga is killed while fleeing with it, and Small is sentenced to life imprisonment. Additionally, both Thaddeus and his father spent their lives constantly in fear about wooden legged men, and about strangers in general.
See Marathi Translation of 4.4 The Sign of Four
Created By:
Prof. Deepak Dahake
Click on the following slide presentation. You can use full screen and read the Marathi Translation.
Slide Presentation: The Sign of Four
Prof. Vijay K.Gaikwad
Ramabai Ambedkar College of Arts,
Saolio Dist. Chandrapur
