Chapter 11

Test yourself

Chapter 11: The Great Agra Treasure

After arresting Jonathan Small, the group board a carriage and make their way back towards Baker Street.

Small's fury at Tonga

Holmes begins to talk to Small, who describes how Tonga (the accomplice) was the one who murdered Bartholomew Sholto.
He says he was furious at Tonga for this – but he does not seem to consider his own murder of Achmet to be a crime.

Redemption for Small

Here, Small is given the chance to explain the reasoning behind all of his crimes.
Holmes wants to prove that Jonathan Small did not murder Bartholomew – although Small murdered another man and stole the treasure, Holmes only wants Small to pay for the crimes he actually committed.
- Significantly, Tonga was not given the opportunity to do the same. Tonga was shot and killed without having a chance to discuss his crimes – this shows the unequal nature of Victorian justice.

Watson delivers Mary's treasure

On the way, they stop at Mary Morstan’s house and Watson goes inside to talk to her. Watson takes the Agra treasure with him.
As Mary sees Watson, she looks pleased – a sign that she returns his romantic feelings.
But Mary does not seem excited by the prospect of the treasure – she speaks ‘coolly’ about it and suggests that she owes it to Holmes and Watson.

Watson declares his feelings

Watson tells Mary about their evening. When they realise the Agra treasure is gone, Watson cannot help but show his joy at the news: ‘Thank God!’
Watson then feels able to declare his feelings for Mary, telling her he loves her.
Mary reciprocates his feelings and Watson states that he has gained something valuable from the whole experience: ‘Whoever had lost a treasure, I knew that night that I had gained one’.

Key Quotations from Chapter 11

Here are two key quotations from Chapter 11:

Mary's vulnerability

Mary Morstan ‘turned so white that I feared that she was about to faint’.
- Mary is so shocked about Holmes and Watson potentially being fatally wounded that her face loses all colour.
- This could be because she has feelings for Watson or because she feels guilty for putting both men in such a dangerous situation.
- This quotation also shows Mary’s vulnerability, especially as we were previously told that she has few friends and no family. Losing Watson would have been even more devastating for her.

Watson's emotional side

‘Whoever had lost a treasure, I knew that night that I had gained one’ (Dr Watson).
- The romantic sub-plot concludes with Watson suggesting a possessive connection to Mary.
- By using the noun ‘treasure’, Watson suggests that Mary is beautiful, unique and valuable to him – he is unconcerned about real treasure or wealth; he just wants to have Mary to love.
- This would make readers like Watson even more, as he shows a great desire for love as well as a strong, protective nature.

1Context

1.1Victorian England & British Empire

1.1.1Author Background

1.1.2Victorian Crime & Police

1.1.3Historical Context

1.1.4Victorian London

1.1.5Women

1.1.6The British Empire

1.1.7End of Topic Test - Author & Victorian Police

1.1.8End of Topic Test - Victorian London & Empire

2Plot Summary

2.1Chapter Summaries

2.1.1Chapter 1

2.1.2Chapter 2

2.1.3Chapter 3

2.1.4Chapter 4

2.1.5Chapter 5

2.1.6Chapter 6

2.1.7Chapter 7

2.1.8Chapter 8

2.1.9Chapter 9

2.1.10Chapter 10

2.1.11Chapter 11

2.1.12Chapter 12

2.1.13Chapter 12: Jonathan Small's Stories

2.1.14End of Topic Test - Chapters 1-6

2.1.15End of Topic Test - Chapters 7-12

3Characters

3.1Key Characters

3.1.1Sherlock Holmes

3.1.2Sherlock Holmes: Quotations

3.1.3Dr John Watson

3.1.4Mary Morstan

3.1.5End of Topic Test - Key Characters

3.1.6Exam-Style Questions - Mary & Dr Watson

3.2Other Characters

3.2.1Thaddeus Sholto

3.2.2Jonathan Small

3.2.3End of Topic Test - Thaddeus and Jonathan Small

3.3Grade 9 - Key Characters

3.3.1Grade 9 - Key Characters

3.3.2Extract Analysis - Tonga

4Key Themes

4.1Key Themes

4.1.1Corruption

4.1.2Criminals & Victims

4.1.3Victorian Fear

4.1.4British Empire & Imperialism

4.1.5Duality

4.1.6End of Topic Test - Key Themes

5Writing Techniques

5.1Writing Techniques

5.1.1Narrative Voice

5.1.2Dialogue

5.1.3Structure

5.1.4Structure & Characters

5.1.5Pathetic Fallacy

5.1.6End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques

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