3.1.3
Dr John Watson
Dr John Watson
Dr John Watson
Dr Watson is the narrator of The Sign of the Four, and so the reader experiences the whole story through his eyes.
Less intelligent than Holmes
Less intelligent than Holmes
- Dr Watson, although intelligent, is not as clever as Holmes – this means that he can be used to express a lack of understanding, as someone who needs things explaining to him.
- This makes him a great tool for narration. Very intelligent Holmes needs to explain complicated ideas and conclusions to Dr Watson (and to the reader as well).
- Watson also seems to be comfortable in admitting that he is not as intelligent as Holmes – instead, he admires Holmes and the way in which his brain works.
Loyal and caring
Loyal and caring
- Watson is loyal and caring. At the start, we see him express to Holmes his worry about the drugs Holmes takes. He knows that Holmes will not listen to this advice, but he feels the need to do it to try and protect his friend.
- He greatly admires Holmes and seems to enjoy watching him work – in fact, he tells Holmes that he wrote a published piece about their previous investigation, in which he detailed the amazing way in which Holmes’ brain works.
Feelings for Mary Morstan
Feelings for Mary Morstan
- Watson begins to develop strong feelings for Mary Morstan.
- Upon meeting Mary, he is struck by her beauty and continues to think about her and show his growing feelings.
- Before Watson can declare his feelings, he learns that she is set to inherit a huge sum of money (from the Agra treasure), which will make her the wealthiest heiress in England.
- He finds this devastating – he does not want her to think he only wants her for her money, so he decides that he cannot tell her how he feels.
Class divisions: Mary and Watson
Class divisions: Mary and Watson
- As part of the middle class, it would also be socially unacceptable for Watson to attempt a match with Mary, as she is part of the upper classes and is also set to become incredibly rich.
- Watson is aware of their social inequality, which makes it more difficult for them to be together.
- At the end of the story, Watson is quite relieved when the Agra treasure is lost as he can declare his love for Mary at last.
Highlights need for stilmulation
Highlights need for stilmulation
- In Chapter 12, it is Watson who asks Holmes what he gets as his reward – Watson has Mary, Inspector Jones gets credit for the case, what does Holmes get?
- Watson’s questioning highlights Holmes’ constant need for mental stimulation – he does not seem to care that he gets nothing concrete out of the case; instead, he is happy to just exercise his brain power.
Highlights cyclical structure
Highlights cyclical structure
- Watson is also the one who notes Holmes’ cyclical structure – at the end of the novella, Watson notes that Holmes goes back to using drugs to stimulate his brain once more.
Key Quotations for Dr John Watson
Key Quotations for Dr John Watson
Here are four key quotations for Watson:
Worries about Holmes
Worries about Holmes
- ‘Count the cost!’ (Chapter 1).
- Although Watson initially says that he lacked the courage to protest to Holmes about his drug use, he cannot hold in his protests for long.
- He begs Holmes to think about the possible consequences of his actions – his use of an exclamation mark shows that he feels desperate to warn Holmes about the threat to his health. He counts Holmes as a friend and shows that he cares about him a lot.
Not good enough for Mary
Not good enough for Mary
- ‘What was I, an army surgeon with a weak leg and a weaker banking account, that I should dare to think about such things?’ (Chapter 2)
- Watson shows himself to be a very romantic character – he longs to be with Mary but does not feel that he is good enough for her.
- In Victorian society, wealth and status were key. In Watson’s eyes, his weak bank account means that he cannot offer Mary the luxurious and comfortable lifestyle he feels that she deserves.
Confusion about the case
Confusion about the case
- ‘A dense drizzly fog lay low upon the great city… I lost my bearings and knew nothing’ (Chapter 3).
- Watson notes the differences between Holmes and himself throughout the novella.
- Here, the pathetic fallacy shows that Watson feels lost (in terms of their literal location and the case itself). He notes that he knows ‘nothing’, but does not seem to be worried about this – instead, he trusts that Holmes can guide him to the correct location and to the correct conclusions about the case.
Admiration for Holmes
Admiration for Holmes
- ‘I marvel at the means by which you obtain your results’ (Chapter 7).
- Watson repeatedly shows his admiration for Sherlock Holmes.
- By using the verb ‘marvel’, he suggests that Holmes’ abilities are something to admire and be amazed at.
- He openly admits his admiration of Holmes, suggesting that he does not feel threatened at Holmes’ skills. Instead, he seems to enjoy watching Holmes and witnessing what he can do.
1Context
2Plot Summary
2.1Chapter Summaries
3Characters
3.1Key Characters
3.2Other Characters
3.3Grade 9 - Key Characters
4Key Themes
5Writing Techniques
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1Context
2Plot Summary
2.1Chapter Summaries
3Characters
3.1Key Characters
3.2Other Characters
3.3Grade 9 - Key Characters
4Key Themes
5Writing Techniques
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