Criminals & Victims

Criminals in The Sign of the Four

The characters in the story appear to be separated into criminals and victims (with some crossing into both categories).

Tonga

Tonga is a criminal in the story – he is described as an evil, vicious, savage character who ruthlessly murders Bartholomew so he and Jonathan Small can retrieve the treasure.
- Could we also argue that Tonga is also a victim of the greedy British Empire?

Jonathan Small

Jonathan Small is a criminal who also views himself as a victim.
Although he has chased treasure that he originally stole from someone else, and has caused three people to be murdered, he feels that he has suffered enough in his quest for the treasure and feels that he should be able to enjoy it now.
Instead, he is sentenced to life in prison (‘Where is the justice that I should give it up to those who have never earned it? Look how I have earned it!’)

Victims in The Sign of the Four

The characters in the story appear to be separated into criminals and victims (with some crossing into both categories).

Mary Morstan

Mary Morstan is a victim – she loses her father and then her fair share of the treasure.

Dr Watson

Dr Watson is a victim of his own lack of self-confidence, and of the potential consequences of the Agra treasure, when he feels that he is 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 of such things?’).

Sholto sons

Bartholomew and Thaddeus Sholto are victims of their father’s greed – they live their lives in fear before Bartholomew is murdered because of the treasure.

Major Sholto

Major Sholto is both a criminal and a victim – he hid Captain Morstan’s death from Mary Morstan and then hid any knowledge of the treasure from Mary.
But he spends his life completely terrified about anyone finding out about the treasure.
Although we can consider him partly a victim, he is a victim of his own greed.

Criminals and Victims: Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes is neither a criminal nor a victim – we can link this back to him being ‘inhuman’ and a ‘machine’.

Part of justice

Sherlock is immune to these ideas – instead, he plays the part of justice itself.

Acts as justice

It is Holmes (almost alone) who uncovers the evidence, examines it closely, and accurately uncovers the lead criminal (Small) and his motives.
It is also Holmes (not Inspector Jones of the London police force) who brings Jonathan Small to justice and ends the fear and suffering of the other characters, especially Mary Morstan.

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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