4.1.2

Criminals & Victims

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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

  • 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

  • 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

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

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

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

  • 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

Part of justice

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

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.
Jump to other topics
1

Context

1.1

Victorian England & British Empire

1.1.1Author Background1.1.2Victorian Crime & Police1.1.3Historical Context1.1.4Victorian London1.1.5Women1.1.6The British Empire1.1.7End of Topic Test - Author & Victorian Police1.1.8End of Topic Test - Victorian London & Empire
2

Plot Summary

2.1

Chapter Summaries

2.1.1Chapter 12.1.2Chapter 22.1.3Chapter 32.1.4Chapter 42.1.5Chapter 52.1.6Chapter 62.1.7Chapter 72.1.8Chapter 82.1.9Chapter 92.1.10Chapter 102.1.11Chapter 112.1.12Chapter 122.1.13Chapter 12: Jonathan Small's Stories2.1.14End of Topic Test - Chapters 1-62.1.15End of Topic Test - Chapters 7-12
3

Characters

3.1

Key Characters

3.1.1Sherlock Holmes3.1.2Sherlock Holmes: Quotations3.1.3Dr John Watson3.1.4Mary Morstan3.1.5End of Topic Test - Key Characters3.1.6Exam-Style Questions - Mary & Dr Watson
3.2

Other Characters

3.2.1Thaddeus Sholto3.2.2Jonathan Small3.2.3End of Topic Test - Thaddeus and Jonathan Small
3.3

Grade 9 - Key Characters

3.3.1Grade 9 - Key Characters3.3.2Extract Analysis - Tonga
4

Key Themes

4.1

Key Themes

4.1.1Corruption4.1.2Criminals & Victims4.1.3Victorian Fear4.1.4British Empire & Imperialism4.1.5Duality4.1.6End of Topic Test - Key Themes
5

Writing Techniques

5.1

Writing Techniques

5.1.1Narrative Voice5.1.2Dialogue5.1.3Structure5.1.4Structure & Characters5.1.5Pathetic Fallacy5.1.6End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques
6

Recap: Main Quotes

6.1

Characters Quotes

6.1.1Sherlock Holmes - Quotations6.1.2Dr John Watson - Quotations6.1.3Mary Morstan - Quotations6.1.4Thaddeus Sholto - Quotations6.1.5Jonathan Small - Quotations
6.2

Text Structure - Quotes

6.2.1Chapter 1 - Quotations6.2.2Chapter 2 - Quotations6.2.3Chapter 3 - Quotations6.2.4Chapter 4 - Quotations6.2.5Chapter 5 - Quotations6.2.6Chapter 6 - Quotations6.2.7Chapter 7 - Quotations6.2.8Chapter 8 - Quotations6.2.9Chapter 9 - Quotations6.2.10Chapter 10 - Quotations6.2.11Chapter 11 - Quotations6.2.12Chapter 12 - Quotations

Practice questions on Criminals & Victims

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Who murders Bartholomew Sholto?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    What does Mary Morstan lose in _The Sign of the Four_?Fill in the list
  3. 3
    How is Major Sholto both a criminal and victim?True / false
  4. 4
    What does Major Sholto hide from Mary Morstan while he is alive?Fill in the list
  5. 5
    Which character or characters bring Jonathan Small to justice?Multiple choice
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Corruption

Victorian Fear