Duality

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Duality in The Sign of the Four

Duality is when characters have two sides to them – this is often good versus evil.

Sherlock Holmes

We see the two sides of Holmes very clearly.
- In Chapter 1 we see Holmes’ dependence on drugs. Later in the novella, we see Holmes being dependent on the investigation to stimulate his brain (‘I crave for mental exaltation’).
- In Chapter 7, Watson considers how terrible it would be if Holmes were to use his powers for crime rather than detective work.
- In Chapter 12, Holmes quotes a German text that laments that he is only one man when he could have been two: a good man and a rascal.

Holmes and Watson

Holmes and Watson could also be said to represent two sides of humanity themselves.
- Holmes represents clear, scientific, unbiased reasoning and intellect.
- Watson is more romantic and wants to develop good, personal relationships.

Thaddeus and Bartholomew

The Sholto twins could be viewed as a good twin and an evil twin.
- Thaddeus (the good twin) wants Mary to receive her fair share of the treasure and wants to tell her about her father’s fate. He ultimately gets to live his life freely at the end (‘I can do you justice; and I will, too, whatever Brother Bartholomew may say’).
- Bartholomew does not want to reveal anything to Mary or give her any treasure. He is greedy and wants to keep it for himself. Bartholomew is murdered.

Victorian interest

In Victorian times there was interest in the idea of split personalities, for example in the ‘Strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ by Robert Louis Stevenson and ‘The picture of Dorian Gray’ by Oscar Wilde.

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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