Sign of Four Context Flashcards
What are the 8 key contexts related to the Sign of Four.
Crime/Policing, Detective Form, Attitudes to Women, British-India War/British Empire, Social Classes, Drugs, Poverty, Technology
Explain the Crimes Context.
Public Hangings were frequent and people feared crime.
At this point an infamous murderer, Jack the Ripper, was loose on the streets attacking prostitutes. Police could not catch him and their methods were inefficient. Number of officers were exposed to be corrupt and Victorians had deep resentment against police in London as they were not protecting London; “There is nothing more unaesthetic than a policeman”
Explain Policing Context.
Policing established in England in early 19th century. Constables tended to be unskilled working-class men, though there was a basic requirement for them to be a literate and clear of any criminal charges. To a certain extent, Sherlock Holmes appalled to a sense of superiority amongst the upper social classes of Victorian Britain. They believed that the police were of inferior intellectual capabilities and this stereotype is seen in Athelney Jones. Holmes’ ability to solve the mystery, where Jones would amuse the contemporary audience.. “‘Confirms it in every respect,’ said the fat detective pompously.”
What are the conventions of a Detective Novel?
A rational and intelligent detective, who normally has a vice (weakness as he would be usually less intelligent).
Women in the novel to be portrayed as damsel in distress.
Starts with a wrongly accused suspect due to incompetent police.
A mystery- something involving murder.
Clues to a solution which the reader can enjoy as a puzzle.
Red Herrings- clues turn out to be false.
Build up of tension.
A sub-plot like love.
A satisfactory resolution in which the mystery is solved.
Explain the Victorian Attitudes towards Women.
Most Victorian women lived in a state little better than slavery. They had to obey men, because in most cases men had all the money and women had no independent means of wealth. A wealthy widow was an exception. A women who remained single would be considered antisocial and was even pitied.
Explain the British-India War Context.
Britain Established it’s rule over India during the 18th century. Indian Soldiers in Bengal rebelled and shot their British officers; as a result of their actions a wider rebellion began across India. Jonathon Small describes how he was caught up in the rebellion and took refuge in Agra. This is where he met Sikhs who enlisted his help to murder Achmet and steal the treasure chest.
Explain the British Empire (Colonialism) Context.
Britain has bee exploring and colonising land for centuries and by the 19th century it was a global superpower. They believed other countries required its guidance as they were exporting a systematic government, military, railway and education however they also exploited financial gains and stole resources from countries. This often stirred up ill feelings and potential for rebellion such as the Indian Mutiny as described by Small in Chapter 12. Also portrayal of Tonga reflects prejudiced Victorian beliefs that foreignness was barbaric. Tonga is presented as inherently violent, which leads him to commit crime. In contrast, British characters are shown to have clear motives to commit crimes.
Explain how social classes links to the Sign of Four.
Dr Watson belongs to the new middle classes of Victorian Britain. He is “an army surgeon with a weak leg and a weaker banking account”. Due to special conventions it was dissaproved for romantic love between social classes. We see this when Watson loves Mary but is certain that their unequal social financial status will stand in the way of their love.
Explain the Drugs Context.
Sherlock Holmes, the most famous consulting detective in literature, used occasionally cocaine and morphine to escape from “the dull routine of existence”. This was nothing unusual in those times because sale of drugs was legal to the extent that they used this dangerous compounds as self-medication and recreation.
Explain the Poverty Context.
Due to industrial revolution, machines replaced labourers work-wise, Since Labourers now didn’t have a job they had no money, food or shelter. Criminal levels rose as poverty drived people to steal in order to survive. Arthur Conan Doyle lived in a time where there would be many beggars, orphans and street urchins. Because of this that Sherlock Holmes helped lower middle class with their problems.
Explain Technology Context.
People and Police Force in the Victorian era were afraid against technology which led to their ignorance. However Sherlock Holmes made them less fearful of technology by utilising it to help with his investigations.
