Arthur Conan Doyle
The Sign of the Four
A new detective story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, published in 1890. The actions of this work take place in 1888.
Plot:
During the investigation, Dr. Watson realizes that he has truly fallen in love with Miss Morstan. But will he be able to confess his feelings to her? After all, she may take his feelings for a selfish act.
The great detective Sherlock Holmes is visited by a girl, Mary Morstan, who asks the detective to help in solving the mystery: for six years once a year Miss Morstan receives an anonymous parcel with one pearl. Dr. Watson, on behalf of whom the narrative is conducted, likes this girl at first sight.
The girl also asks, if possible, to find her father, who disappeared ten years ago. Taking up the investigation of the case, Holmes and Watson find out that Miss Morstan together with two brothers Sholto is the heiress of a huge fortune, a treasure, which their fathers got during their service in India.
Who is sending her these mysterious letters? Is her father's disappearance connected to these packages? Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson will have to solve these mysteries.
Who is sending her these mysterious letters? Is her father's disappearance connected to these packages? Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson will have to solve these mysteries.
Topic & issues:
1. The worthlessness of wealth
2. Appearances can be deceptive
3. The power of true love
Characters:
1. Sherlock Holmes
2. Dr. Watson
3. Mary Morstan
Peculiarities of text composition & genre features:
Compositionally, this text can be divided into two parts: description and narration.
In the first part we observe the daily life of the detective.
In the second part, the plot develops much more rapidly. The greatest detective Sherlock Holmes gets into a series of exciting adventures in the course of solving the mystery of the inheritance, which was received by a young girl. They help her solve this mystery and save her from death.
This construction of the test of the story we can observe in every text of Arthur Conan Doyle. He very competently combined both of these parts, so it is so easy and interesting for the reader to follow the narration of the story.
Compositionally, this text can be divided into two parts: description and narration.
In the first part we observe the daily life of the detective.
In the second part, the plot develops much more rapidly. The greatest detective Sherlock Holmes gets into a series of exciting adventures in the course of solving the mystery of the inheritance, which was received by a young girl. They help her solve this mystery and save her from death.
This construction of the test of the story we can observe in every text of Arthur Conan Doyle. He very competently combined both of these parts, so it is so easy and interesting for the reader to follow the narration of the story.
Extra:
A key theme in the story is the theme of the insignificance of wealth and the destruction that can occur because of it. This theme is a recurring theme in The Sign of Four, as the treasure of Agra directly and negatively affects almost everyone. There are many murders, misadventures for the sake of the treasure. The treasure of Agra even creates a «romantic conflict» for Dr. Watson, who feels that he cannot marry Miss Morstan for fear that he will appear to be after her money.
A key theme in the story is the theme of the insignificance of wealth and the destruction that can occur because of it. This theme is a recurring theme in The Sign of Four, as the treasure of Agra directly and negatively affects almost everyone. There are many murders, misadventures for the sake of the treasure. The treasure of Agra even creates a «romantic conflict» for Dr. Watson, who feels that he cannot marry Miss Morstan for fear that he will appear to be after her money.
