Structure and Summary (The Sign of Four)
This section explores the structure and provides a summary of the novel The Sign of Four by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The structure of The Sign of Four is tightly organised, following the conventions of detective fiction. Doyle uses a clear, linear plot to build suspense, with a combination of investigation, action, and a nested narrative. The novel’s balance between action, character development, and revelation of the mystery makes it a compelling and well-structured example of early detective fiction.
Structure of the Novel
The Sign of Four follows a traditional detective story structure, with a clear sequence of events leading to the resolution of the mystery. The novel is divided into 12 chapters, and its structure plays a crucial role in building suspense, developing characters, and exploring key themes. Below are the key aspects of its structure:
First-Person Narrative
The novel is narrated by Dr John Watson, Sherlock Holmes’ close friend and assistant. The first-person perspective gives readers an intimate view of the events, allowing them to share in Watson’s emotions and observations.
Watson’s perspective also creates suspense, as he often does not know what Holmes is thinking, allowing readers to follow the mystery as it unfolds, step by step.
Chronological Order
The novel follows a linear, chronological timeline, beginning with the introduction of the mystery and leading up to its resolution. This straightforward timeline helps maintain clarity in the plot, guiding readers through the investigation as clues are revealed.
Framing Device: Mystery Structure
The novel is framed as a mystery that Sherlock Holmes is tasked with solving. The structure of the investigation follows a typical detective fiction pattern:
The Introduction of the Case; Miss Mary Morstan presents the initial mystery of her father’s disappearance and the mysterious pearls.
The Investigation; Holmes and Watson gather clues, interview witnesses, and uncover the history behind the Agra treasure.
The Resolution; The novel concludes with the capture of Jonathan Small and his confession, which ties up all loose ends.
Dual Narratives
The novel contains a dual narrative structure, with the main storyline of the investigation interwoven with the backstory of Jonathan Small and the Agra treasure.
Jonathan Small’s detailed account in Chapter 12 functions as a nested narrative, revealing the full history of the treasure and explaining the motives behind the crimes. This gives the novel a sense of closure, as all aspects of the mystery are explained.
Climactic Moments and Pacing
The novel features a series of climactic moments that keep the reader engaged. For example, the discovery of Bartholomew Sholto’s body and the thrilling chase down the Thames River add excitement and tension.
Doyle builds suspense by withholding key information until the final chapters. Holmes’ deductions are often kept secret from Watson and the reader until he chooses to reveal them, creating dramatic tension.
The pacing shifts between moments of action, such as the boat chase, and moments of quiet investigation, where Holmes and Watson reflect on the clues they’ve gathered. This variation in pacing maintains interest and excitement.
Use of Letters and Documents
Letters, notes, and documents play a key role in advancing the plot and providing clues. For example, the anonymous letter sent to Miss Morstan with the pearls triggers the investigation, while Jonathan Small’s confession in Chapter 12 explains the entire backstory of the treasure.
Summary of the Novel
Chapter 1: "The Science of Deduction"
The novel opens with Sherlock Holmes taking cocaine, bored by the lack of mental stimulation. Watson expresses concern about Holmes’ drug use. Soon after, Miss Mary Morstan arrives, seeking their help in solving the mystery of her father’s disappearance and the mysterious pearls she has received annually for the past six years.
Chapter 2: "The Statement of the Case"
Miss Morstan recounts her father’s disappearance ten years ago after returning from India. She explains that for the past six years, someone has anonymously sent her a single pearl each year. She has now received a letter requesting a meeting. Holmes, intrigued, agrees to investigate.
Chapter 3: "In Quest of a Solution"
Holmes, Watson, and Miss Morstan follow the instructions from the letter to meet a man named Thaddeus Sholto. He reveals that her father died under mysterious circumstances at the home of Thaddeus’s father, Major Sholto. Thaddeus explains that his father was involved in a conflict over the Agra treasure.
Chapter 4: "The Story of the Bald-Headed Man"
Thaddeus explains that Major Sholto and Captain Morstan had discovered the Agra treasure in India but quarrelled over it. Captain Morstan died suddenly, and Major Sholto kept the treasure hidden. Before his own death, Major Sholto tried to reveal the location of the treasure to his sons but was interrupted by the sight of a strange face at the window.
Chapter 5: "The Tragedy of Pondicherry Lodge"
The group travels to Pondicherry Lodge, the Sholto estate, to retrieve the treasure, but they find Bartholomew Sholto dead in his locked room. His face bears a strange expression, and the treasure is missing. Holmes investigates the crime scene and finds evidence of a small footprint and poison darts, suggesting the involvement of Jonathan Small and his accomplice.
Chapter 6: "Sherlock Holmes Gives a Demonstration"
Holmes deduces that two people were involved in the crime: a large man and a small one, based on the footprints. He also realises that a rope was used to gain entry through the window. Holmes sends for a dog named Toby to track the scent of creosote, which was found at the scene.
Chapter 7: "The Episode of the Barrel"
Toby leads them on a trail that takes them through the streets of London, eventually to the riverbank. Holmes concludes that the criminals used a boat to escape. He seeks out information about a steam launch called The Aurora, believing it to be the vessel used by Jonathan Small and his accomplice, Tonga.
Chapter 8: "The Baker Street Irregulars"
Holmes employs the Baker Street Irregulars, a group of street children, to search for The Aurora. Meanwhile, Watson reflects on his growing affection for Miss Morstan, but he feels he cannot act on it due to his modest financial situation.
Chapter 9: "A Break in the Chain"
Holmes discovers that The Aurora is being hidden by its owner, Mordecai Smith. After a long search, Holmes and Watson, with Inspector Athelney Jones, set off in pursuit of The Aurora using a police boat.
Chapter 10: "The End of the Islander"
In a dramatic chase down the Thames, Holmes and Watson catch up to The Aurora. Tonga attempts to kill Holmes with a blowpipe but is shot by Watson. Jonathan Small is captured, and the Agra treasure is recovered, but Small reveals that the chest is empty.
Chapter 11: "The Great Agra Treasure"
Small confesses that he disposed of the treasure to prevent anyone from benefiting from it. He recounts how he came into possession of the treasure during his time in India and how he entered into a pact with three other men, including Tonga, to recover it. Small’s story explains the events leading up to Captain Morstan’s death and the theft of the treasure.
Chapter 12: "The Strange Story of Jonathan Small"
In the final chapter, Jonathan Small recounts his full story, from his time as a soldier in India to his imprisonment and escape with the help of Tonga. His story of betrayal, greed, and revenge provides the missing pieces of the mystery. The novel concludes with Watson proposing to Miss Morstan, while Holmes returns to his usual life, uninterested in the romance.
