Sign of the Four Character Mind map

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  • Sign of the four character mindmap
    • Mary Morstan
      • "Whoever had lost a treasure, I knew that night I had found one"
        • This concludes the romantic sub-plot (denouement) but also suggests that Watson sees Mary as a possession rather than a person. However the word 'treasure' also suggest that she is important and something to protect. (women were seen as venerable)
          • Victorian readers would of seen this as a conventional ending to a romantic sub plot
          • Modern readers would see this as cliché and cringy
      • "Angelic"
        • This adjective shows that she conforms to the typical Victorian female stereotype of women being the 'angel of the house' and must be passive and pure so that the men can come home to a peaceful household. (patriarchal society)
          • Modern readers would see this as sexist and stereotypical.
          • Victorian readers would see Miss Morstan as an ideal women that they would look up to and admire.
      • "bursts into a passion of weeping", "comfort and protection"
        • This portrays Mary as the 'Damsel in Distress' as at the first sign of danger she is returned to Mrs Forrester's home and starts to cry on the way there.
          • Modern readers would see this as stereotypical and involuntarily see her as a weak character as she appears to always be in need of help and protection.
          • Victorian readers would see this as a normal reaction and feel sympathy towards Miss Morstan. Doyle does this so that they will see Watson as the hero/gentlemen who will protect her.
    • John Watson
      • earlier: "sensitive nature" later: "sweet, brave nature".
        • This juxtaposition shows how that he and miss Morstan's relationship has grown. Moreover, the way in which he list and analysis miss Morstan's appearance and personality is comparable to the way in which Holmes solves his cases. this shows that they both respond to love the same way but they love different things.
      • "What was I, am army surgeon with a weak leg and weaker banking account, that I sould dare to think of such things"
        • Shows that he is a kind and caring gentleman that values Miss Morstan
      • "His great powers, his masterly manner"
        • Shows that Watson and Sherlock have an unequal relationship, a symmetric. Also shows that Watson is there to make Sherlock appear more superior than arrogant so that the readers will like him more.
    • Sherlock Holmes
      • "or rather created it"
        • Shows he is egotistical. He grabs every chance he can tell everyone he is better them. However, this statement is designed to impress Watson and have the dame effect on the reader.
          • Victorian readers would see Sherlock as impressive and skilled
          • Modern readers wold see Sherlock as arrogant and egotistical
      • "like those of a bloodhound" and "loud crow"
        • The simile "like those of a bloodhound" uses animal imagery to portray him as strong, powerful and quick. It shows the audience his desire to hunt for clues and suggests that he is more animal  than human. This is also shown trough the simile 'like those of a bird" and uses animal imagery 'loud crow' to describe is cry of delight. The fact that he described as a bird shows his observant nature and emphasizes his keen eyesight. The use of animal imagery 'loud crow' suggests his animal nature and perhaps shows that, like a crow, he is drawn to dark, mysterious places that is accompanied by death.
          • Victorian readers would be fascinated by his animal like nature and would feel the excitement that Watson feels when describing him.
          • Modern readers would feel excited at the sudden faster pace as they know that the adventure is about the increase.
      • "I think that it would be a pleasure to my friend here to take the box round to the young lady"
        • This shows that event though Holmes represents rationality and Watson represents emotion , he still cares and looks after his friends.
          • The Victorian readers would be surprised that Sherlock shows emotion at this point in the story as all he has really cared about until now is solving the case.
          • Modern reader would also be surprised at this but also glad as it shows that he isn't completely arrogant and egotistical.
    • Jonathan Small
      • "It seemed to me that there was more sorrow than anger in his rigid and contained countenance"
        • Shows that Watson is sympathetic towards him . This is unlike Tonga who is described with 'half animal fury' . This shows that because Small his English and not foreign he is treated differently than Tonga.
          • Modern readers would see this as racist and it would annoy them that Tonga was seen as a 'devil' and Small was not.
          • Vicotrian readers would feel sympathy towards Small as anger towards Tonga.
    • Tonga
      • "Chattered at us with half animal fury"
        • Animal imagery- unlike Holmes, who is related to intelligent animals, he is presented like a rabid dog
          • Suggests that he is less than human. This shows that Victorian readers think they are superior and will see him as rightly animal
          • Modern readers will see this as dehumanisation and degrading
      • "Little Black Man"
        • "little" is diminutive and "black" is a physical description. Both have negative connotations to do with crime.
          • Victorian readers would be scared and frightened of this character
          • Modern readers this diminutive and would be shocked at how racist this is
      • "misshapen head"
        • Head shape - suggests low intellect
          • Victorian readers were interested in sudo sciences like phrenology. Because of this they would see him as a criminal.
          • Modern readers would think this as racist and unnecessary are there is no reason for it.
      • "Distorted hideous face", "Strong yellow teeth"
        • Appearance suggests that anything foreign is wrong
          • Victorians thought that anything different = wrong
          • Modern readers would think that it is racist
    • Mrs Smith
      • "a stoutish red faced women"
        • She is portrayed as a 'red faced' housewife looking after the kids and cleaning. Were as Miss Morstan is describes as 'angelic' and 'spiritual'. This shows that higher class women are seen as 'angels of the house' and lower class women are seen as housewives. This reflects the society of that time, when class divisions were much more rigid then they are today. Furthermore, both Mrs Forrester and Mrs Smith are depicted at the doorway to their home, which connects them both to domestic life were one is calm and the other chaotic.
          • Modern readers would feel angry that women are treated so differently because of their class
          • Victorian readers would see this class system as normal and be untrustworthy of Mrs Smith because of it .
      • "Come back, you young imp; for if your father comes home and finds you like that, he'll let us hear of it."
        • This shows that it is normal for her to be chasing her son and suggests that it reflects her marriage. Furthermore, she fears her husband coming home and finding his son not clean. This shows that men are more powerful, feared and intimidating than women. This reinforces the idea of a patriarchal society.
          • Victorian readers  would see this a normal  and be disgusted at Mrs mith for acting Sthe way she did infront of 'gentlemen'
          • Modern readers would see this as stereotypical.
      • "people of that sort"
        • The sue of derogatory language indicated Holmes' class based prejudice.
          • Victorian readers would see this as normal.
          • Modern readers would be shocked and find this prejudice.
    • Thaddeus Sholto
      • "There was something strangely incongruous in this Oriental figure framed in the commonplace doorway of a third rate suburban dwelling house."
        • Reveals the tension between Englishness and foreignness as his home could be seen as symbolic representation of the uncomfortable combination of foreign and English tastes, as his exotic apartment is positioned bizarrely in a rundown English neighbourhood.
      • "two great tiger skins thrown athwart increase the suggestion of eastern Luxury"
        • The 'suggestion' of luxury implies that he is attempting to elevate his own status. Also, his room is describes as a metaphor to mirror his personality and to show Sherlock and Watson's surprise at this. Doyle could of done this to intensify the reality of London's lower class and use him as a representation of the wishes of most men of being an English gentlemen without the prejudice of being a foreigner.
          • However, this could also suggest that he has a wish to travel and that the exotic appearance of his room is to place himself as a treasure hunter like his father.
    • Athelney Jones
      • "You'll own now that it was more by good luck then good guidance"
        • This shows his resentment towards Sherlock as there is a clear contrast between the two. he is inefficient and unscientific and Sherlock is rational and knowledgeable. The pitting of a conventional police officer against an unconventional, brilliant private detective is a common feature of detective stories. Furthermore, this also demonstrates the new foerensics that was being brought in at the time. As Holmes' analysis of the crime scene compared to Jones' more careless approach in which he simply arrests whoever is near at hand shows the ineffectness of the police at the time (example: Jack the Ripper)
    • Bartholomew Sholto
      • "Brother Bartholomew could not altogether see it in that light"
        • This shows the contrast between Bartholomew and his twin brother Thaddeus as Thaddeus wants to give the treasure to Miss Morstan but Bartholomew does not. This shows the theme duality as  these character represent the same person  but with completely different personalities. Thaddeus is always nervous and cares about Miss Morstan's future were as Bartholomew is manipulative and is greedy for the treasure. This also shows the theme crime and punishment as anyone who is greedy for the treasure in this novel is either murdered or arrested.
    • Mrs Cecil Forrester
      • "Soft light of a shaded lamp"
        • Is used to describe Mrs Forrester's home. This idealizes it as a 'tranquil English home' from the dangers that surround the characters(especially Miss Morstan). This portrays Mrs Forrester as a protector that resembles a mother like figure that appears as a 'soft light' to their children that makes them feel safe.
          • Modern readers would see this as a stereotype as being a 'soft light' and 'honoured friend' depicts her as the 'angel of the house' and limits her role to only ever being a loyal wife, compared to the other male counterparts.
          • Victorian readers would feel safe around Mrs Forrester's character and see her as a relief from the action and danger of the plot.
      • "Dragons you will slay"
        • This shows that Mrs Forrester sees Watson as the knight in shining armour and highlights the fact that she sees love as a fairy tale. This emphasizes' the patriarchal society and the views that women always have their heads in the clouds.
          • Modern readers will think that Mrs Forrester is naïve and childlike. This could annoy the reader as Doyle is making her appear innocent and inexperienced. This contradicts her portrayal as a protector and  shows she isn't the ideal mother as now-a-days mothers are seen as strong and intelligent.
          • Victorian readers would think that this is normal behaviour of a woman as women are all viewed as not understanding the real world.
      • "It is a romance! cried Mrs Forrester"
        • This shows her curiosity about the outcome of the mystery and perhaps suggest that she represents the  many readers of the Sherlock Holmes mystery.
  • This shows her curiosity about the outcome of the mystery and perhaps suggest that she represents the  many readers of the Sherlock Holmes mystery.

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06dasein

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This is amazing, thank you so much!

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