The Sign of the Four Characters

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  • The Sign of the Four Characters
    • Sherlock Holmes
      • Injects cocaine to numb his mind when there is nothing more interesting to occupy and challenge him.
      • Often dismissive to those who he perceives to be less intelligent.
      • Intellectual
        • Musically gifted and speaks at least two European languages.
          • "Are you well up in your Jean Paul?" Jean Paul is a german writer.
      • Restless
        • Thrives on mental challenges and puzzles. He prefers to be mentally stimulated
          • "I crave for mental exaltation." When there is nothing intellectual to keep Holmes busy, he resorts to drugs to numb himself.
      • Egotistical
        • Holmes asserts that he is the only worthy detective in the world.
    • Dr. John Watson
      • Story is written in first person, with Watson as the narrator
      • He is a doctor therefore has other talents. He also served in war.
      • Loyal
        • committed to Holmes and follows him into a range of potentially dangerous situations.
          • Watson places his trust in Holmes entirely and has such loyalty
      • Romantic
        • Holmes accuses Watson of taking a fanciful approach to detection in his writing of 'A Study in Scarlet'.
          • "You have attempted to tinge it with romanticism."
      • Honourable
        • When Watson falls in love with Mary Morstan he worries that her inheritance will come between them.
          • Worse still, she was rich
      • Admiring
        • Watson openly admits his admiration for his companion, Sherlock Holmes
          • "I assure you, Holmes, that I marvel at the means by which you obtain your results in this case."
    • Jonathan Small
      • Readers learn about Jonathan Small through what other characters say as he only appears towards the end of the book
        • say about him and the ways they respond to him.Holmes identifies him as the wooden-legged man and we learn that Major Sholto died from the shock of seeing Small's face at the window. Mrs Smith, the boat keeper's wife describes him as 'ugly' and 'outlandish'.
      • When Small is arrested and confesses in full to his crimes, he is revealed as a cunning and manipulative character. He also shows a frightening side when he is angry
      • Calculating
        • He explains that he took advantage of major sholto when he was in debt.
          • "The major was raving about his losses."
      • He is devoted to the treasure and will not let anyone else have it
        • "It is my treasure, and if i cant have the loot i'll take darned good care that no one else does"
    • Miss Mary Morstan
      • Appears early in the book and gives Sherlock Holmes two cases
        • her missing father
        • series of strange gifts of beautiful pearls that she has received annually for the past six years
      • Innocent
        • She leads a quiet life as a governess.
          • "I have led a retired life, and have no friends whom I could appeal to."
            • The adjective 'retired' suggests a gentle and inexperienced character.
      • Modest
        • The only accessory that Miss Morstan wears is a small white feather.
          • white feather in the side.
            • The white feather could be said to suggest her innocence as well as her modesty. May also link to how women were portrayed in the Victorian times as 'the Angel of the House'
      • She isn't overly bothered about the treasure she receives
        • "Is that the treasure then? she asked coolly enough'
    • Thaddeus Sholto
      • Thaddeus tells the story of his father, Major John Sholto, who returned from India eleven years ago with a large sum of money and treasures.
      • Thaddeus seems to be more conscientious than his brother, Bartholomew, and is the one who has posted the pearls to Miss Morstan
      • He is arrested by Mr Athelney Jones, but later set free when secure alibis are established.
      • He is described as a hypochondriac - "I have grave doubts as to my mitral valve"
      • He is odd looking - "nature had given him a pendulous lip and a visible line of yellow and irregular teeth
      • He buys expensive paintings to show his wealth
        • "Salvatore Rose. Bouguereau"
      • He isn't an emotionally strong character and also wears exotic clothing to show his wealth
        • "His twitching feeble face peeping out of the great astrakhan collar"
    • Mr Athelney Jones
      • Official police inspector
      • Popmpous
        • dismissive of Holmes' theories about the perpetrator of the crime, and makes a wrongful arrest.
          • "Confirms it in every respect," said the fat detective, pompously.
      • He is presented as being considerably less capable than Holmes
      • He doesn't go carefully about his business to solve crimes like Sherlock
        • "A very stout, portly man in a grey suit strode heavily into the room"
      • Dismissive to the way Sherlock goes about his enquiries
        • "Stern facts here no-room for theories"
      • He contradicts himself after slating theories
        • "Ha! I have a theory!

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