Sign of Four: Context (AQA GCSE English Literature)

Context should inform, but should never dominate, your reading of the text. Any comments on contextual factors must always be linked to the ideas in the novella. When exploring the context in which The Sign of Four was written, you should consider: 

• the contexts in which the text is set
• the contexts in which the text is received
• and its literary context (genre)

Each of the below topics links directly to Conan Doyle’s ideas in The Sign of Four:

• Justice and Crime
• Greed and Obsession
• Colonialism
• Gothic Genre

• During thе Victorian еra, social inеquality and flaws in thе criminal justicе systеm undеrscorеd thе tеnsions and challеngеs facеd by individuals in thеir pursuit of justicе
• Victorian sociеty was markеd by significant social disparitiеs, with a stark contrast bеtwееn thе wеalthy and thе impovеrishеd
• Thе Sign of Four highlights thе injusticеs facеd by individuals from thе lowеr social classеs
• Jonathan Small rеprеsеnts thе plight of thе marginalised in sociеty:
• His actions arе drivеn by a dеsirе for justicе and retribution against thosе who havе opprеssеd him
• Thе novеlla also еxplorеs thе limitations and flaws of thе Victorian criminal justicе systеm
• Thе pursuit of justicе involvеs not only thе policе but also Holmеs:
• Thе policе arе portrayеd as inеfficiеnt and rеliant on Holmеs’s intеllеct to solvе thе casе
• This indicatеs a lack of trust in thе official institutions rеsponsiblе for upholding justicе
• Thе pursuit of justicе involvеs thе unravеlling of thе complеx connеctions bеtwееn British colonialism:
• It also includes thе еxploitation of rеsourcеs and thе consеquеncеs facеd by individuals caught in thе wеb of imperialism

• The exploration of greed and wealth in the novella reflects the broader societal concerns of Victorian England, where industrialisation and rapid societal changes created opportunities for wealth accumulation
• The novella explores the dangers and moral implications of unchecked greed and highlights the suffering it can cause for individuals and society as a whole
• During this period, England experienced significant social and economic transformations
• The Industrial Revolution brought about advancements in manufacturing, transportation and technology which led to increased wealth and prosperity for some sections of society
• This newfound wealth often fuelled a desire for material possessions and financial gain, which could lead individuals to pursue their ambitions without regard for moral considerations
• Victorian society was marked by a sharp contrast between the opulent lifestyles of the upper classes and the dire living conditions faced by the working classes
• The pursuit of wealth and social status became a central preoccupation for many, as success was often measured by these
• The Victorian period was characterised by a moral and ethical consciousness:
• Their values emphasised virtues such as hard work, self-discipline and respectability
• The Sign of Four illustrates the dangers of succumbing to greed, which was seen as a vice that threatened to undermine the fabric of society

• During the 19th century, the British Empire was at its height, with vast territories around the world under its control 
• England’s colonial ventures aimed to expand its influence, secure resources and establish economic dominance
• These imperial pursuits often involved the exploitation and subjugation of the colonised people:
• For example, a flashback refers to the Indian Rebellion of 1857, which reveals the origin of the Agra treasure and its significance to the characters involved 
• In The Sign of Four, the treasure symbolises the spoils of British colonialism:
• The theft of the treasure is carried out by British officers during the uprising in India
• This reflects the historical context of British involvement in India and the moral implications of such actions
• While the novel does not delve extensively into the colonial backdrop, it subtly addresses the tensions and ethical considerations surrounding British colonial rule
• The character of Jonathan Small represents a complex portrayal of the consequences of colonialism:
• His experiences in India, witnessing the atrocities committed during the Mutiny, shape his motivations and drive him to commit crimes out of a sense of revenge and desperation
• Moreover, the presence of Indian characters in the narrative, such as Tonga, offer glimpses of the colonial encounters and the racial dynamics of the time:
• However, these are limited and reflect the perspectives prevalent in Victorian literature which were often based on biases and stereotypes

• The Gothic genre rose to prominence in the late 18th and early 19th centuries and was widespread in Victorian literature:
• The gothic genre had become very influential and, therefore, many works of popular Victorian novels had elements of it
• The atmosphere of horror, the possibility of supernatural occurrences and the present being haunted by the past are key characteristics of gothic fiction:
• The atmosphere is typically claustrophobic and incarceration or persecution are common elements
• It frequently uses the description of horrific occurrences to express psychological or social tensions metaphorically