UNIT 4.4 THE SIGN OF FOUR
D) Write
the answers of the following questions in about 50 words : (4)
1. Write a character sketch of Major Sholto
from the extract of the novel “Sign of Four”.
Ans. Major Sholto was an officer and
friend of Arthur Morstan. He was the one who was originally approached about
the location of the treasure, as Jonathan Small believed that his greed would
make him an easy target. Sholto is tasked with the retrieval of the treasure,
but takes it all for himself, leaving Small and Morstan without anything. When
Morstan later confronts him, Morstan has a heart attack and dies. Sholto hides
the body and keeps the treasure. He lives the rest of his life plagued but
extreme guilt and fear. He dies after seeing Jonathan Small’s face in a
window.
2. Write in short the importance of the
following statement in the light of the extract of the novel, “Sign of Four”.
“Mary received pearls every year
on the same day”.
Ans. When Mary went to meet detective
Holmes she informed him that she has received six pearls in the mail from some
unknown person. She has received one pearl every year since 1982 after
answering an anonymous newspaper query inquiring about her and her address. But
with the last pearl she told that she has received a letter telling her that
she has been wronged and she was asked if she could meet him. Immediately
Holmes takes the case and finds out that Major Sholto had died in 1982 and
immediately after his death only Mary started receiving the pearls. Later
Holmes, Watson and Mary this trio meet Thaddeus Sholto, the son of the late
major Sholto who was sending these pearls to Mary. It is here he gets
information on the day of Morstan’s disappearance Major Sholto had met him to
divide the treasure that Sholto had brought from India. During quarrel over
this issue Morstan suffered heart attack and died. Thereafter Sholto disposed
the body and hid the treasure. After receiving letter from India in 1982 he
called his two sons and confessed them about Morstan’s death during that time
while revealing the location of treasure, he suddenly cried, “Keep him out”,
and died. After reading a note ‘sig of four’ on their father’s body both
brothers fought whether they leave the legacy to Mary Morstan. Here Thaddeus
left his brother Bartholomew taking a chaplet and he was sending these pearls
to Mary from last six years since 1982. He sent letter to Mary because
Bartholomew had found the treasure and chances were that Thaddeus and Mary
might confront him for division of treasure.
Character sketches :
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes is a
brilliant detective, with an exceptionally keen eye for detail. He is known for
his disguises, his logical deduction, and his early use of forensic science.
Holmes is the one who solves the case. He is deeply concerned with his own
mental stimulation, and tries to keep his mind occupied. As such, when waiting
for news, he tends to perform chemical experiments. Holmes shows little
emotion, and only really cares about the facts of the case. This separates him
from the common man, and makes him seem different. He worked as a consulting
detective for 23 years, and 17 of those were with John Watson. Holmes’s only
true friend is Doctor John Watson. Holmes maintains little to no connection
with any females, except for his housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson.
John Watson
Watson is Holmes' partner and
roommate. He also narrates all but four of Holmes’s adventures. He was
originally named 'Ormund Sacker' before Conan Doyle decided on 'John Watson'.
He was a doctor in the army and has a bullet in his leg, which can occasionally
impede his movement. He is also a very good shot. Watson has a strong sense of
honor and discretion. On occasion, he tries to solve cases without Holmes, with
a limited degree of success. He is a more empathetic and human counterpart to
Holmes. He is very intelligent, but lacking in powers of observation. Watson is
later married to Ms. Mary Morstan.
Mary Morstan
Mary Morstan brings the case
to Holmes and Watson’s attention. She has been searching unsuccessfully for her
father and has received several mysterious pearls in the mail. Mary is
described as blonde, with pale skin. She was working as a governess when she
contacted Holmes. Her mother died soon after Mary’s birth, and Mary was
educated in England. At the end of the story, Watson proposes to Ms. Morstan
and she accepts. She is 27 years old when introduced. Mary isn’t really
interested in the treasure and the fortune it would bring, and she is happy
when the chest is empty. Mary’s father was a senior captain within his group
and disappeared in London when visiting his daughter. He was a good man, who
felt guilty about his actions in the war. He died when his heart gave out and
he fell, cracking his skull.
Major Sholto
Major Sholto was an officer
and friend of Arthur Morstan. He was the one who was originally approached
about the location of the treasure, as Jonathan Small believed that his greed
would make him an easy target. Sholton is tasked with the retrieval of the
treasure, but takes it all for himself, leaving Small and Morstan without
anything. When Morstan later confronts him, Morstan has a heart attack and
dies. Sholto hides the body and keeps the treasure. He lives the rest of his
life plagued by extreme guilt and fear. He dies after seeing Jonathan Small’s
face in a window.
Thaddeus Sholto
Major Sholto’s son, Thaddeus
is is the one who sends the pearls to Mary Morstan. He does this to try to
share his wealth after finding that his father was involved in Major Morstan’s
death. He collects art, and contacts Holmes when he finds that his brother has
located the treasure chest. He is heavily disappointed in his father’s actions.
He is in constantly poor health, and is very twitchy and nervous. Thaddeus is
originally arrested as a suspect in his brother’s murder, as it was known that
they fought the night before the murder.
Bartholomew Sholto
Bartholomew is Thaddeus’s
twin brother and Major Sholto’s son. He doesn’t like to share wealth or
information with Holmes or Morstan. Bartholomew discovers the chest and is
later killed by Tonga with a poison dart.
Jonathan Small
Small is the antagonist of
the story. Small has a wooden leg, which he got following an accident involving
a crocodile. He was one of “the four," a group of men who discovered a
cache of jewels. After this, an uprising occurred and Small was captured. In
prison, he passes on the secret to Majors Morstan and Sholto. Morstan retrieves
the jewels, but betrays the others, leaving Small in prison. When Small gets
out he heads to England to try to get his share. He believes that he and the
rest of “the four” are the only ones entitled to the treasure. When almost
captured, he dumps the jewels in the river. He enlisted Tonga to help him in
his quest. Small is not afraid to resort to violence to achieve his goals,
although he was displeased when Tonga killed Bartholomew. Small has a beard and
is very tan. He also has a very lined face.
Tonga
Tonga is an islander who is
absolutely devoted to Small. Small nursed Tonga back to health when Tonga was
ill. He helps Small escape and break into Sholto’s house. Tonga is the one who
killed Bartholomew. He is now considered to be a rather racist character, with
Doyle describing him as “animalistic” and “savage." This reflects the
Eurocentric mindset of Doyle's time.
The setting of the extract is in London, where Mary meets Dr sherlock Holmes and Dr. watson to explain her problem. She told the detectives that her father was an officer in an Indian Regiment. When he returned to England on leave, he called Mary to meet him at a hotel in London. His only friend in London was Major Sholto. Dr. Sherlock Holmes found that Major Sholto was also form the 34 th Bombay Infantry. Mary showed a paper to the detective belonging to her father. The paper was of Indian Origin. The three names written on it were also Indian. when Jonathan small was captured, he spoke of being an accomplice in stealing the Agra Treasure. He was sent to the Andaman Islands, where , major Sholto and captain Morstan were prison guards.
Theme:
write in brief the theme of the Novel in about fifty words.
The theme of the extract revolves around the mystery of the disappearance of Mary Morstan's father, the receipt of expensive pearls by Mary and the mysterious letter received by her. It also involves the journey of Holmes, watson and Mary Morstan to a strange House to meet the writer of the mysterious letter. The theme of the Novel revolves around the Agra Treasure.
central idea of the Novel:
Write down the central idea of the Novel in about fifty words.
The central idea is the meeting of Mary Morstan with Holmes and Watson. and her
explanation of her problems. It is also about the short journey made by the three to meet the writer of the mysterious letter. This is Watson's first meeting with Miss Morstan and his attraction towards her.
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