The Sign of the Four: Context (AQA GCSE English Literature)

The Sign of the Four historical context

Colonialism

• During the 19th century, the British Empire was at its height, with vast territories, its colonies, around the world under its control 

• England’s colonial ventures aimed to expand its influence, gain resources and establish economic dominance: 

  • These imperial pursuits often involved the exploitation and subjugation of the colonised people

• While the novel does not delve extensively into the colonial backdrop, it subtly addresses the tensions and moral and ethical considerations surrounding British colonial rule in India

• 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 Sign of the Four social context

Justice and crime

• Victorian sociеty was characterised by significant social disparitiеs, with a stark contrast bеtwееn thе wеalthy and thе impovеrishеd:

  • This social inеquality combined with flaws in thе criminal justicе systеm added to the challеngеs facеd by individuals in thеir pursuit of 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 impеrialism

Greed and obsession

• The exploration of greed and wealth in the novella reflects the broader societal concerns of Victorian England, where industrialisation and rapid social and economic changes created opportunities for people to become more wealthy:

  • 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

  • The pursuit of wealth and social status became a central preoccupation for many, as success was often measured by these factors

• 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

• However, the Victorian period was also characterised by a moral and ethical consciousness:

  • Virtues such as hard work, self-discipline and respectability were valued  

The Sign of the Four literary context

Gothic genre

• The Gothic genre rose to prominence in the late 18th and early 19th centuries and was widespread in Victorian literature

• Its key characteristics include an atmosphere of horror, supernatural occurrences and the present being haunted by the past: 

  • 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