The Sign of the Four: Context (AQA GCSE English Literature)
Revision Note
Written by: Nick Redgrove
Reviewed by: Kate Lee
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
How this links to the novel The Sign of the Four | |
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Colonialism | In The Sign of the Four, the treasure symbolises the spoils of British colonialism. The flashback of the theft of the treasure, carried out by British officers during the uprising in India, reveals the origin of the Agra treasure and its significance to the characters involved. |
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
How this links to the novel The Sign of the Four | |
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Justice | Thе Sign of the Four highlights thе injusticеs facеd by individuals from thе lowеr social classеs. For example, Jonathan Small rеprеsеnts thе plight of those marginalisеd in sociеty and his actions arе drivеn by a dеsirе for justicе and rеtribution against thosе who havе opprеssеd him.
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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
How this links to the novel The Sign of the Four | |
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Greed | The Sign of the Four illustrates the dangers of succumbing to greed, which was seen as a vice that threatened to undermine the fabric of society. It explores the dangers and moral implications of unchecked greed and highlights the suffering it can cause for individuals and society as a whole. |
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
How this links to the novel The Sign of the Four | |
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Gothic genre | The narrative features confined spaces like the Pondicherry Lodge and the boat chase on the Thames which create a feeling of enclosure and unease. The narrative is largely driven by events from the past, such as the theft of the Agra treasure in India, which continues to impact the present. Further, the unexplained death of Bartholomew Sholto adds an element of horror. |
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