The Sign of Four is a detective novel written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, which was published in 1890. It is Conan Doyle’s second novel to feature detective Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock Holmes is a master detective, known for his deduction skills, disguises and most importantly, his use of the city as means of solving mysteries. The cityscape plays a significant role in the narrative of The Sign of Four.
Conan Doyle uses real places found in London in The Sign of Four. It gives the novel a degree of realism, and Holmes the detective appears genuine to the reader. He certainly knows his way through the streets of London. At the beginning of the novel, Dr. Watson and Holmes are travelling across London to a meeting they know very little about. Watson questions his own knowledge of the route, saying “at first I had some idea as to the direction in which we were driving; but soon, what with our pace, the fog, and my own limited knowledge of London, I lost my bearings and knew nothing save that we seemed to be going a very long way” (Conan Doyle 26). Sherlock Holmes, on the other hand, is completely at ease during their destination, with Watson noting that “Sherlock Holmes was never at fault, however, and he muttered the names as the cab rattled through squares and in and out by tortuous by-streets” (Conan Doyle 26). At this point, Holmes almost begins to show off his knowledge of the city in front of Mary and Watson, as he orders their driver in one direction after the other: “Priory Road. Lark Hall Lane. Stockwell Place. Robert Street. Cold Harbour Lane. Our quest does not appear to take us to very fashionable regions” (Conan Doyle 26-27). It is this inclusion of real place names from London that gives this fictitious detective story...
... middle of paper ...
...r Conan. “The Copper Beeches.” The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. 2nd ed. Ed.Richard Lancelyn Green. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998. 270-296.
• Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan. The Sign of Four. Ed. Albert DePetrillo. London: BBC Books, 2012.
• Kayman, Martin A. “The Short Story from Poe to Chesterton.” The Cambridge Companion to Crime Fiction. Ed. Martin Priestman. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003. 41-58.
• Knight, Stephen. Form and Ideology in Crime Fiction. London: MacMillan Press, 1980.
• McBratney, John. “Racial and Criminal Types: Indian Ethnography and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Sign of Four.” Victorian Literature and Culture 33. Issue 1 (2005): 149-167.
• Reck, Tom. S. “Raymond Chandler’s Los Angeles.” The Nation 221. Issue 21 (1975): 661-663.
• Widdicombe, Toby. A Reader’s Guide to Raymond Chandler. Westport: Greenwood Press, 2001.
Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan. Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of the Baskervilles. New York: Penguin Books Ltd., 2001. Print.
Anonymous, “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” in The Norton Anthology of English Literature, eds. Abrams, et al. (New York: Norton, 1993), 200.
There is one immensely popular figure in Victorian literature that uses scientific deduction to solve criminal mysteries, and his curiosity to solve mysteries has become his obsession. However, he is so cool and distant from his own emotions that he does not care if the obsession leads to his destruction, as long as he solves the mystery to appease his voracious mind first. The only thing that truly excites him in a passionate way, the one thing that causes any emotion within his cool demeanor, is his curiosity, which is his addiction, for solving mysteries. He is the hero of the story The Sign of Four, and his name, of course, is Sherlock Holmes.
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volume A. Ed. Stephen Greenblatt. New York: W. W. Norton & Co., 2006. 162-213.
Carr, J. D. (2003). The life of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (2nd Carroll & Graf trade pbk. ed.). New York, N.Y.: Carroll & Graf.
The novel “The Sign of the Four”, written by Arthur Conan Doyle is about Sherlock Holmes and his partner, Watson. The book follows them throughout their adventures, however, only the beginning will be discussed. What could possibly have sparked much interest in Doyle’s works that film adaptations from 1954-2010 by various movie directors? Was it the resolute mindset of Sherlock Holmes? Was it his uncanny detective work? His professional use of drugs? Or perhaps was it his ideology? Such beginnings are what writers like K.M. Weiland excels in; to craft an irresistible lure for their audience of fish. Doyle’s book introduces us to a multitude of questions and concerns, which according to Tim O’Brien is meant to “not explain or to resolve, but
Comment on the way Conan Doyle uses the character of Watson in The Hound of the Baskervilles.
In The Hound of the Baskervilles, various factors of Arthur Conan Doyle’s early life, popularity, perspective, and status were all expressed in multiple ways. Spiritualism played an crucial role in his life, greatly impacting his work, specifically “The Hound.” Additionally, his birthplace and upbringing, along with the time period, inveigled his writing. Furthermore, Doyle characterized the people in the story in along with real life scenarios.
Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan. The Hound of the Baskervilles. Great Britain, Penguin Groups, 2004. New York, Berkley Publishing Group,1993.
Mysteries have always held great fascination for the human mind, not least because of the aura that surrounds them and the realm of the Unknown into which they delve. Coupled with the human propensity of being particularly curious about aspects which elude the average mind, the layer of intrigue that glosses over such puzzles makes for a heady combination of the literary and the popular. In the canon of detective fiction worldwide, no detective has tickled the curious reader’s imagination and held it in thrall as much as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. The 221-B, Baker Street, London ‘amateur’ detective combines a rare blend of intellectual prowess and sharp wit to crack a series of baffling riddles.
For Sherlock Holmes, his partner in crime is Dr. John H. Watson. Not only is he a trusted friend, but also he is Holmes’ associate and the first person narrator of the Sherlock tales. The stories of Sherlock Holmes are a collection of short stories and fictional novels created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. These stories are based on a famous and most notorious detective all throughout London, Sherlock Holmes. Along his side, Dr. Watson narrates his and Holmes’ detective cases and reveals Sherlock’s abilities and knowledge of solving cases and fighting deadly crimes. For the duration of the stories, Watson and Holmes share a particular relationship where Holmes verbally dominates Watson, “You see, but you do not observe. The distinction is very clear” (Doyle 241). When he isn’t insulting Dr. Watson he talks about how much he relies on his partner, “I am lost without my Boswell” (Doyle 243).
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a British physician and writer, mostly well known for his stories “Sherlock Holmes”, which are generally in the field of crime fiction. He was a prolific writer whose other works include science fiction stories, historical novels, plays and romances, poetry, and non-fiction.
In the novel, The Hound of the Baskervilles, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick, Dr. Watson, is confronted with an eerie mystery situated around the fabled Hound of the Baskervilles. They are challenged with many risks and in the end must unearth the mystery before it is too late. Throughout the enigma, Sir Arthur explores the theme of what can happen when one does or does not let themselves be ruled and dominated by fear.
Sherlock Holmes, one of the most famous fictional characters in literary history is a detective capable of solving the most complex mysteries. The author behind the character, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is a very successful British writer. The majority of his literary success is due to his crime-fiction tales such as the Sherlock Holmes series. However, Mr. Doyle and Mr. Holmes himself must not take all the credit because there is another character that plays a major role in the stories success. He goes by the name of Dr. Watson, Holmes’ sidekick. The importance of Dr. Watson is evident in many of Doyle’s stories such as A Scandal in Bohemia and A Study in Scarlett.
The iconic image of Sherlock Holmes as a suave English gentleman wearing a Deerstalker cap and a cape was portrayed in most of the feature films. He was created in the 19th century and was the prime figure in four novels and more than 50 short stories. For this reason of the continued popularity, the novels, comic books, television shows, theater movies and the newest T.V productions, Sherlock and his broad shoulders will continue to credit the writings of Arthur Conan Doyle. Holmes has recently shifted from a Victorian image to a 21st century super hero. The star role continues to be inspiring and irresistible.