Sherlock Holmes in The Sign of the Four

The main character in the novel is the private detective, Sherlock Holmes. He is presented through the viewpoint of his friend, Dr John Watson, the narrator of the story. Watson describes him as a sharp and highly intelligent individual.

At the start of the novel, Holmes is injecting cocaine, which he argues he needs to numb his mind when there is nothing more interesting to occupy and challenge him. He is proud of his mental capacities and often dismissive towards those who he perceives to be less intelligent. In the opening chapters he demonstrates his powers of observation and deduction with reference to his work on tobacco identification and by correctly explaining the history of Watson's watch.

Holmes takes great pleasure in solving mysteries and outwitting others. In this story he correctly determines how Jonathan Small and Tonga steal the Agra treasure from Sholto's house.

He also has a strong sense of justice and at the end of the novel encourages Small to tell the truth so that he is not wrongly accused of Sholto's murder.

	How is Holmes like this?	Evidence	Analysis
Intellectual	Holmes is well-read, musically gifted and speaks at least two European languages.	"Are you well up in your Jean Paul?"	Holmes assumes that Watson will understand his reference to the German writer Jean Paul Richter. Although Watson does have some knowledge of the writer's work, the reader may not. The effect of this is that Holmes appears even more intellectually distant and superior.
Restless	Holmes thrives on mental challenges and puzzles. He prefers to be intellectually stimulated.	"But I abhor the dull routine of existence. I crave for mental exaltation."	When there is nothing intellectual to keep Holmes busy, he resorts to drugs to numb himself.
Observant	Holmes tells Watson about a recent work he has written about the subtle differences he has noticed in the ash of difference tobaccos.	"You have an extraordinary genius for minutiae," I remarked. "I appreciate their importance."	It is his close attention to detail and his finely-tuned skills of observation, along with his powers of deduction, that allow Holmes to solves otherwise baffling crimes.
Egotistical	Holmes asserts that he is the only worthy detective in the world.	"My mind," he said, "rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram or the most intricate analysis, and I am in my own proper atmosphere ... I abhor the dull routine of existence. I crave for mental exaltation. That is why I have chosen my own particular profession, or rather created it, for I am the only one in the world."	This quote reveals Holmes' egotistical belief in his own abilities and uniqueness.

Intellectual
How is Holmes like this?	Holmes is well-read, musically gifted and speaks at least two European languages.
Evidence	"Are you well up in your Jean Paul?"
Analysis	Holmes assumes that Watson will understand his reference to the German writer Jean Paul Richter. Although Watson does have some knowledge of the writer's work, the reader may not. The effect of this is that Holmes appears even more intellectually distant and superior.

Restless
How is Holmes like this?	Holmes thrives on mental challenges and puzzles. He prefers to be intellectually stimulated.
Evidence	"But I abhor the dull routine of existence. I crave for mental exaltation."
Analysis	When there is nothing intellectual to keep Holmes busy, he resorts to drugs to numb himself.

Observant
How is Holmes like this?	Holmes tells Watson about a recent work he has written about the subtle differences he has noticed in the ash of difference tobaccos.
Evidence	"You have an extraordinary genius for minutiae," I remarked. "I appreciate their importance."
Analysis	It is his close attention to detail and his finely-tuned skills of observation, along with his powers of deduction, that allow Holmes to solves otherwise baffling crimes.

Egotistical
How is Holmes like this?	Holmes asserts that he is the only worthy detective in the world.
Evidence	"My mind," he said, "rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram or the most intricate analysis, and I am in my own proper atmosphere ... I abhor the dull routine of existence. I crave for mental exaltation. That is why I have chosen my own particular profession, or rather created it, for I am the only one in the world."
Analysis	This quote reveals Holmes' egotistical belief in his own abilities and uniqueness.

Social and historical context

Police forces were established in England during the early 19th Century. Constables tended to be unskilled, working-class men, though there was a basic requirement for them to be literate and clear of any criminal history.

The Sign of the Four was published in 1890. To a certain extent, the character of Sherlock Holmes appealed to a sense of superiority amongst the upper social classes of Victorian Britain. They believed that the police were of inferior intellectual capabilities and we see this stereotype in Mr Athelney Jones. Holmes' ability to solve the mystery, where Mr Jones isn't, would amuse a contemporary audience.

Analysing the evidence

Twice as we ascended Holmes whipped his lens out of his pocket and carefully examined marks which appeared to me to be mere shapeless smudges of dust upon the cocoa-nut matting which served as a stair-carpet. He walked slowly from step to step, holding the lamp, and shooting keen glances to right and left.

— Sherlock Holmes as described in the novel

Question

How does Doyle present the character of Sherlock Holmes in the opening chapter?

Dr John Watson in The Sign of the Four

The Sign of the Four - Characters overview

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Characters - AQASherlock Holmes in The Sign of the Four