5 Quotes to use when writing about WATSON in 'The Sign of the Four'

5 Quotes to use when writing about WATSON in  'The Sign of the Four'

Watson is a super important character in 'The Sign of the  Four', and at the tie of writing he hasn't yet been the subject of an exam question. Let's get straight into it. Here are five quotes you can use when writing about Watson in 'The Sign of the Four'.

HOLMES (on WATSON's version of A Study in Scarlet) 

1. You have attempted to tinge it with romanticism.

One of Watson's key roles in is to mediate Holmes great adventures to the public. We see this in the modern TV Watson's blog posts. Here, however, Watson refers to Doyle's  first Holmes novel, 'A Study in Scarlet'.  So Watson plays the role of advertiser for Doyle's other works. Watson's role as mediator also highlights the link between Watson and Conan-Doyle, since both are essentially doing the same job, that of presenting Holmes' genius to eager readers.

The quote shows that Holmes disapproves of Watson's efforts. The verb "attempted" implies failure, and the verb "tinge" implies pollution. In Holmes' view Watson has added too much emotion, or "romanticism" to his version of the tale. 

On one level, Holmes appears to hold Watson in low regard, but we have to ask ourselves, how honest do we think Holmes is here. After all, if he disapproves of Watson's work, why does he permit him to carry on producing it? Is it possible that Holmes feels the need to deride Watson in order to keep his friend from leaving?

WATSON (on Holmes' deductive powers) 

2. You really are an automaton – a calculating machine. There is something positively inhuman in you at times.

As Holmes deduces the history of Watson's pocket watch, Watson's admiration contains a hint of disapproval. The word "automaton" means robot and implies that Holmes is in some sense lacking. Similarly the adjective "inhuman" implies that Watson disapproves of Holmes on some level. As a 'normal' human being and the reader's representative in the novel, Watson makes Holmes appear more human by highlighting the idea that the detective's strengths are also weaknesses.

WATSON

3. I lost my bearings, and knew nothing, save that we seemed to be going a very long way. Sherlock Holmes was never at fault

As Holmes and Watson weave there way through the streets of London, in a carriage, and at night, Watson is lost. Watson's cluelessness is there to counterpoint the keen intellect of the detective, Holmes. This is a key feature of the sidekick in a crime novel, as the novel's success depends upon our admiration and trust in the detective. 

Here Watson is able to highlight how Holmes is in some ways one with city. Holmes is London, he understands it in a way that honest strivers like Watson cannot. And his oneness with his environment that makes him brilliant.

WATSON

4. A wondrous subtle thing is love

With Holmes expressing the idea that emotion is opposed to "true cold  reason" that he "places above all things". He is unable to provide readers with a love interest. In 'The Sign of the Four' Watson fulfills this role. 

Here he uses two emotive adjectives "wondrous" and "subtle" to describe love. Both of these words are quite nebulous. What makes something "wondrous" and the fact that he links these two words to the underspecifc noun "thing" suggest that Watson is, in fact, pretty clueless about love.

Still readers are likely to find this romantic view rather endearing, even if it is a touch too saccharine.  

WATSON (on the shooting of Tonga)

5. Our pistols rang out together.

In the boat chase in chapter ten, Holmes and Watson are both armed. When the midget Tonga brings the blowpipe to his lips, Watson and Holmes fire. 

This quotation because it shows unity. Holmes (head) and Watson (heart) are in agreement that violence is the only appropriate response. The short sentence shows the importance of this moment. The choice of the verb "rang" is interesting because of its positive connotations and musical association, which also imply approval for the action.

It is significant that Holmes and Watson fire together. Neither of they, nor the reader know who actually felled Tonga, and this has the effect of diminishing the responsibility of both, neither feeling the need to justify their actions to the reader.

WATSON (to Mary Morstan) Bonus Quote!

These riches, sealed my lips. Now that they are gone I can tell you how I love you. 

Watson's strong sense of morality contrasts with the seeming amorality of Holmes. Watson reflects conservative values of Victorian England in that he does not believe that a man can marry a woman more wealthy than himself, so that when the treasure is discovered to be missing, he is freed of the restraints that society has placed upon him.

Dolyle uses the missing the treasure to clarify the potentially muddy waters surrounding Mary Morstan. Since the treasure was obtained through murder and theft, it would be unacceptable to some readers to see the honest Watson benefit from 'dirty' money.


Thanks for reading.