Consolidating and Challenging the Cultural Worldview of the British Empire in Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Sign of Four"

Term Paper , 2014 , 21 Pages , Grade: 1,3

English Language and Literature Studies - Literature

This term paper analyses Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Sign of Four" in the light of Juri Lotman's theories of space and boundary crossings. Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes novel provides a good example for the representation of both Britishness and the foreign, exotic other. It reflects a cultural worldview of imperial Britain at the closure of the 19th century and establishes a fixed moral order. Formerly clear-cut and well-defined notions of Britishness, however, are also challenged as a result of the colonial endeavour, and this invokes popular fears in Victorian Britain. The novel tries to re-establish order with respect to gender, race and space, while it cannot deny the increasing impact of foreign elements on Britain.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Main Body
  • Theoretical Background
    • E. Said: Narrative, Culture and Imperialism
    • Lotman: Space and Boundary Crossings
  • Text Analysis Doyle's The Sign of Four
    • Narrative Level
      • The Sidekick Pattern vs the Plotless System/System with Plot
      • Genre
    • Moral Order, Boundaries and Spatial Realization
      • Gender
      • Race
      • Space: Home and Abroad
        • Home: The Imperial City
        • In-between Characters and Frame Narrative
        • Abroad: The Depiction of the Great Mutiny
• Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This term paper examines the representation and consolidation of a cultural worldview within Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes novel, The Sign of Four, focusing on the concept of space and boundaries as crucial elements of the narrative. The analysis utilizes theoretical frameworks developed by Edward Said and Jurji Lotman to investigate how the narrative structure, character constellations, spatial depiction, and use of factual elements contribute to the underlying hierarchy of empire and a corresponding moral order.

• The role of narrative in shaping and reinforcing imperial ideology
• The relationship between space and moral order in literary texts
• The representation of gender, race, and space as markers of imperial power
• The interplay of Britishness and the "foreign exotic other" in The Sign of Four
• The anxieties and propaganda surrounding the stability of the British Empire

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The Introduction sets the context by exploring the significance of multiculturalism in contemporary Britain and the enduring legacies of colonialism and racism. It argues that cultural products of the 19th century, particularly those from the high point of the British Empire, offer valuable insights into the imperial mindset and associated anxieties. The Sign of Four is presented as a case study for examining the representation of both Britishness and the foreign "other" in this context.

The Theoretical Background section delves into the theories of Edward Said and Jurji Lotman. It discusses Said's concept of "contrapuntal reading" and how imperial ideology is embedded in the narrative structures of 19th-century British novels. The chapter also explores Said's argument that the novel functioned as a major intellectual voice in shaping imperial attitudes and references, and that the genre itself contributed to the consolidation of a "departmental cultural view." It further examines Said's emphasis on the use of factual references, simplifications, and one-sided viewpoints in imperial narratives, and how these contribute to a specific representation of the colonial "other." Additionally, the chapter introduces Lotman's theory of space as a model for understanding the world picture created by a text, emphasizing the relationship between spatial order and cultural hierarchy.

The Text Analysis section focuses on The Sign of Four, examining the narrative level, including the sidekick pattern and genre, as well as the moral order, boundaries, and spatial realization within the text. It explores the representation of gender, race, and space as elements of the imperial hierarchy, analyzing the depiction of "Home" as the imperial city, the role of "in-between" characters, and the representation of the Great Mutiny as a manifestation of imperial anxiety and resistance.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The key focus of this paper is on the representation of imperial ideology and anxieties in Arthur Conan Doyle's The Sign of Four. The study analyzes how the novel consolidates and challenges a cultural worldview of empire through its use of space, boundaries, and narrative structures. Key concepts include contrapuntal reading, imperial narrative, space and moral order, gender, race, and the depiction of "Home" and "Abroad" in the context of the British Empire. The paper draws on theories by Edward Said and Jurji Lotman to examine the underlying hierarchies and power dynamics embedded within the text.

• College: University of Constance (Anglistik/Amerikanistik)
• Course: British Literature and Culture II
• Grade: 1,3
• Author: Rüdiger Thomsen (Author)
• Publication Year: 2014
• Pages: 21
• Catalog Number: V1153715
• ISBN (eBook): 9783346545206
• ISBN (Book): 9783346545213
• Language: English
• Tags: Sherock Holmes, British Empire, The Sign of Four, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle