Question
How does Conan Doyle present empire and race in The Sign of the Four? Use Ch 12 (Small's confession) and the presentation of Tonga as starting points. (30 marks)
Mark scheme guidance:
- Tonga described as "little venomous devil"; "the queerest little thing that I have clapped eyes on" — dehumanising, othering language.
- Small's confession: presents himself sympathetically; rationalises colonial involvement; the treasure comes from India's wealth taken by the empire.
- The Indian Mutiny 1857 — context: violent crisis; British response brutal. Novel does not dwell on Indian perspectives.
- Watson's narrative adopts the imperial gaze unquestioningly.
- Modern critical reading: the novel's adventure depends on colonial violence.
- Top answers engage with AO3 critically — do not simply retell; argue about how Conan Doyle's presentation reflects Victorian imperial ideology.
30 marks · take your time before peeking.
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Generated by TopMyGrade AI · cross-check official sources before relying on the mark-scheme phrasing.