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Allusions
Chapter 4 — The Story of the Bald-Headed Man
Explanation and Analysis—The Backstories:
Doyle makes heavy use of flashback throughout The Sign of the Four in order to build out the world of the novel and give the full context for the events that happen. There are two main places that this occurs: in Chapter 4, "The Story of the Bald-headed Man," and Chapter 12, "The Strange Story of Jonathan Small." In both cases, the flashbacks serve as the backstory of the chapter's respective titular character.
In Chapter 4, Thaddeus Sholto—the "Bald-headed Man"—shares a flashback with Holmes, Watson, and Mary Morstan. The flashback explains the relationship between the Morstan and Sholto families and the reason why a vast treasure has been hidden in Pondicherry Lodge:
...I must prepare you by showing how we all stand to each other. In the first place, I must tell you that there are several points in the story of which I am myself ignorant. I can only lay the facts before you as far as I know them myself.
Related Themes:
Chapter 12 — The Strange Story of Jonathan Small
Explanation and Analysis—The Backstories:
Doyle makes heavy use of flashback throughout The Sign of the Four in order to build out the world of the novel and give the full context for the events that happen. There are two main places that this occurs: in Chapter 4, "The Story of the Bald-headed Man," and Chapter 12, "The Strange Story of Jonathan Small." In both cases, the flashbacks serve as the backstory of the chapter's respective titular character.
In Chapter 4, Thaddeus Sholto—the "Bald-headed Man"—shares a flashback with Holmes, Watson, and Mary Morstan. The flashback explains the relationship between the Morstan and Sholto families and the reason why a vast treasure has been hidden in Pondicherry Lodge:
Unlock with LitCharts A+...I must prepare you by showing how we all stand to each other. In the first place, I must tell you that there are several points in the story of which I am myself ignorant. I can only lay the facts before you as far as I know them myself.
Related Themes:
