Most things

• Justice and crime

  Explored through the narrative's central mystery and the characters' quest for truth and retribution
• Disappearance of Captain Arthur Morstan


  1. Ensuing quest to uncover the truth

  2. Bring the perpetrators to justice
• Mary


  • Determined to seek justice for her father's unexplained disappearance
  • Seek justice for the injustices inflicted on her family
• Holmes and Watson

  • Join Mary in her pursuit for justice
  • Motivated by their unwavering moral convictions
• The novella underscores the importance of taking responsibility for one's actions by ensuring that the guilty parties are held accountable
• The Sholto siblings

  • Participated in stealing the Agra treasure and other subsequent crimes
  • Ultimately face the repercussions of their behaviour
• Seeking justice through the established legal system


  Taking matters into one's own hands
• Jonathan Small

  • Motivated by a desire for revenge
  • Takes the law into his own hands and becomes a vigilante figure
• Jonathan Small's pursuit of personal justice


  Holmes's commitment to upholding the rule of law
• Jonathan Small

  • Initially driven by vengeance
  • Ultimately demonstrates remorse and a desire for atonement
• Justice can involve the opportunity for individuals to redeem themselves and find forgiveness
• Holmes

  • Emphasises the importance of upholding the rule of law and working within the legal system to ensure justice
• Pursuit of personal vengeance


  Principles of a fair and balanced legal system
• Conan Doyle uses the theme of justice to go beyond mere punishment
• Justice

  • Encompasses the idea of restoring balance and righting the wrongs committed
  • Satisfies the need for punishment and provides a sense of resolution and closure for all those affected by the crimes
• Conan Doyle emphasises the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions, working within the bounds of the legal system, and seeking to restore balance and closure for the victims
• Through its exploration of justice, the novella delves into the moral obligations of the characters and the broader concept of maintaining a just society
• Greed and obsession


  • Prevalent themes in the novella
  • Destructive consequences of unchecked greed
• Agra treasure


  Catalyst for the theme of greed and obsession in the narrative
• Agra treasure

  • Symbolises wealth and power
  • Its allure entices and corrupts individuals
• Characters' obsession with the treasure


  Consumes their lives, distorts their priorities and leads to tragic outcomes
• Jonathan Small

  • Possesses an intense desire for wealth and retribution
  • His obsession with the treasure becomes all-consuming, leading him to commit heinous acts
  • His greed becomes a powerful force that motivates his actions and influences the course of the narrative
• Jonathan Small's greed


  Initially fuels his actions, but ultimately leads to loss and tragic consequences
• Pursuit of the stolen treasure

  • Drives Small and his associates to commit crimes, resulting in imprisonment and hardship
• Major Sholto

  • Motivated by his own greed, chooses to betray his former colleagues in an attempt to gain the treasure for himself
• Major Sholto and Jonathan Small

  Exemplify how greed blinds individuals to morality, ethics and the consequences of their actions
• Greed


  • Becomes a barrier to authentic relationships, highlighting its potential to erode the foundation of relationships
• Origins of the Agra treasure in India and involvement of British figures in its acquisition


  Reflect the imperialistic mindset of the time
• Quest for wealth and power in distant lands

  Symbol of the exploitative nature of colonialism, emphasising the greed and obsession that underpin such pursuits
• The Agra treasure acts as a powerful symbol which Conan Doyle uses to illustrate the alluring and destructive nature of material wealth
• By examining the consequences of greed and obsession, Doyle raises questions about human nature and the limits of one's desires
• The novella


  • Subtly explores the consequences and moral complexities of British colonial rule
• The Agra treasure originates from India, which was a colony under British rule at the time
• The Agra treasure


  Serves as a symbolic representation of the spoils of imperialism
• The acquisition of the Agra treasure by the British

  Highlights the sense of entitlement and exploitation that accompanied colonial rule
• Some of the characters' actions are driven by their desire for wealth and power
• The pursuit of wealth, power and dominance

  Is portrayed as a destructive force, leading to corruption, betrayal and loss of humanity
• Miss Morstan


  Represents the voices and perspectives of the marginalised, and sheds light on the cultural clashes and power dynamics that permeated the colonial relationship
• Miss Morstan's presence challenges stereotypes and highlights the complexity of the colonial experience
• Conan Doyle's intention

  To use the characters' involvement in the Agra treasure to raise questions about the ethics and morality of British colonialism, critically examine the notion of colonial superiority and its implications for justice and humanity, and explore the inherent flaws and contradictions within imperialism