Treasure Island

Although Jim Hawkins is the novel’s protagonist and narrator, in many ways John Silver is the novel’s center and animating force. He has one wooden leg, a big, jolly face, and often carries a parrot on his shoulder. He is hired onboard the ship as a sea cook but soon proves to be the leader of the pirates and capable of great violence. Early in the novel, the villagers in the hamlet near the Admiral Benbow Inn are so afraid of the pirate Flint that they are unwilling to assist Jim and his mother. However, by Silver’s own account, “There was some that was feared of Pew, and some that was feared of Flint; but Flint his own self was feared of me” (103).

If Jim’s principle trait is his honesty, then Silver’s principle trait is his dishonesty. When Jim first meets him in Bristol, Jim is taken in by Silver’s flattery and easy-going nature. Later, however, Jim hears Silver using the same flattery on others and soon understands that he is a deceptive man and holds no loyalties to anyone beyond himself. Silver is no simple pirate. He is intelligent, conniving, charismatic, and skillful. This makes him a challenging opponent for the captain and his men, and an engaging character to read about.

Captain Smollett is the captain of the Hispaniola hired by the squire. He is stern, disciplined, well organized, and knowledgeable. The doctor immediately respects the captain, while Jim and the squire at first strongly dislike him. The squire argues with the captain, and the two openly disagree about many matters. His aversion changes into respect, however, once the pirates’ mutiny is upon them. After the captain is struck during battle, the squire aids the captain. The captain remains calm and ordered throughout the battle on Treasure Island. He flies the flag of England at the stockade, even though it increases the risk of attack. All of these behaviors show that he is someone who merits loyalty, which places him in sharp contrast to Silver, who proves himself unworthy of respect.

Jim describes his impression of Dr. Livesey: “I remember observing the contrast the neat, bright doctor, with his powder as white as snow, and his bright, black eyes and pleasant manners, made with the coltish countryfolk” (9-10). Throughout the novel, the doctor remains a respectable and orderly gentleman. Like the captain, he is disciplined, honest, and hardworking, but also shrewd and capable of intelligent action. In Chapter 30 he visits the pirates to peacefully tend to their injuries and maladies, showing that he has a firm dedication to his profession and the order of the law. Along with the squire and the captain, he is one of the three leaders of the small band of honest men.

The squire is the doctor’s right-hand man. Although he proves to be an honest, capable, and diligent person, his flaws are more visible than those of the captain and the doctor. He is described as having a quick temper and a “bluff, rough-and-ready face” (53). When first exposed to the idea of enormous riches he grows excited, much like the pirates, and once onboard the ship he argues with the captain. However, in due time he becomes subservient to the captain and proves helpful to the crew as a good marksman. Along with the doctor and the captain, he is one of the three leaders of the honest men.

Ben Gunn has been marooned on Treasure Island for three years. Jim encounters him while running away from the murder he witnessed on the beach. Ben Gunn wears shabby clothes and seems to Jim to have lost his sanity; however, he proves crucial to the men’s defeat of the pirates by providing Jim with a small boat and digging up the treasure and removing it to a cave elsewhere on the island.

The old captain in Part 1 is the prototypical seaman. He is fond of rum, sings the songs of pirates, tells tall tales of adventures on the water, is loose with his money, and is rough around the edges. It is through him that we first learn of Flint and the man with one leg (John Silver), and the treasure map he leaves behind sets the main plot in motion.