Treasure Island Pirates

Amongst the many pirates in Treasure Island, some stick in my memory more than the others:

Blind Pew

Blind Pew has only a small role in Treasure Island, but it is a vital "initiating event". Pew visits the inn to find a seaman called Billy Bones who is staying there. Pew gives Billy the infamous Black Spot. This is a warning and a threat - if Bones does not hand over the treasure chest, he will die. Before he has a chance to comply, Bones dies of fear. The Black Spot has now come to be a common symbol of impending doom.

Long John Silver

Of all the pirates in real life or fiction, Long John Silver must be one of the most famous. "Infamous" would be a better word since Silver is a nasty piece of work. His most well-known features are his peg leg and his parrot.

Captain Flint

There are two Captain Flints in Treasure Island. The first is the pirate captain John Flint of the ship the Walrus. It is Flint's buried treasure that the expedition seeks. Flint is described as "the bloodthirstiest buccaneer that sailed".

The more well-known Captain Flint is not a pirate but a bird! Long John Silver named his parrot "Captain Flint" after his old captain - a move that was probably not intended as a mark of respect! The parrot constantly squawks out Pieces of Eight.

Ben Gunn

Poor Ben, a pirate we can feel sorry for. Gunn used to be part of Captain Flint's crew who was marooned on Treasure Island for three years. The experience hasn't been good for him physically or mentally - he a wreck. Yet in many ways it's Gunn who gives the novel a moral centre. Unlike the other pirates he has reformed and seen the error of his ways. He joins the "good guys" - and unlike Silver his change of sides is sincere.