(Task #1) Introduction
This paper will look at Treasure Island a young adult, coming of age, adventure fiction novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. The story was first published as a book on November 14, 1883 by Cassell and Co., after originating in as a serial in the children’s magazine Young Folk from 1881-1882. The original title of work was Treasure Island, or the Mutiny of the Hispaniola and Stevenson was credited under the pseudonym of Captain George North. However, the first title that Stevenson had wanted to bestow on his story was the Sea Cook which was a reference to Long John Silver.
(Task #2) Brief Plot Summary:
The book is set in the late 1700’s and is about a young boy named Jim Hawkins who finds a map that was left by Billy Bones an old sea captain who live in the inn Jim’s parents own. The discovery of the map initiates the hunt for the treasure that was hidden on an island by the pirate Captain Flint. Jim joins the trip and soon realizes the only person on the ship that is trustworthy is Captain Smollett as most of the crew are Flint’s former men. Once they get to the fictitious island set in the West Indies they discover that the treasure is gone. It had been removed months before by Ben Gunn who had been marooned on the island three years before by Flint and his crew. Silver prevents the pirates from killing Jim. In the end Silver, Gunn and the protagonists take the treasure and leave the pirates on the island with a few provisions.
(Task #3) A major scene:
In the beginning of the book a man named Billy Bones lives at the inn Jim’s parents own. It is unknown that he is a former pirate because he is finding from the former crew. However, he enjoys singing Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest—/Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum! / Drink and the devil had done for the rest—Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum! (Stevenson pg.10). This song works as a type of foreshadowing for the drunken behavior of the pirates that leads to their failure as well as the treasure chest itself. Later one of his crew Black Dog finds him and this causes Billy to have a stroke. The same night Jim’s father dies. Soon afterwards a man named Pew shows up demanding the captain meet them the next morning. The captain falls dead. The song combined with the pirates attempting to steal Billy’s chest that lead to Jim and his mum finding the treasure map that leads the protagonists to seek the treasure. This is because without the discovery of the treasure map there would be no story. After finding the map Jim, Dr. Livesey, Captain Smollett and Squire Trelawney decide to embark on a mission to the island where Flint had left his treasure in order to find it.
(Task #4) Another major scene:
Another important scene in the book is when Jim discovers that Long John Silver is a pirate. Long John Silver had found his way onto the Hispaniola as a cook. He was given the power to hire as he pleased due to his articulation and intelligence. This resulted in Silver hiring many of Flint’s former crew and he is now trying to convert many of the non-pirates in order to mutiny once they reach the island. When one of the shipmate Israel Hands joins the pirates and tells Silver about how rough and ready Billy was. Silver replies with "Right you are, rough and ready. But mark you here, I'm an easy man - I'm quite the gentleman, says you; but this time it's serious. Dooty is dooty, mates. I give my vote - death. When I'm in Parlyment and riding in my coach, I don't want none of these sea lawyers in the cabin a coming home, unlooked for, like the devil at prayers. Wait is what I say; but when the time comes, why, let her rip!" (Stevenson pg.68)
(Task #5) Analysis
The novel is a children’s story because it is about a young boy’s adventures with and subsequent defeat of pirates. During his adventure he must face death and his own morality when he kills Israel Hands to protect himself. The first theme is growth-In the novel Jim also transitions from a boy to a man at least in spirit when he outsmarts the pirates, and saves many lives. In the novel Jim forgoes the safe way of life that is endorsed by the men he trusts such as Dr. Livesley, and Squire Trelawney for that of the pirate. Jim emulates many of Silver’s behaviors by being impulsive. This results in him sneaking on the pirate’s boat and deserting his Captain, staging a mutiny, killing Israel Hands and naming himself Captain of the ship. Later he gives Silver a tribute showing that he has had a strong impact on who he has become. The second theme is talking animals- the parrot Cap’n Flint, who is perched on Silver’s shoulder. He is eerie in that he is constantly repeating the words and songs of the pirates "Pieces of eight! pieces of eight! pieces of eight!" (Stevenson pg. 98). It is also said that he has been witness to two hundred years of pirating. Theme three is the desire- this is an important part of the story as desire for the treasure is the motivating factor that led all of the men to partake the journey. The question in the book is what actions will their greed and desire force them to take. Jim became more pirate like in his attempts to defeat the pirates, Silver showed more humanity when he chose to protect Jim, and Ben Gunn who had found the treasure realized that it was pointless when he was stuck on the island alone. Jim himself comes to the conclusion that he would rather not have any more pirate adventures and that he does not really want the treasure at all “The bar silver and the arms still lie, for all that I know, where Flint buried them; and certainly they shall lie there for me or start upright in bed, with the sharp voice of Captain Flint still ringing in my ears: ‘Pieces of eight! pieces of eight!’” (Stevenson pg. 183)
(Task #6) Outcome:
The story seems to enforce gender stereotypes as all of the characters are male and they all behave as stereotypical male ways. They are impulsive, brash, prone to violence, thirsting for adventure. “Sir, with no intention to take offence, I deny your right to put words into my mouth.” (Stevenson pg. 53). Jim learns a number of lessons in the story. The most important being to remember who you are. In his desire to get the treasure and to be a hero Jim had started to go down the path of piracy. He had thought that he was invincible and even killed a man. However, when he got home he realized that he would have rather left the treasure on the island. This is because it had no meaning to him do to the actions that it took to obtain it.
(Task #7) Outside Influences
The novel has been made into numerous movies including “Muppet Treasure Island” by Jim Henson in 1996. There have also been TV shows based on the novel as well as a Treasure Island theme park, music and books that have been attributed to the novel or characters within the novel. There does not seem to be any impact on the original as all of the aforementioned work to keep the spirit of the original story.
Work Cited
Stevenson, Robert Louis. Treasure Island. Oxford: Macmillan, 2005. Print.
