TREASURE ISLAND

Plot Overview
JIM HAWKINS IS A YOUNG boy who lives at his parents inn, the A!iral "enbow, near "ristol,
#n$lan, in the ei$hteenth %ent&ry' An ol sea %aptain na!e "illy "ones ies in the inn a(ter
bein$ presente with a bla%) spot, or o((i%ial pirate veri%t o( $&ilt or *&$!ent' Ji! is stirre
to a%tion by the spot an its !ysterio&s, a%%&rate portent o( "illys eath' Hastily, Ji! an his
!other &nlo%) "illys sea %hest, (inin$ a lo$boo) an !ap insie' Hearin$ steps o&tsie, they
leave with the o%&!ents be(ore "illys p&rs&ers ransa%) the inn'
Ji! reali+es that the %ontents he has snat%he (ro! the sea %hest !&st be val&able, so he ta)es
one o( the o%&!ents he has (o&n to so!e lo%al a%,&aintan%es, -r' .ivesey an S,&ire
/relawney' #0%ite, they re%o$ni+e it as a !ap (or a h&$e treas&re that the in(a!o&s pirate
1aptain 2lint has b&rie on a istant islan' /relawney i!!eiately starts plannin$ an
e0peition' Na3ve in his ne$otiations to o&t(it his ship, the Hispaniola, /relawney is tri%)e
into hirin$ one o( 2lints (or!er !ates, .on$ John Silver, an !any o( 2lints %rew' Only the
%aptain, S!ollett, is tr&stworthy' /he ship sets sail (or /reas&re Islan with nothin$ a!iss,
&ntil Ji! overhears Silvers plans (or !&tiny' Ji! tells the %aptain abo&t Silver an the rest o(
the rebellio&s %rew'
.anin$ at the islan, 1aptain S!ollett evises a plan to $et !ost o( the !&tineers o(( the
ship, allowin$ the! leis&re ti!e on shore' On a whi!, Ji! snea)s into the pirates boat an
$oes ashore with the!' 2ri$htene o( the pirates, Ji! r&ns o(( alone' 2ro! a hiin$ pla%e, he
witnesses Silvers !&rer o( a sailor who re(&ses to *oin the !&tiny' Ji! (lees eeper into the
heart o( the islan, where he en%o&nters a hal(4%ra+e !an na!e "en G&nn' "en ha on%e
serve in 2lints %rew b&t was !aroone on the islan years earlier'
Meanwhile, S!ollett an his !en have $one ashore an ta)en shelter in a sto%)ae the pirates
have b&ilt' Ji! ret&rns to the sto%)ae, brin$in$ "en with hi!' Silver visits an atte!pts a
ne$otiation with the %aptain, b&t the %aptain is wary an re(&ses to spea) to hi!' /he pirates
atta%) the sto%)ae the ne0t ay, an the %aptain is wo&ne' #a$er to ta)e a%tion, Ji! (ollows
another whi! an eserts his !ates, snea)in$ o(( to h&nt (or "ens han!ae boat hien in
the woos'
A(ter (inin$ "ens boat, Ji! sails o&t to the an%hore ship with the intention o( %&ttin$ it
ari(t, thereby eprivin$ the pirates o( a !eans o( es%ape' He %&ts the rope, b&t he reali+es his
s!all boat has ri(te near the pirates %a!p an (ears he will be is%overe' "y %han%e, the
pirates o not spot Ji!, an he (loats aro&n the islan &ntil he %at%hes si$ht o( the ship
ri(tin$ willy' Str&$$lin$ aboar, he is%overs that one o( the wat%h!en, Israel Hans, has
)ille the other wat%h!an in a r&n)en (it' Ji! ta)es %ontrol o( the ship, b&t Israel t&rns
a$ainst hi!' Ji! is wo&ne b&t )ills Israel'
Ji! ret&rns to the sto%)ae b&t (ins it o%%&pie by the pirates' Silver ta)es Ji! hosta$e,
tellin$ the boy that the %aptain has $iven the pirates the treas&re !ap, provisions, an the &se
o( the sto%)ae in e0%han$e (or their lives' Ji! reali+es, however, that Silver is havin$ tro&ble
!ana$in$ his !en, who a%%&se hi! o( trea%hery' Silver proposes to Ji! that they help ea%h
other s&rvive by pretenin$ Ji! is a hosta$e' However, the !en present Silver with a bla%)
spot an in(or! hi! that he has been epose as their %o!!aner'
In a esperate atte!pt to $ain %ontrol o( his %rew, Silver shows the! the treas&re !ap to
appease the!' Silver leas Ji! an the !en to the treas&re site, b&t they are sho%)e to (in it
alreay e0%avate an the treas&re re!ove' /he !en are an$ere an near !&tiny a$ain' At
that !o!ent -r' .ivesey, "en G&nn, an the others (ire on the pirate ban, whi%h s%atters
thro&$ho&t the islan' Ji! an Silver (lee, an are $&ie by the others to "ens %ave, where
"en has hien the treas&re, whi%h he ha is%overe !onths be(ore'
A(ter spenin$ three ays %arryin$ the loot to the ship, the !en prepare to set sail (or ho!e'
/here is a ebate abo&t the (ate o( the re!ainin$ !&tineers' -espite the pirates s&b!issive
pleas, they are le(t !aroone on the islan' Silver is allowe to *oin the voya$e, b&t he snea)s
o(( the ship one ni$ht with a portion o( the treas&re an is never hear (ro! a$ain' /he voya$e
ho!e %o!es to a %lose' #vent&ally, 1aptain S!ollet retires (ro! the sea, an "en be%o!es a
lo$e4)eeper' Ji! swears o(( treas&re4h&ntin$ (orever an s&((ers (ro! ni$ht!ares abo&t the
sea an $ol %oins'
Character List
Jim Hawkins 4 /he (irst4person narrator o( al!ost the entire novel' Ji! is the son o( an
inn)eeper near "ristol, #n$lan, an is probably in his early teens' He is ea$er an
enth&siasti% to $o to sea an h&nt (or treas&re' He is a !oest narrator, never boastin$ o( the
re!ar)able %o&ra$e an herois! he %onsistently isplays' Ji! is o(ten i!p&lsive an
i!pet&o&s, b&t he e0hibits in%reasin$ sensitivity an wiso!'
ill! ones 4 /he ol sea!an who resies at Ji!s parents inn' "illy, who &se to be a
!e!ber o( Silvers %rew, is s&rly an r&e' He hires Ji! to be on the loo)o&t (or a one4le$$e
!an, th&s involvin$ the yo&n$ Ji! in the pirate li(e' "illys sea %hest an treas&re !ap set the
whole avent&re in !otion' His $r&(( re(&sal to pay his hotel bills sy!boli+es the pirates
$eneral opposition to law, orer, an %ivili+ation' His illness an his (onness (or r&!
sy!boli+e the wea) an sel(4estr&%tive aspe%ts o( the pirate li(estyle'
lack Do" 4 A pirate an ene!y o( "illy' "la%) -o$ pays an &ne0pe%te visit to "illy an
threatens hi!' "illy atta%)s "la%) -o$, who (lees b&t re!ains a heral o( %o!in$ violen%e in
the novel' "la%) -o$s na!e sy!boli+es both the ar) an the bestial sies o( pira%y'
S#$ire Trelawne! 4 A lo%al "ristol noble!an' /relawney arran$es the voya$e to the islan
to (in the treas&re' He is asso%iate with %ivi% a&thority an so%ial power, as well as with the
%o!(orts o( %ivili+e %o&ntry li(e 5his na!e s&$$ests both 6trees7 an 6lawn78' /relawneys
street s!arts, however, are li!ite, as the ease with whi%h the pirates tri%) hi! into hirin$
the! as his %rew e!onstrates'
Dr% Livese! 4 /he lo%al o%tor' -r' .ivesey is wise an pra%ti%al, an Ji! respe%ts b&t is not
inspire by hi!' .ivesey e0hibits %o!!on sense an rational tho&$ht while on the islan, an
his iea to sen "en to spoo) the pirates reveals a eep &nerstanin$ o( h&!an nat&re' He is
(air4!ine, !a$nani!o&sly a$reein$ to treat the pirates with *&st as !&%h %are as his own
wo&ne !en' As his na!e s&$$ests, .ivesey represents the steay, !oest virt&es o(
everyay li(e rather than (antasy, rea!, or avent&re'
Ca&tain Smollett 4 /he %aptain o( the voya$e to /reas&re Islan' 1aptain S!ollett is savvy
an is ri$htly s&spi%io&s o( the %rew /relawney has hire' S!ollett is a real pro(essional,
ta)in$ his *ob serio&sly an isplayin$ si$ni(i%ant s)ill as a ne$otiator' .i)e .ivesey, S!ollett
is too %o!petent an reliable to be an inspirational (i$&re (or Ji!s teena$e !in' S!ollett
believes in r&les an oes not li)e Ji!s isobeien%e9 he even tells Ji! that he never wishes
to sail with hi! a$ain'
Lon" John Silver 4 /he %oo) on the voya$e to /reas&re Islan' Silver is the se%ret rin$leaer
o( the pirate ban' His physi%al an e!otional stren$th is i!pressive' Silver is e%eit(&l an
isloyal, $reey an vis%eral, an oes not %are abo&t h&!an relations' Yet he is always )in
towar Ji! an $en&inely (on o( the boy' Silver is a power(&l !i0t&re o( %haris!a an sel(4
estr&%tiveness, inivi&alis! an re%)lessness'
en '$nn 4 A (or!er pirate !aroone on /reas&re Islan' 2lints pirate %rew le(t "en G&nn
on the islan (or three years' "ens solit&e has le(t hi! so!ewhat eran$e, an he has the
appearan%e o( a wil !an' He represents a e$raation o( the h&!an spirit, yet his e0perien%e
has le(t hi! !orally s&perior to the pirates' He is the only %hara%ter to be re(or!e, as he
shi(ts sies (ro! the pirates to the $oo !en, willin$ly helpin$ Ji! an .ivesey' "ens
&n%anny i!itations o( the ea pirate 2lints voi%e s&$$est that he is a )in o( a $host o( a
pirate'
Pew 4 An ol, blin be$$ar an pirate' :ew presents "illy with a bla%) spot, an &lti!at&! to
$ive &p the sea %hests %ontents to the pirate $an$' "illy ies soon a(ter :ews visit, an :ew
then ies in a %arria$e a%%ient' :ew %an be seen as an an$el o( eath, (oreshaowin$ the
!any pirate eaths in the novel'
Israel Han(s 4 /he %o0swain 5a sailor who steers8 on the ship' Hans is a (or!er $&nner on
earlier pirate voya$es' He is a%tin$ as one o( two $&ars on the ship when the other pirates are
ashore, b&t he $ets r&n), )ills the other $&ar, an lies in a r&n)en st&por while the ship
ri(ts ai!lessly' Hans sy!boli+es the re%)less behavior o( all the pirates'
Tom Re(r$th 4 One o( Ji!s sailor %o!panions on the ship' /o! is )ille by pirate $&n(ire
an b&rie with $reat %ere!ony on the islan, an event that ill&strates the $oo !ens respe%t
(or the ea'
S$mmar!) Cha&ter I
At the &r$in$ o( S,&ire /relawney, -r' .ivesey, an others, a boy na!e Ji! Haw)ins re%ors
his story abo&t /reas&re Islan' He o!its the islans e0a%t lo%ation, as a portion o( its treas&re
still re!ains b&rie there' Ji! be$ins the story by re%o&ntin$ his (irst !eetin$ with a ra$$e
b&t i!posin$ ol sea!an who shows &p at the A!iral "enbow, the inn Ji!s (ather owns'
/he ol sailor throws own a (ew $ol %oins an !oves in, stayin$ at the inn (or (ar lon$er
than his pay!ent %overs' He hires Ji! to stay on the loo)o&t (or a one4le$$e sailor who! he
apparently (ears' He terrori+es the others in the inn with his %oarse sailors son$s an heavy
rin)in$' .ivesy %a&tions the sailor abo&t the an$ers o( rin)in$, b&t these warnin$s enra$e
the sea!an, who threatens .ivesey with a )ni(e' .ivesey s&b&es the !an with his %al!
a&thority'
S$mmar!) Cha&ter II
On a %ol Jan&ary !ornin$ soon a(ter, a tall pale !an who is !issin$ two (in$ers enters the
inn' /he !an as)s Ji! i( he has seen his !ate "ill, or "illy "ones, as he is $enerally %alle,
who is re%o$ni+able by a s%ar on one %hee)' Ji! )nows the stran$er is re(errin$ to the ol
sea!an who is stayin$ at the inn, an he tells the stran$er that "ill will be ba%) soon' "ill
ret&rns, an he $asps when he re%o$ni+es his (or!er ship!ate, who! he aresses as "la%)
-o$' /he two la&n%h into a violent %onversation that Ji! %annot hear' /he %onversation ens
as "illy "ones atte!pts to )ill "la%) -o$ with his swor, b&t he is %&t short, as he s&enly
s&%%&!bs to a stro)e' .ivesey %ares (or "illy in the inn an warns hi! to stay away (ro! r&!,
whi%h in his ill health wo&l be lethal (or hi!'
S$mmar!) Cha&ter III
Ji! attens to the ailin$ "illy, who be$s hi! (or a swi$ o( r&! in ret&rn (or so!e !oney' Ji!
is o((ene, sayin$ he wants only what "illy owes his (ather (or rent' "&t he $ives "illy one
$lass o( r&!' #ner$i+e by the al%ohol, "illy says he !&st ,&i%)ly $et !ovin$ to o&ts!art his
p&rs&ers' He e0plains to Ji! that the (or!er %rew o( the ship he saile on, &ner the now4ea
1aptain 2lint, wants his sea %hest' /hat ni$ht Ji!s (ather, who has also been ill, ies'
;et&rnin$ (ro! his (athers (&neral, Ji! en%o&nters a sinister blin !an who as)s to be ta)en
to "illy' "illy appears si%)ene to see the blin !an, who hans hi! a bla%) spot, whi%h Ji!
has learne represents an o((i%ial se%ret pirate s&!!ons' ;eain$ the bla%) spot, "illy
eni$!ati%ally %ries o&t that he has only si0 ho&rs le(t' He sprin$s into to a%tion, b&t (alls
own, stri%)en with a (atal stro)e' Ji! is worrie an %alls (or his !other'
S$mmar!) Cha&ter I*
Ji! tells his !other abo&t the pirates plot to ta)e "illys sea %hest, an he (lees with her to the
nei$hborin$ villa$e to see) help' /erri(ie by the na!e o( ol 2lint, none o( the villa$ers is
willin$ to $o to the inn to o((er assistan%e' Ar!e with a $&n, Ji! ret&rns with his !other to
the inn' He sear%hes thro&$h the ea "illys %lothin$ to (in the )ey to the treas&re %hest'
2inin$ the )ey aro&n "illys ne%), Ji! an his !other open the %hest an (in $ol hien
at the botto!, a portion o( whi%h Ji!s !other %lai!s as her &e' /hey hear r&nnin$ (ootsteps
in the street o&tsie' Ji! ta)es so!e papers wrappe in an oil%loth that he has (o&n in the sea
%hest an then (lees the inn with his !other' Wea)ene by (ear, his !other (aints o&tsie' Ji!
s&%%ees in ra$$in$ her &ner a bri$e, o&t o( si$ht b&t within earshot o( the inn'
S$mmar!) Cha&ter *
/erri(ie b&t %&rio&s, Ji! loo)s o&t (ro! his hiin$ pla%e' He sees seven or ei$ht !en r&nnin$
towar the inn, a!on$ the! the blin !an who ha visite be(ore' /he ei$ht !en are
s&rprise to (in the inn oor open an "illy ea' /hey are %on%erne abo&t the %hest an
see! isappointe that it %ontains only "illys !oney< %learly they are !ore intereste in
so!ethin$ else that belon$e to 2lint' /he blin !an, who! the others aress as :ew, orers
the !en to s%atter an (in the (&$itives' He re!ins the! that they %o&l be as ri%h as )in$s i(
they (in the !issin$ ob*e%t'
#nra$e, :ew starts s%rea!in$ at his !en, an they all be$in to ,&arrel violently' Hearin$ a
pistol shot, however, the !en pani% an (lee, leavin$ the blin :ew alone on the roa' :ew is
a%%ientally r&n own an )ille by !en on horseba%) who have %o!e to investi$ate'
;et&rnin$ ho!e, Ji! (ins the inn r&ine' He reali+es that the oil%loth4wrappe papers in his
po%)et !ay be what the pirates so&$ht, b&t he is rel&%tant to han the! over to the o((i%er,
-an%e, who tries to ta)e %har$e o( the sit&ation' Ji! says he wo&l pre(er to show the papers
to -r' .ivesey, an he sets o(( with -an%es party (or .iveseys ho&se'
S$mmar!) Cha&ter *I
Ji!, -an%e, an the others arrive at -r' .iveseys ar)ene ho&se to learn that he is inin$ at
the ho!e o( S,&ire /relawney, a lo%al noble!an' /he $ro&p heas to /relawneys resien%e,
where they (in the two !en in the library' .ivesey e0a!ines the oils)in pa%)et that Ji! has
re%overe' /relawney %lai!s that the pirate 2lint is !ore bloothirsty than "la%)bear an has
a%%&!&late a h&$e (ort&ne' /hey open the boo) wrappe in the oils)in an (in that it is a
lo$ o( all the pla%es where 2lint a%,&ire loot, an o( the s&!s o( $ol that he obtaine in ea%h
pla%e' /he pa%)et also in%l&es a !ap o( the islan where the whole treas&re now lies b&rie,
with lon$it&e an latit&e etaile' /relawney an .ivesey are (ille with $lee, an start
!a)in$ plans to sail to the islan the!selves, brin$in$ Ji! alon$ as %abin boy' #veryone
present swears to se%re%y'
S$mmar!) Cha&ter *II
A(ter a (r&stratin$ elay in preparations (or the *o&rney to /reas&re Islan, Ji! is please to
hear that -r' .ivesey has re%eive a letter (ro! S,&ire /relawney es%ribin$ the ship an %rew
that he has obtaine' /he ship has been pro%&re thro&$h one o( /relawneys a%,&aintan%es in
"ristol, a !an who see!s all too reay to help hi! an has a poor rep&tation in the %ity'
/he ship is %alle the Hispaniola' /relawney relates that he ha so!e tro&ble (inin$ a %rew
(or the voya$e &ntil he ha the $oo (ort&ne to !eet &p with an ol one4 le$$e sailor na!e
.on$ John Silver' Silver tells /relawney that he !isses the sea an wishes to set sail a$ain as
the ships %oo)' /relawney hires hi!, an Silver helps arran$e the rest o( the %rew as well'
A(ter a sa (arewell with his !other, Ji! sets o&t the ne0t !ornin$ (or "ristol, a%%o!panie
by /o! ;er&th, another !an who will be on the ships %rew' At the inn in "ristol, they !eet
&p with /relawney, newly %lothe in a sea o((i%ers o&t(it' /relawney in(or!s the! that they
will sail the ne0t ay'
S$mmar!) Cha&ter *III
/relawney $ives Ji! a note to pass on to .on$ John Silver at the Spy4$lass, a tavern in the
town' Ji! sets o(( happily to (in the sailor' Silver is !ore %lean4%&t than Ji! e0pe%ts, b&t Ji!
re%o$ni+es hi! an intro&%es hi!sel(' J&st then, another %&sto!er in the bar s&enly $ets &p
to leave, attra%tin$ Ji!s attention' Ji! re%o$ni+es the !an as "la%) -o$ an in(or!s Silver'
Ji! is please to learn that Silver shares his ne$ative view o( "la%) -o$ an :ew' Silver wins
over Ji!s tr&st, an they stroll by the o%)s as Silver tells Ji! abo&t ships an sea li(e' Silver
is intro&%e to -r' .ivesey an treats hi! with respe%t' .i)ewise, .ivesey is ,&ite please to
have Silver as the ships new %oo)'
S$mmar!) Cha&ter I+
While boarin$ the ship, Ji!, Silver, an the others !eet Mr' Arrow, the (irst !ate, with
who! /relawney $ets alon$ well' /here is so!e ani!osity, however, between /relawney an
the %aptain, whose na!e is S!ollett' S!ollett is very opinionate, an spea)s openly abo&t his
isli)e o( !ost o( the %rew an abo&t the (a%t that he has a ba (eelin$ abo&t the voya$e'
S!ollett also as that there has been too !&%h blabbin$ abo&t the !ap an the treas&re,
tho&$h /relawney protests that he has tol no one' A(ter the %aptain leaves, .ivesey asserts
that he tr&sts Silver an S!ollett %o!pletely'
S$mmar!) Cha&ter +
/he voya$e be$ins on an o!ino&s note, as the (irst !ate, Mr' Arrow, t&rns o&t to be a hopeless
r&n) who is &seless on boar' He isappears !ysterio&sly one ni$ht, leain$ the others to
pres&!e that he (ell overboar in his r&n)enness' /he boatswain, Job Anerson, repla%es
Arrow' Ji! %ontin&es to be entran%e by Silver, i!presse by his swi(t one4le$$e
!ane&verin$s aro&n the e%)' Ji! is also (as%inate by Silvers two4h&nre4year4ol parrot,
whi%h is na!e 1apn 2lint, a(ter the (a!e b&%%aneer' ;elations between /relawney an
S!ollett are still so!ewhat straine, b&t the voya$e pro%ees nor!ally' One evenin$, Ji! $ets
h&n$ry (or an apple an %li!bs into an apple barrel on boar, where, &ns&spe%te, he
overhears an i!portant %onversation'
S$mmar!) Cha&ter +I
Hiin$ in the apple barrel, Ji! overhears .on$ John Silver tellin$ several other %rew!e!bers
abo&t so!e o( his avent&res with ol 2lint' Silver !entions that he has nearly three tho&san
po&ns sa(ely hien away in the ban), $aine (ro! his e0ploits with the other 6$entle!en o(
(ort&ne,7 whi%h Ji! %orre%tly $&esses is *&st another wor (or pirates' Ji! learns that !ost o(
ol 2lints (or!er %rew!e!bers are on boar the ship now, posin$ as orinary %rew b&t
plottin$ to ta)e the treas&re (or the!selves' Silver !entions that so!e o( the other
%rew!e!bers have *oine the %onspirators, tho&$h others have re(&se' Ji! wat%hes the
pirates parta)e o( a se%ret stash o( r&!' As the !en rin), the %ry o( 6.an ho=7 is hear (ro!
on e%)'
S$mmar!) Cha&ter +II
With the islan visible be(ore the!, S!ollett an his %rew is%&ss the best pla%e to rop
an%hor' S!ollett %ons&lts a !ap o( the islan, an Ji! noti%es that it is an e0a%t %opy o( the
treas&re !ap he saw be(ore, b&t witho&t the 6>7 !ar)in$ the treas&res hiin$ pla%e' Silver
)nows the islan well, an o((ers avi%e, enth&siasti%ally tellin$ Ji! how !&%h he en*oys the
islan' S!ollett %on$rat&lates the %rew on a *ob well one, an then !eets with /relawney
below e%)' .ater, Ji! $oes below e%) an warns S!ollett an /relawney abo&t Silvers
%ri!inal intentions, tellin$ the! what he overhear while hiin$ in the apple barrel'
/relawney i!!eiately a!its that he has been a (ool in hirin$ the %rew an tr&stin$ Silver'
S!ollett &r$es everyone to stay vi$ilant'
S$mmar!) Cha&ter +III
Havin$ approa%he the islan in swelterin$ weather, the %rew is irritable an is%ontent' -r'
.ivesey warns the !en that they !ay be at ris) o( %ontra%tin$ tropi%al iseases on the islan'
Silver, with his )nowle$e o( the islans $eo$raphy, avises 1aptain S!ollett o( a $oo pla%e
to rop an%hor' S!ollett oes not reveal what he )nows abo&t the planne !&tiny' A(ter
%ons&ltin$ with S,&ire /relawney, he e%ies to allow the %rew to $o ashore (or iversion,
whi%h allows the honest !en to re%lai! %ontrol o( the ship'
S!ollett ta)es /o! ;er&th an several other honest sailors into his %on(ien%e an $ives
the! weapons' Silver leas the pirates ashore, believin$ that they will be able to re%over the
treas&re i!!eiately' Ji!, e%iin$ that his assistan%e is not neee on boar, hies in one o(
the pirates boats an $oes ashore with the!' However, Silver %at%hes si$ht o( Ji!, who
be$ins to re$ret his e%ision' ;ea%hin$ the shore be(ore the others, Ji! ,&i%)ly s%ra!bles
away (ro! the!'
S$mmar!) Cha&ter +I*
As Ji! s&rveys the islan, he is startle to hear voi%es nearby' He %reeps %loser an (ins
Silver aressin$ one o( the sailors na!e /o!, tryin$ to pers&ae hi! to *oin the !&tineers'
Silver !a)es it %lear that /o!s li(e is riin$ on his e%ision, b&t /o! e%lines politely b&t
(ir!ly' /hey s&enly hear a pier%in$ s%rea! (ro! (ar away, an /o! is $reatly alar!e'
Silver says %olly that the s%rea! !&st be (ro! Alan, another honest sailor who has re(&se to
*oin the pirates'
/o! tells Silver that Silver is his (rien no !ore an starts to wal) away' Silver (lin$s his
%r&t%h at /o!s ba%), )no%)in$ hi! own, an then wal)s over an )ills hi! with his )ni(e'
Ji! is terri(ie, reali+in$ that he has no way to $et ba%) to the ship witho&t bein$ spotte an
)ille by Silver an his $an$' Ji! starts to r&n eeper into the islan'
S$mmar!) Cha&ter +*
2leein$ the pirates, Ji! sees a h&!an (i$&re in the woos, an he (ears that it is a %annibal'
S&enly re!e!berin$ he is ar!e, Ji! $ains %o&ra$e an wal)s bris)ly towar the !an,
who is hiin$ behin a tree' Ji! as)s the !an his na!e, an the !an replies that his na!e is
"en G&nn an that he has been on the islan (or three years' Ji! as)s "en i( he was
shipwre%)e, an "en answers that he was !aroone' "en spea)s in a eran$e !anner,
!a)in$ !any reli$io&s all&sions' Ji! s&spe%ts that "en !ay be !a'
When "en as)s i( the ship !oore on the shore is 2lints, Ji! reali+es the wil !an !ay have
&se(&l in(or!ation' Ji! learns that "en on%e serve on 2lints %rew an th&s )nows all the
%&rrent !&tineers' "en was le(t behin on the islan a(ter a (aile treas&re h&nt three years
a$o' Ji! learns that 2lint b&rie his treas&re an )ille the si0 !en who helpe hi! b&ry it'
"en also !entions that he !ae a boat, whi%h he hies &ner a white ro%)' He ass&res Ji! that
he %an lo%ate the treas&re in ret&rn (or sa(e passa$e ho!e, an $&ies Ji! to his wellin$' On
the way there, Ji! is startle to see the Union Ja%), the $entle!an sailors (la$, pro&ly
wavin$ in the istant woos'
S$mmar!) Cha&ter +*I
-r' .ivesey ta)es over the narration at this point, be$innin$ his story at the !&tineers
epart&re (or the islan' -is%overin$ that Ji! is with the !&tineers, .ivesey an 1aptain
S!ollett (ear (or Ji!s sa(ety, an a$ree that .ivesey sho&l $o ashore alon$ with H&nter,
S,&ire /relawneys servant' On%e ashore, .ivesey %o!es &pon a sto%)ae 2lints !en b&ilt
years earlier, near a sprin$'
;et&rnin$ to the ship, .ivesey tells the others what he has (o&n' /he !en loa two boats with
provisions, ta)in$ the ris) that they !ay aro&se the s&spi%ions o( the !&tineers onshore'
1aptain S!ollett $ives Abraha! Gray, a sailor who has (allen in with the !&tineers, a last
%han%e to *oin hi! an his %rew' Gray s%&((les onto the boat, an they hea (or shore'
S$mmar!) Cha&ter +*II
/he little boat %arryin$ 1aptain S!ollett, S,&ire /relawney, -r' .ivesey, /o! ;er&th, an
Abraha! Gray is an$ero&sly overloae an th&s har to !ane&ver' /he !en be$in to
s&spe%t that the !&tineers !i$ht be plannin$ an atta%), aware that the pirates possess ar!s an
$&npower, an that Israel Hans was on%e 2lints $&n!an' /relawney tries to shoot Hans
b&t hits another pirate instea, tho&$h the !&tineers o not pay any 4attention' Hans (ires a
%annonball at the !ens boat, %a&sin$ it to (o&ner' No lives are lost, as the water is shallow,
b&t the !en are (or%e to leave hal( o( their provisions behin when they wae ashore'
S$mmar!) Cha&ter +*III
1aptain S!ollett an his $ro&p !a)e their way to the sto%)ae an pa&se to reloa their $&ns'
1o!in$ &pon the pirate they have *&st )ille, they re*oi%e in their s&%%ess' At this instant /o!
;er&th is shot' His wo&n is %learly (atal, an the $ro&p helps hi! to lie own an ie nobly'
S,&ire /relawney )isses /o!s han an as)s (or his (or$iveness' All a$ree that he has
nothin$ to (ear in the a(terworl, as he has ie in the line o( &ty'
/rappe in the sto%)ae, the $ro&p is bo!bare by %annon (ire thro&$ho&t the evenin$' /he
pirates ai! at the Union Ja%) in parti%&lar, b&t S!ollett re(&ses to ta)e in the (la$' He !a)es
an entry in his lo$boo) o( those in the sto%)ae, while .ivesey woners what has happene to
Ji!' J&st at this !o!ent, Ji! s&enly enters'
S$mmar!) Cha&ter +I+
Ji! res&!es the narration o( the tale' Havin$ seen the Union Ja%) (lyin$ above, he approa%hes
the sto%)ae alon$ with "en G&nn' Ji! is &ns&re whether it is 1aptain S!olletts %rew or the
!&tineers who %ontrol the sto%)ae, b&t "en, ass&rin$ hi! that the pirates wo&l never (ly the
Union Ja%), en%o&ra$es hi! to enter' A %annon shot !a)es the $oo sailors s%atter o&t o( the
sto%)ae'
.ater, Ji! ret&rns to shore to see the pirates bla%) (la$, the Jolly ;o$er, (lyin$ above the ship'
/he pirates voi%es s&$$est that they have been rin)in$ a lot o( r&!' Ji! enters the sto%)ae
to *oin S!olletts $ro&p an tell his story' S!ollett %are(&lly assi$ns tas)s to the !en to ivie
the labor, na!in$ Ji! the sentry' S!ollett as)s abo&t "ens sanity b&t isplays )inness to the
eran$e !an' Ji! sleeps, b&t wa)es to hear so!eone say that .on$ John Silver is
approa%hin$ with a (la$ o( tr&%e'
S$mmar!) Cha&ter ++
1aptain S!ollett is wary o( Silvers $est&re o( tr&%e, (earin$ a tri%)' /he pirate anno&n%es
hi!sel( as 61aptain Silver,7 an asserts that he wants to rea%h a %o!pro!ise with S!ollett'
S!ollett ,&estions Silvers %lai! to the title o( %aptain an re(&ses to tal) with hi!' Silver
hoists hi!sel( over the sto%)ae (en%e anyway, an approa%hes S!ollett' He e!ans the
treas&re !ap in e0%han$e (or a %ease4(ire' S!ollett an$rily re!ins Silver that he is (ar !ore
power(&l than the !&tineers' Silver tries a$ain, pro!isin$ the %aptain an his !en sa(e voya$e
in e0%han$e (or the !ap' When S!ollett a$ain re(&ses, Silver leaves ini$nantly'
S$mmar!) Cha&ter ++I
A(ter ro&$hly t&rnin$ Silver away, 1aptain S!ollett prei%ts that the pirates will atta%) the
sto%)ae in retrib&tion, an he orers the !en to prepare the!selves' /hey wait in an0io&s
e0pe%tation (or an ho&r, then hear a (ew shots an see the pirates s%ra!blin$ over the sto%)ae
(en%e' Gray an S,&ire /relawney (ire on the pirates, wo&nin$ several o( the!' A (i$ht
ens&es, an in the en, S!ollett, -r' .ivesey, Ji!, an !ost o( the others ret&rn sa(ely to the
sto%)ae, havin$ lost (ewer !en than the !&tineers'
S$mmar!) Cha&ter ++II
Seein$ no (&rther si$ns o( atta%) by the !&tineers, 1aptain S!ollett an his !en en*oy so!e
leis&re ti!e in the sto%)ae' Gray is startle to see -r' .ivesey $o wal)in$ o&t into the trees,
ta)in$ the !ap with hi!' Gray as)s whether .ivesey has $one !a, b&t Ji! answers that
.ivesey is $oin$ to spea) to "en G&nn' .e(t insie to %lean &p the blooy !ess o( the earlier
atta%), Ji! $rows i!patient, yearnin$ to o so!ethin$ !ore heroi%'
On another whi!, Ji! e%ies to $o sear%h (or the boat that "en ha !entione he ha b&ilt'
On the shore Ji! $li!pses Silver an his !en tal)in$ an la&$hin$, an hears the &nearthly
s%rea! o( Silvers parrot 1apn 2lint' A(ter a bit o( a sear%h Ji! (ins the s!all han!ae
boat, whi%h is a %ora%le 5a type o( boat on%e saile by the an%ient "ritons8' Ji! e%ies he will
sail o&t to the Hispaniola an %&t it ari(t' When ar)ness (alls, he hoists the %ora%le on his
sho&lers an heas (or the water'
S$mmar!) Cha&ter ++III
Ji! (ins the %ora%le har to sail, as it steers &nreliably, b&t he event&ally !ana$es to rea%h
the an%hore ship' Graspin$ the hawser, or an%hor rope, Ji! ta)es o&t his )ni(e an starts
%&ttin$, bein$ %are(&l not to let the %or snap at hi! when it brea)s' Waitin$ (or the win to
lessen the ropes tension so he %an (inish %&ttin$ it, he sits an listens to the r&e oaths an
r&n)en nonsense %o!in$ (ro! the pirates ship' One sailor is sin$in$ a !orbi sea son$ abo&t
a ship settin$ o&t with a %rew o( seventy4(ive an ret&rnin$ with only one alive'
When there is a bree+e, Ji! is able to %&t the last (ibers o( the rope an set the Hispaniola
ari(t' On a whi! he %l&t%hes the trailin$ rope an ha&ls hi!sel( to winow4level, peerin$ in
to see why no one has noti%e the s&en !otion o( the ship' He is%overs that the pirates are
istra%te, as Hans an another sailor are wrestlin$' S&enly (l&n$ ba%) into the %ora%le,
Ji! is startle to (in that he has ri(te near the pirates %a!p(ire on shore' S&re o( i!!inent
eath, he %o!!ens his so&l to Go an (alls asleep in the %ora%le, rea!in$ o( ho!e'
S$mmar!) Cha&ter ++I*
Upon awa)enin$, Ji! is%overs that he has ri(te to the so&thwest en o( /reas&re Islan'
:alin$ towar shore is &seless, as he wo&l be ashe to eath on the ro%)s that (or! this
e$e o( the islan' Ji! e%ies to try to !a)e his way towar a (rienlier shoreline to the
north' A(ter !&%h e((ort he (inally rea%hes the %ove he has ai!e (or, his throat b&rnin$ (ro!
thirst' He spots the Hispaniola ri(tin$ ai!lessly an %on%l&es that the %rew either is entirely
r&n) or has eserte the ship'
Ji! hat%hes a plan to try to boar the willy ri(tin$ Hispaniola, reali+in$ that he %an overta)e
the ship i( he sits &p an pales har' /ho&$h he r&ns the ris) o( bein$ spotte, he thin)s the
iea has an air o( avent&re abo&t it, so he starts palin$' 2inally rea%hin$ the ship, Ji!
%li!bs on boar an sear%hes (or water to ,&en%h his thirst' He hears the so&n o( the ship
bein$ blown into an estroyin$ the %ora%le, an )nows that es%ape (ro! the ship is now
i!possible'
S$mmar!) Cha&ter ++*
1li!bin$ aboar the Hispaniola, Ji! is s&rprise to see no one on e%)' A bit later, however,
he (ins two wat%h!en?one is Israel Hans, who lies splashe with bloo in a r&n)en
st&por9 the other is ea' Ji! aresses Hans, who be$s (or a little brany' -es%enin$ into
the %ellar, Ji! (ins that !ost o( the ships store o( al%ohol has been %ons&!e' He ret&rns
with a rin) (or Hans an as)s that Hans %onsier hi! the %aptain, sin%e Ji! has ta)en
possession o( the ship' In a sy!boli% $est&re, Ji! throws the pirates (la$, the Jolly ;o$er,
overboar
Hans o((hanely re(ers to the %orpse ne0t to hi!, ins&ltin$ the ea !ans Irish nationality
an notin$ that the ea !an is &nable to help navi$ate' Hans then asserts his own
navi$ational e0pertise an stri)es a eal with Ji!< i( Ji! $ives Hans (oo, rin), an !ei%al
help, Hans will assist Ji! in sailin$ the ship' /hey steer the ship towar the North Inlet o( the
islan, en*oyin$ a (avorable win' Ji! is eli$hte with his new position o( %o!!an, tho&$h
wary o( Hanss %are(&l wat%h over hi!'
S$mmar!) Cha&ter ++*I
Ji! an Hans approa%h the North Inlet b&t !&st wait (or a (avorable tie to %ast an%hor'
Hans proposes throwin$ the Irish!ans ea boy overboar, as he ob*e%ts to the %orpses
presen%e on e%)' Ji! replies that he oes not li)e the iea, an Hans respons that a ea
!an is si!ply ea' Ji! retorts that the spirit never ies' S&spi%io&sly, Hans %lai!s that the
brany is too stron$ (or his hea an as)s Ji! (or wine instea' Ji! (ei$ns inno%en%e an $oes
to (et%h so!e port wine, b&t wat%hes Hans in se%ret an observes hi! e0tra%t a lon$ )ni(e
(ro! a hiin$ pla%e an pla%e it &ner his *a%)et'
Ji! )nows that he nees Hans to $&ie the ship sa(ely into the inlet an re!ains wary o( hi!'
As he be%o!es absorbe by the e((ort o( !ane&verin$ the ship into its an%hora$e, he rela0es
his vi$ilan%e an Hans atta%)s hi!' /hey en$a$e in a (ier%e s%&((le' Ji! %li!bs &p a !ast an
Hans (ollows' Ji! p&lls his pistol on Hans, who (lin$s his )ni(e, pier%in$ Ji!s sho&ler an
pinnin$ hi! to the !ast' Ji!s $&n $oes o(( an Hans (alls into the water'
S$mmar!) Cha&ter ++*II
/he )ni(e still pinnin$ hi! a$ainst the !ast, Ji! wat%hes as Hanss boy rises on%e in the
water an then sin)s own' 1overe in bloo b&t not serio&sly wo&ne, Ji! initially (eels
(aint an terri(ie b&t !ana$es to re$ain his %o!pos&re' Sh&erin$, he (rees hi!sel( by
rippin$ the bit o( sho&ler s)in that the )ni(e has pinne to the !ast' He %li!bs own the !ast
to %are (or his wo&n an, seein$ the ea Irish!an on e%), p&shes hi! overboar an
wat%hes the boy in the water'
Now alone on the ship, Ji! e%ies that he is %lose eno&$h to the islan to swi! to shore
sa(ely' He rea%hes the islan an tre)s thro&$h the woos in sear%h o( 1aptain S!olletts
sto%)ae on the other sie o( the islan' He (inally $li!pses the $low o( a (ire in the istan%e,
an (ins that it is %o!in$ (ro! %a!p(ires in the sto%)ae' Ji! is s&rprise that S!ollett
wo&l allow s&%h a waste o( (irewoo' 1reepin$ into the sto%)ae, Ji! (ins the !en asleep'
A voi%e s&enly %ries o&t, 6:ie%es o( ei$ht=7 an Ji! re%o$ni+es the voi%e o( Silvers parrot,
1apn 2lint' ;eali+in$ that the pirates have ta)en over the sto%)ae, Ji! tries to (lee b&t is
hel ti$ht
S$mmar!) Cha&ter ++*III
Ji! a%%ientally enters the pirates %a!p an (ins that only si0 o( the pirates are still alive'
.on$ John Silver aresses Ji! (only, tellin$ the boy that he re!ins Silver o( what he was
li)e when he was yo&n$' Silver tells Ji! that -r' .ivesey is an$ry abo&t Ji!s esertion an is
$la to be ri o( hi!' Ji! only partially believes this state!ent, b&t he is relieve to hear that
his (riens are alive' Ji! reali+es that Silver is havin$ tro&ble !ana$in$ his !en, who are
s&rly an isrespe%t(&l' Ji! bolly reveals that he %&t the rope on the ship an )ille Hans,
an he tells Silver that he oes not (ear hi!'
Silver see!s !erely a!&se by Ji!, b&t his !en threaten to be%o!e violent' Silver strives to
assert his power over the !&tineers, b&t they asse!ble in a (ar %orner, leavin$ Silver an Ji!
in the other %orner' Silver whispers to Ji! that the !en are %lose to another !&tiny, an that he
an Ji! nee to rely on ea%h other to save their s)ins' He tells Ji! to play the role o( the
hosta$e, to %onvin%e Silvers !en that Silver is still in %har$e' 2inally, Silver reveals that
.ivesey has $iven hi! the treas&re !ap, whi%h astonishes Ji!'
S$mmar!) Cha&ter ++I+
Ji! an Silver await the en o( the pirates %o&n%il' One o( the pirates hans Silver a bla%)
spot, the o((i%ial pirate *&$!ent, %&t o&t o( a pa$e o( the "ible' Silver %as&ally reas the
*&$!ent, whi%h anno&n%es that he has been epose (ro! his position as a p&nish!ent (or
b&n$lin$ the !ission' 2&rio&sly, Silver retorts that i( his wishes ha been (ollowe, the !en
wo&l alreay be in possession o( the treas&re' He %lai!s the (ail&re is the (a&lt o( the !en,
be%a&se they (or%e his han as %aptain' Silver also tells the !en that they are all very %lose to
bein$ han$e' He insists on the &se(&lness o( havin$ Ji! as hosta$e an re!ins the !en that
it was he, Silver, who arran$e (or -r' .ivesey to ten to the! every ay'
As a (inal $est&re Silver (lin$s own the treas&re !ap .ivesey has $iven hi!, an the !en
$ather aro&n his sie a$ain' Silver tosses Ji! the bla%) spot as a so&venir, an Ji! reas the
bibli%al ,&ote, (ro! the bibli%al "oo) o( ;evelation, that is on the paper' Ji! $oes to sleep
thin)in$ o( the !an he has )ille that ay an o( Silvers (ate'
S$mmar!) Cha&ter +++
Ji! wa)es &p the ne0t !ornin$ as -r' .ivesey arrives to ten to the pirates' Ji! is happy to
see the o%tor, b&t (ears his isapproval' .ivesey is visibly sho%)e to see Ji!, b&t oes not
spea) to hi!, an pro%ees to treat his patients' 2inally he as)s to see Ji! alone' One o( the
pirates voi%es a re(&sal, b&t Silver insists that that the re,&est be $rante' Ji! an .ivesey
avan%e to the other sie o( the sto%)ae, still in view o( Silver' .ivesey e0presses s&rprise
that Silver is not worrie abo&t losin$ his hosta$e, an Silver replies that he tr&sts .ivesey as a
$entle!an'
.ivesey a%%&ses Ji! o( bein$ %owarly in esertin$ the %aptain at a !o!ent o( wea)ness' Ji!
be$ins to weep' .ivesey s&enly s&$$ests that they both !a)e a r&n (or it an (lee the pirates'
Ji! respons that s&%h an a%tion wo&l not be ri$ht' He tells .ivesey that he )nows the
lo%ation o( the Hispaniola' .ivesey e0%lai!s that Ji! !ana$es to save their lives at every step'
He ret&rns Ji! as a hosta$e to Silver an warns Silver not to be in any h&rry to (in the
treas&re'
S$mmar!) Cha&ter +++I
Silver than)s Ji! (or savin$ his li(e an (or not r&nnin$ away when -r' .ivesey en%o&ra$e
hi! to o so' Ji! an Silver sit own to brea)(ast, an Ji! is astonishe by the (a%t that the
ban has prepare three ti!es as !&%h (oo as is neee' Silvers !en are happy, %on(ient o(
sei+in$ the treas&re soon, b&t Ji! is sa in his %ertainty that Silver will betray hi! at the
soonest pra%ti%al !o!ent'
A(ter brea)(ast the pirates set o(( on the treas&re h&nt, with Silver leain$ Ji! on a leash'
/hey tr&$e thro&$h the hills, perioi%ally pa&sin$ to %ons&lt the !ap' ;ea%hin$ the top o( a
hill, the pirates are sho%)e to (in a s)eleton in sea!ans $arb, stret%he o&t on the $ro&n
li)e a %o!pass, pointin$ to the treas&re' /he !ans )ni(e is !issin$, s&$$estin$ that the pirates
are not the (irst to have %o!e a%ross the s)eleton' /he pirates re%o$ni+e the s)eleton as a
(or!er !ate, Allary%e, who serve on 2lints %rew, be%a&se o( its lon$ bones an yellow hair'
2ollowin$ Allary%es %l&e, they hea on towar the treas&re'
S$mmar!) Cha&ter +++II
/a)in$ a rest (ro! the sear%h, Silver e0presses his %on(ien%e that they are %lose to the
treas&re' One o( the pirates (eels &neasy thin)in$ abo&t 2lint, an Silver says they are l&%)y
the ol %aptain is ea' /he pirates s&enly hear a tre!blin$, hi$h voi%e sin$in$ the sa!e
son$ the pirates (re,&ently sin$, 62i(teen !en on the ea !ans %hest'7 One o( the pirates
%lai!s the voi%e is 2lints, an the !en $row terri(ie, thin)in$ they have awa)ene a $host'
/he pirates hear the voi%e a$ain, an it wails what all the !en re%o$ni+e as 2lints last wors'
One o( the !en ta)es o&t his "ible an starts prayin$' Silver, the only one who re!ains
&na&nte, s%orns the other !ens belie( in spirits an )eeps (o%&se on the sear%h (or the
treas&re' /he pirates %ontin&e onwar' As they approa%h the treas&re site, Silvers nostrils
,&iver an he see!s hal( !a' S&enly %o!in$ &pon the site, the pirates are sho%)e to (in
it has alreay been e0%avate, an only an e!pty hole lies be(ore the!'
S$mmar!) Cha&ter +++III
Silver an his !en are astonishe that the treas&re is $one' Silver hans Ji! his $&n, reali+in$
that he nees the boy a(ter all' Ji! %olly a%%&ses Silver o( %han$in$ sies a$ain' /he !en i$
in the pit an (in a (ew %oins' One o( the! a%%&ses Silver o( havin$ )nown all alon$ that the
treas&re was $one' /he an$ere pirates s&enly see! &nite a$ainst Silver an be$in to !ove
&pon hi!' S&enly a $&n (ires (ro! so!ewhere in the s&rro&nin$ thi%)et, %&ttin$ own
several o( the pirates' Silver raws his pistol, )illin$ the pirate who ha a%%&se hi!' -r'
.ivesey, "en G&nn, an Abraha! Gray e!er$e (ro! the trees, their !&s)ets s!o)in$'
Silver than)s .ivesey (or savin$ hi! (ro! the &prisin$ an $reets "en G&nn a((e%tionately'
We learn that "en, in his wanerin$s abo&t the islan, ha %o!e a%ross the s)eleton, &$ &p
the treas&re, an !ove it to a %ave' .ivesey (o&n o&t abo&t "ens a%tions an $ave the !ap
to Silver only a(ter he )new it was &seless' .earnin$ that Ji! wo&l be a!on$ the
isappointe treas&re4see)ers, .ivesey sent "en o(( to i!itate 1aptain 2lints voi%e, playin$
on the pirates s&perstitions an slowin$ their pro$ress'
2inally, the $ro&p $oes to the %ave an (ins the vast treas&re o( $ol *&st where "en le(t it'
1aptain S!ollett tells Ji! that he will never $o to sea with hi! a$ain' /hey all en*oy a $oo
!eal to$ether, with Ji! espe%ially happy a!on$ his (riens'
S$mmar!) Cha&ter +++I*
/he ne0t !ornin$, the !en be$in the i((i%&lt tas) o( transportin$ all the $ol own to the
Hispaniola' Ji! is (as%inate by the %oins?(ar !ore by the variety o( their esi$ns an
nations o( ori$in than by the wealth they represent' On the evenin$ o( the thir ay o( loain$
the ship, the !en is%over three o( the !&tineers, who are either r&n) or %ra+y' /he !en
e%ie to leave the three !&tineers !aroone on the islan with a s!all a!o&nt o( provisions'
As 1aptain S!ollett an his !en (inally !a)e preparations to e!bar), the three !&tineers
)neel be(ore the! in s&b!ission, be$$in$ to be ta)en on boar' Unerstanin$ that they are
bein$ le(t behin, they (ire at the epartin$ ship, b&t no one is h&rt' S!ollett sets %o&rse (or a
port in Spanish A!eri%a be(ore t&rnin$ ho!e' /he Hispaniola event&ally ret&rns to "ristol'
Steppin$ ba%) (ro! his tale, Ji! reports that 1aptain S!ollett is retire (ro! the sea li(e, that
"en has spent his rewar an is now a lo$e4)eeper, an that Silver %rept overboar one ni$ht
&rin$ the voya$e with a (ew ba$s o( the treas&re, never to be hear (ro! a$ain' Ji! wishes
Silver well' He notes that the re!ainer o( the treas&re still lies b&rie on the islan, b&t
%lai!s that nothin$ wo&l ever in&%e hi! to ta)e part in another treas&re h&nt' He says that
he still has ni$ht!ares o( Silvers parrot %ryin$, 6:ie%es o( ei$ht= pie%es o( ei$ht=7
Anal!sis o, -a.or Characters
Jim Hawkins
As the narrator o( Treasure Island an the insti$ator o( its !ost i!portant plot twists, Ji! is
%learly the %entral %hara%ter in the novel' :robably aro&n twelve or thirteen years ol, he is
the ,&iet an obeient son o( the owner o( an inn near "ristol, #n$lan' As events &n(ol
thro&$ho&t the novel, Ji!s %hara%ter %han$es ra!ati%ally, showin$ in%reasin$ %leverness,
%o&ra$e, !at&rity, an perspe%tive' In the (irst %hapters, Ji! is an easily (ri$htene boy who is
%losely asso%iate with his ho!e an (a!ily' S%are by the %r&sty ol sea!an :ew, Ji! r&ns
to his !other (or prote%tion' A(ter his (ather ies an he e!bar)s on the avent&re, Ji! starts
to thin) (or hi!sel( an shows in%reasin$ initiative' Ji! !a)es repeate !ista)es, b&t he
learns (ro! the!, whi%h si$nals that he is !at&rin$' He $rows &p ,&i%)ly &rin$ this trip,
startin$ as the %abin boy b&t event&ally na!in$ hi!sel( the new %aptain a(ter he re%lai!s the
ship (ro! the pirates' Altho&$h he is %o&ra$eo&s, Ji!s i!pet&o&s inivi&alis! re!ins &s
that he is still a yo&th' His tenen%y to a%t on his whi!s an his $rowin$ sel(4awareness also
shows that he is %a&$ht between two worls?between %hilhoo an a&lthoo, an between
the law(&l, rational worl an the lawless pirate worl' Ji!s story is there(ore not !erely a
(an%i(&l avent&re tale b&t also a narrative abo&t $rowin$ &p'
Ji!s narrative o( his heroi% a%ts is val&able be%a&se he re%ors the! !oestly, $ivin$ &s an
insier view o( herois! that is not very $la!oro&s' Ji! is not arro$ant, b&t instea is h&!ble
by his !ista)es an s&%%esses' He ta)es (&ll responsibility (or his errors rather than (inin$
e0%&ses (or the!, an he %on(esses to !o!ents o( pani%, ine%ision, an re$ret rather than
bra$$in$ e0%l&sively o( his s&%%esses' Ji!s re!ar)able honesty an sin%erity o(ten !a)e the
heroi% or noble %lai!s o( the $rown4&ps?pirates an honorable %iti+ens ali)e?see! li)e
e!pty bl&ster' Ji!s in%l&sion o( both his (ollies an his (ort&nes !a)e his narrative see!
!ore $en&ine an the avent&re !ore real'
Lon" John Silver is a very %o!ple0 an sel(4%ontrai%tory %hara%ter' He is %&nnin$ an
!ena%io&s, hiin$ his tr&e intentions (ro! S,&ire /relawney while posin$ as the ships
$enial %oo)' He is very isloyal, shi(tin$ sies so (re,&ently that we %annot be s&re o( his tr&e
a((iliations' He is $reey an has an al!ost ani!al nat&re, %arin$ little abo&t h&!an relations,
as we see in his %ol4blooe !&rer o( /o! ;er&th' Nonetheless, Silver is witho&t ,&estion
the !ost vital an %haris!ati% %hara%ter in the novel' /ho&$h la%)in$ a le$, he !oves swi(tly
an power(&lly a%ross &nsteay e%)s an spryly hoists hi!sel( over (en%es' His physi%al
e(e%t a%t&ally show%ases his stren$th o( %hara%ter, revealin$ with every step his ability to
over%o!e obsta%les' .i)ewise, Silvers !ental resolve is i!pressive< he is the only one o( the
pirates not to be spoo)e by "ens i!itation o( the ea 2lints voi%e' He re!ains rational in
the (a%e o( his !ens %olle%tive s&perstitions, rivin$ the! (orwar to the treas&re site' Silvers
6two4h&nre4year4ol7 parrot, whi%h s%ree%hes ea !ens wors, $ives the pirate an al!ost
satani% a&ra' He has obvio&s leaership abilities, as he is able to !aintain %ontrol o( his ra$$e
an s&rly ban o( !&tineers to the very en o( their sear%h, thro&$h heavy losses an
s&spi%ions o( trea%hery'
-espite Silvers (or!iable an (ri$htenin$ appearan%e, he is ,&i%) to inspire tr&st in those
who !eet hi!' 1aptain S!ollett an -r' .ivesey both have $reat %on(ien%e in Silvers
%hara%ter at the o&tset o( the voya$e' His (rienliness an politeness never see! (a)e,
e%eit(&l, or !anip&lative' Silver es%ribes hi!sel( as a 6$entle!an o( (ort&ne,7 a ter! that,
while %learly a e&phe!is! (or 6pirate,7 oes e!phasi+e so!ethin$ $en&inely $entle!anly
abo&t Silver' When .ivesey re,&ests a private %hat with the hosta$e Ji!, the other pirates
protest lo&ly, b&t Silver allows it be%a&se he tr&sts a $entle!an li)e .ivesey' /his tr&st on
Silvers part see!s noble an real' Aitionally, the a((e%tion between Silver an Ji! see!s
sin%ere (ro! the very be$innin$' /ho&$h Ji! is a !ere %abin boy, Silver spea)s to hi! (only9
towar the en o( the trip, he re!ar)s that Ji! re!ins hi! o( hi!sel( when he was yo&n$
an hanso!e' .i)ewise, Ji! p&bli%ly %alls Silver 6the best !an here,7 an his wish (or
Silvers happiness in the last para$raphs o( the novel is sin%ere' Overall, Silvers behavior
ini%ates that he is !ore than a !ere hool&!' /here is so!ethin$ val&able in hi! (or Ji!s
evelop!ent, as the na!e 6Silver7 s&$$ests'
Dr% Livese! (irst appears to be an ieal a&thority (i$&re (or the yo&n$ Ji!' Ji! entr&sts the
treas&re !ap to .ivesey be%a&se .ivesey is a respe%te, )nowle$eable !an' As the avent&re
&n(ols, .ivesey shows that Ji!s respe%t is !erite, provin$ hi!sel( %o!petent, %lever, (air,
an loyal' .ivesey evises the brilliant plan o( stallin$ the pirate bri$ae by senin$ "en G&nn
to $ive spoo)y i!itations o( their ea leaer, 2lint' He also %o!es &p with the r&se o(
senin$ the pirates on the wil4$oose %hase to (in the treas&re' .ivesey is not a(rai o( a%tion
an bravely (ires on the pirates at the treas&re site' He is noble in his willin$ness to provie
!ei%al attention to the wo&ne pirates, his ene!ies' He spea)s tenerly to the! an see!s
$en&inely to %are (or their health' More so than the $r&(( 1aptain S!ollett or the na3ve S,&ire
/relawney, .ivesey represents the best o( the %ivili+e worl o( !en'
-espite his %reentials an val&able a%hieve!ents in the tale, however, .ivesey is si!ply not
%haris!ati%' He oes what is reasonable, pra%ti%al, an ethi%al, b&t never a%ts i!pet&o&sly or
spontaneo&sly, as the pirates an Ji! o' .ivesey thin)s &p in$enio&s plans, b&t only p&ts
the! into pra%ti%e i( they are sa(e an e((i%ient' He $ives the pirates the treas&re !ap only
when he )nows it is &seless' On the whole, .ivesey never ris)s anythin$, an there(ore Ji!, as
we o, sees hi! as $oo b&t not $ran, e%ent b&t not inspirational' It is si$ni(i%ant that while
Ji! $ives a senti!ental (arewell to the !e!ory o( Silver at the en o( his narrative, he o!its
!ention o( .ivesey, espite .iveseys i!portan%e in the avent&re' Ji! oes not have an
e!otional %onne%tion to .ivesey, an, by e0tension, oes not have an e!otional %onne%tion to
the e%ent, %ivili+e worl .ivesey represents' Ji! oes not (it %o!pletely into Silvers worl,
b&t he oes not (it %o!pletely into .iveseys steay, pra%ti%al worl either'