Long John Silver

Last updated

Long John Silver
Treasure Island character
TI-parrot.jpg
Long John Silver and Jim Hawkins in The Hostage, illustration by N. C. Wyeth, 1911
Created by Robert Louis Stevenson
Voiced byVarious Voices
In-universe information
NicknamesChef, Silver, Barbecue, Long John, Jack, Captain
GenderMale
Occupation
Nationality

Long John Silver is a fictional character and the main antagonist in the 1883 novel Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. The most colourful and complex character in the book, he continues to appear in popular culture. His missing leg and parrot, in particular, have greatly contributed to the image of the pirate in popular culture.

Contents

Profile

Long John Silver is a cunning and opportunistic pirate who was quartermaster under the notorious Captain Flint. [1] Stevenson's portrayal of Silver has greatly influenced the modern iconography of the pirate. [2]

Long John Silver has a parrot, named Captain Flint in honor—or mockery—of his former captain, [3] who generally perches on Silver's shoulder, and is known to chatter pirate or seafaring phrases like "Pieces of Eight", and "Stand by to go about". Silver uses the parrot as another means of gaining Jim's trust, by telling the boy all manner of exciting stories about the parrot's buccaneer history. "'Now that bird', Silver would say, 'is, maybe, two hundred years old, Hawkins—they lives forever mostly, and if anybody's seen more wickedness it must be the devil himself. She's sailed with England—the great pirate Cap'n England. She's been at Madagascar, and at Malabar, and Surinam, and Providence, and Portobello... She was at the boarding of the Viceroy of the Indies out of Goa, she was, and to look at her you would think she was a baby'." [4]

Silver claims to have served in the Royal Navy and lost his leg under "the immortal Hawke". "His left leg was cut off close by the hip, and under the left shoulder, he carried a crutch, which he managed with wonderful dexterity, hopping about upon it like a bird. He was very tall and strong, with a face as big as a ham—plain and pale, but intelligent and smiling." [5]

He claims to have been the only man whom Flint ever feared. Although treacherous and willing to change sides at any time to further his own interests, Silver has compensating virtues. He is wise enough to save his money, in contrast to the spendthrift ways of most of the pirates. He is physically courageous despite his disability: for instance, when Flint's cache is found to be empty, he coolly stands his ground against five murderous seamen despite having only Jim, a boy in his teens, to back him. [6]

When Silver escapes at the end of the novel, he takes "three or four hundred guineas" of the treasure with him, thus becoming one of only two former members of Captain Flint's crew to get his hands on a portion of the recovered treasure. (The repentant maroonee Ben Gunn is the other, but he spends all £1,000 in nineteen days.) Jim's own ambivalence towards Silver is reflected in the last chapter, when he speculates that the old pirate must have settled down in comfortable retirement: "It is to be hoped so, I suppose, for his chances of comfort in another world are very small."

Silver is married to a woman of African descent, whom he trusts to manage his business affairs in his absence and to liquidate his Bristol assets when his actions make it impossible for him to go home. He confides in his fellow pirates that he and his wife plan to rendezvous after the voyage to Skeleton Island is complete and Flint's treasure is recovered, at which point Silver will retire to a life of luxury. Ironically his "share" of Flint's treasure (£420) is considerably less than that of Ben Gunn (£1,000) and what Silver boasts was his share from England (£900) and from Flint (£2,000).

According to Stevenson's letters, the idea for the character of Long John Silver was in part inspired by his real-life friend William Henley, a writer and editor. [7] Stevenson's stepson, Lloyd Osbourne, described Henley as "...a great, glowing, massive-shouldered fellow with a big red beard and a crutch; jovial, astoundingly clever, and with a laugh that rolled like music; he had an unimaginable fire and vitality; he swept one off one's feet". [8] In a letter to Henley after the publication of Treasure Island, Stevenson wrote: "I will now make a confession. It was the sight of your maimed strength and masterfulness that begot Long John Silver...the idea of the maimed man, ruling and dreaded by the sound, was entirely taken from you". [9]

Literature

Audio-radio

Theatre

There have been several major stage adaptations made. [24]

Film

Orson Welles as Silver in the 1972 live-action film version of Treasure Island. WellesTreasureIslanda.jpg
Orson Welles as Silver in the 1972 live-action film version of Treasure Island.
John Silver (left) is portrayed as a cyborg in Disney's Treasure Planet. JimSilverDisney.jpg
John Silver (left) is portrayed as a cyborg in Disney's Treasure Planet .

Television

Other print media

Other

Related Research Articles

<i>Treasure Island</i> 1883 novel by Robert Louis Stevenson

Treasure Island is an adventure and historical novel by the Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson. It was published in 1883, and tells a story of "buccaneers and buried gold" set in the 1700s. It is considered a coming-of-age story and is noted for its atmosphere, characters, and action.

<i>Muppet Treasure Island</i> 1996 film directed by Brian Henson

Muppet Treasure Island is a 1996 American musical swashbuckler comedy film directed by Brian Henson and the fifth theatrical film featuring the Muppets. Adapted from the 1883 novel Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, similarly to its predecessor The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992), the key roles were played by live-action actors, with the Muppets in supporting roles. The film stars Muppet performers Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Jerry Nelson, Kevin Clash, Bill Barretta, and Frank Oz in various roles, as well as Tim Curry as Long John Silver and introduces Kevin Bishop as Jim Hawkins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Captain Flint</span> Fictional pirate in Stevensons Treasure Island

Captain J. Flint is a fictional golden age pirate captain who features in a number of novels, television series, and films. The original character was created by the Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894). Flint first appears in the classic adventure yarn Treasure Island, which was first serialised in a children's magazine in 1881, and later published as a novel in 1883.

<i>The Legends of Treasure Island</i> 1993 British TV series or programme

The Legends of Treasure Island is a British animated television series. It had two series of 13 episodes each and each episode runs for 22–25 minutes.

<i>Treasure Island</i> (1972 film) 1972 live-action film adaption of Treasure Island

Treasure Island is a 1972 adventure film, based on the 1883 novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. The film stars Orson Welles as Long John Silver, Kim Burfield as Jim Hawkins, Walter Slezak as Squire Trelawney, Rik Battaglia as Captain Smollett, and Ángel del Pozo as Doctor Livesey.

<i>Treasure Island</i> (1934 film) 1934 film

Treasure Island is a 1934 film directed by Victor Fleming and starring Wallace Beery, Jackie Cooper, Lionel Barrymore, Lewis Stone, and Nigel Bruce. It is an adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's famous 1883 novel of the same name. Jim Hawkins discovers a treasure map and travels on a sailing ship to a remote island, but pirates led by Long John Silver threaten to take away the honest seafarers’ riches and lives.

<i>Treasure Island</i> (1950 film) 1950 film by Byron Haskin

Treasure Island is a 1950 adventure film produced by RKO-Walt Disney British Productions, adapted from Robert Louis Stevenson's 1883 novel of the same name. Directed by Byron Haskin, it stars Bobby Driscoll as Jim Hawkins and Robert Newton as Long John Silver. Treasure Island was Disney's first completely live-action film and the first screen version of Treasure Island made in color. It was filmed in the United Kingdom on location and at Denham Film Studios, Buckinghamshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pirates in the arts and popular culture</span> Representations of pirates in fiction or literature

In English-speaking popular culture, the modern pirate stereotype owes its attributes mostly to the imagined tradition of the 18th-century Caribbean pirate sailing off the Spanish Main and to such celebrated 20th-century depictions as Captain Hook and his crew in the theatrical and film versions of J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan, Robert Newton's portrayal of Long John Silver in the 1950 film adaptation of the Robert Louis Stevenson novel Treasure Island, and various adaptations of the Middle Eastern pirate, Sinbad the Sailor. In these and countless other books, films, and legends, pirates are portrayed as "swashbucklers" and "plunderers". They are shown on ships, often wearing eyepatches or peg legs, having a parrot perched on their shoulder, speaking in a West Country accent, and saying phrases like "Arr, matey" and "Avast, me hearty". Pirates have retained their image through pirate-themed tourist attractions, film, toys, books and plays.

<i>Treasure Island</i> (1990 film) 1990 television film by Fraser Clarke Heston

Treasure Island is a 1990 British-American made-for-television film adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1883 novel of the same name, written and directed by Fraser Clarke Heston, and also starring several notable British actors, including Christian Bale, Oliver Reed, Christopher Lee, Julian Glover and Pete Postlethwaite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Bones</span> Fictional character in the 1883 novel Treasure Island

Billy Bones is a fictional character appearing in the first section of Robert Louis Stevenson's 1883 novel Treasure Island.

<i>Destination: Treasure Island</i> 2006 video game

Destination: Treasure Island is an adventure game released in 2006. Developed by Kheops Studio and published by Nobilis. The game comes from the creators of The Secrets of Da Vinci, Return to Mysterious Island, Voyage and many more.

<i>Treasure Island</i> (1988 film) 1988 Soviet cartoon film

Treasure Island is a Soviet Ukraine two-part live-action/animated adventure comedy television film adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's novel Treasure Island (1883). It was created by the studio Kievnauchfilm in between 1986 and 1988. It is mostly traditional animation with some live action sequences, which are largely but not entirely separate.

Israel Hands, also known as Basilica Hands, was an 18th-century pirate best known for being second in command to Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard. His name serves as the basis for the name of the villainous sidekick in Robert Louis Stevenson's 1883 novel Treasure Island.

<i>Treasure Island</i> (1973 film) 1973 animated film directed by Hal Sutherland

Treasure Island is a 1973 American animated adventure film directed by Hal Sutherland, produced by Filmation, and released by Warner Bros. In this adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's 1883 novel of the same name, Jim Hawkins travels with sidekick Hiccup the Pirate Mouse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Squire Trelawney</span> Fictional character

Squire John Trelawney is a supporting character from Robert Louis Stevenson's 1883 novel Treasure Island.

<i>Treasure Island</i> (1920 film) 1920 film by Maurice Tourneur

Treasure Island is a 1920 silent film adaptation of the 1883 novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, directed by Maurice Tourneur, and released by Paramount Pictures. Lon Chaney played two different pirate roles in this production, "Blind Pew" and "Merry", and stills exist showing him in both makeups. Charles Ogle, who had played Frankenstein's Monster in the first filmed version of Frankenstein a decade earlier at Edison Studios, portrayed Long John Silver. Wallace Beery was supposed to play Israel Hands, but that role went to Joseph Singleton instead. The film was chosen as one of the Top Forty Pictures of the Year by the National Board of Review.

Ben Gunn (<i>Treasure Island</i>) Fictional character

Benjamin "Ben" Gunn is a fictional character in the 1883 novel Treasure Island by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Hawkins (character)</span> Fictional character

Jim Hawkins is a fictional character and the protagonist in Robert Louis Stevenson's 1883 novel Treasure Island. He is both the protagonist and the main narrator of the story.

<i>Treasure Island</i> (2012 TV series) British TV series

Treasure Island is a two-part British television drama adaptation of the novel Treasure Island (1883) by Robert Louis Stevenson. The screenplay was written by Stewart Harcourt, produced by Laurie Borg and directed by Steve Barron. It was made by BSkyB and first shown in the United Kingdom on Sky1 on 1 & 2 January 2012. It was re-released a year later on Pick on the 14 February 2013 and 21 February 2013.

Treasure Planet is a 1982 Bulgarian animated science fiction film directed by Rumen Petkov and produced by the Sofia Animation Studio. The 62-minute movie is a science fiction adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's 1883 adventure novel Treasure Island, and was released 20 years before Disney’s Treasure Planet, another movie with the same concept. The Bulgarian band "Tangra" did the movie's music.

References

  1. Roberts, Ivy. "Captain Flint in Treasure Island: Description & Quotes". Study.com. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. Karg, p. 220.
  3. Stevenson (1883), "The Voyage" [Ch. 10], pp. 80f.
  4. "Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson". Project Gutenberg. p. Chapter 10. Archived from the original on 27 May 2007.
  5. Stevenson (1883), p. 82
  6. "He was brave and no mistake" -- Jim Hawkins' comment at this juncture, "The Fall of a Chieftain", penultimate chapter of Treasure Island
  7. Prince, p. 78.
  8. Elwin, p. 154.
  9. Stevenson, R.L. (1906). The Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson, Vol. 1. Methuen and Co. p. 92. Retrieved 2 October 2024. I will now make a confession. It was the sight of your maimed strength and masterfulness that begot John Silver in TREASURE ISLAND. Of course, he is not in any other quality or feature the least like you; but the idea of the maimed man, ruling and dreaded by the sound, was entirely taken from you.
  10. Burgess, Edwin (1 August 1976). "The Adventures of Long John Silver (Book)". Library Journal. 102: 1678.
  11. McKellen, Tess (November 1986). "Return to Treasure Island (Book Review)". School Library Journal. 3: 100.
  12. Larsson, Björn (1995). Long John Silver: The True and Eventful History of My Life of Liberty and Adventure as a Gentleman of Fortune and Enemy to Mankind. Geddes, Tom (Transl.). London, ENG: Penguin Random House/Harvill Secker. ISBN   1-86046-538-2 . Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  13. Chupack, Edward (2008). Silver—My Own Tale as Told by Me with a Goodly Amount of Murder. New York, NY: St. Martin's/Thomas Dunne. ISBN   978-0-312-53936-8 . Retrieved 21 February 2017.[ full citation needed ]
  14. "Silver: Return to Treasure Island by Andrew Motion – review". the Guardian. 30 March 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  15. CircleSoft. "Silver: Return to Treasure Island". Dear Reader. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  16. Basil Rathbone (5 August 2017). "Robert Lewis Stevenson: TREASURE ISLAND" via Internet Archive.
  17. "The Definitive Favorite Story Radio Log with Ronald Colman". www.digitaldeliftp.com.
  18. "Lux Radio Theater - episodic log". www.otrsite.com. Archived from the original on 5 December 2016.
  19. "Tale Spinners for Children". www.artsreformation.com. Archived from the original on 13 August 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  20. "RL Stevenson – Treasure Island – BBC Radio 4 Extra". BBC.
  21. "Treasure Island (BBC Audiobook Extract) BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Dramatisation".
  22. "The Old Sea Dog, Treasure Island, Afternoon Reading – BBC Radio 4". BBC.
  23. "2. Treasure Island – Big Finish Classics – Big Finish". www.bigfinish.com.
  24. Dury, Richard. Stage and Radio adaptations of Treasure Island Archived 26 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine .
  25. "THE THEATRE LINK". thomas-stewart-baker.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  26. "Tom Hewitt Is Long John Silver in Treasure Island, Opening March 5 in Brooklyn". Playbill. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
  27. "Treasure Island". London Box Office. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  28. "Treasure Island, National Theatre, review: 'yo-ho-hum'" . 11 December 2014. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022.
  29. Animal Treasure Island (1971)
  30. Breznican, Anthony (9 February 2018). "Rogue's Gallery: A lineup of three outlaws from Solo: A Star Wars Story". Entertainment Weekly . Time Inc. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  31. Storey, Don (2014). "The Adventures of Long John Silver". ClassicAustralianTV.com. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  32. Anderson, D.M. (30 December 2014). "BLACK SAILS Ain't Your Daddy's Pirate Tale". Moviepilot . Archived from the original on 31 August 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  33. Masefield, John (1921) [1902]. Salt-Water Poems and Ballads. New York, NY: The Macmillan Company. pp. 64–65. Retrieved 21 February 2017. Masefield's original 1902 work was entitled Salt-Water Ballads.
  34. Dorison, Xavier. Long John Silver (in French). Laufray, Mathieu (Illustr.). Dargaud.[ full citation needed ] Published by Cinebook in English.
  35. "Nathan Never – L'isola del tesoro/Treasure Island". En.sergiobonellieditore.it. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  36. "Registry of Pseudonyms".
  37. Bangs, Lester (14 September 1972). "Long John Silver". Rolling Stone . Penske Business Media, LLC . Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  38. Long, John. "Long John Silvers/A & W". Sioux City Journal . Archived from the original on 18 July 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  39. Pete, Joseph S. (30 May 2018). "New owners and new look coming to nine Long John Silver's restaurants in Northwest Indiana". The Times of Northwest Indiana . Archived from the original on 18 July 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018.

Bibliography

Further reading