Jul 24, 2006 11:15 PM
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Having just come back from Pirates of the Carribean,my mind wandered immediately to one of my favorite pirate classics of my childhood, Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. The first time I came to know of Treasure Island was an excerpt in my school English text book, and that made me want to have this book. Finally managed to get hold of it, and I was just enthralled by the book. This was not my first brush with Stevenson, one of his earlier novels, Kidnapped, was our English class textbook( albeit in an abridged form).
The novel is the story of a young lad Jim Hawkinswho is also the narrator of the story. The narrator lives at a sea side inn in Bristol called the Admiral Benbowin 18th century England. The story starts when an old pirate Billy Bones, dies of a stroke in their inn. Jim and his mother unlock the chest Billy is carrying and take the contents to two aristocratic gentlemen Dr.Liveseyand Squire John Trelawney. These 2 gentlemen recoginze the map as that which leads to burried treasure of the notorious pirate Capt Flint, at Skeleton Island in the Carribean. The naive Trelawney plans an expedition to the island on the ship, the Hispaniola, and is tricked into taking Flint’s ex mate, Long John Silver. Long John is one of the most crooked persons and he plans to mutiny and take over the ship. During the expedition Jim overhears Silver’s wicked plan and he alerts the ship captain Smollett. When they land at the island, Capt Smollet, tries to get rid of the mutineers by allowing them to stay on the island. Jim also goes to the island, and when he sees Silver murder a mutineer who refuses to cooperate, he flees and encounters a half crazed man called Ben Gunn. Ben himself had been a part of Flint’s crew, but was marooned on this island for 3 years. Do Benn and Jim get the treasure? Does Long John Silver succeed in his evil designs? What happens to the treasure?
Treasure Island succeds in dragging you into a world of pirates, ships, Jolly Rogers, hidden treasures and squeaky parrots. Its an adventure novel that just drags you on a relentless roller coaster ride. On a more deeper level, the novel also covers Jim’s passage from a boy to a man. Of course for the adventure lovers there are enough parts, the attack on the stockade, the fight at the inn, Jim overhearing the conversation, Long John Silver escaping from the Hispaniola. Also Stevenson vividly describes the tough life at sea, and the life of the pirates too.
But where Treasure Island scores is in its characters, Stevenson creates characters who will stay with you long after you have put away the book.
Jim Hawkins:The narrator and hero of the novel. He loves adventure and is fearless. The novel also sees him maturing as he encounters various situations.
Billy Bones: A short lived character, but the one who provides the main twist in the story. Without him the novel wouldnt have been there in first place.
Old Man Pew: A blind beggar who was Capt Flint’s one time associate, and passes secret information.
Dr Livesey: The kind hearted doctor who takes Jim as a cabin boy on voyage. He plays a vital role in defusing tensions.
Squire Trelawney: The man who undertakes the voyage, who is however naive enough to include Long John Silver.
Capt Smollet: Brave, a man of integrity and character. He is proud of his country and the way he outwits Long John is exemplary.
Ben Gunn : A Robinson Crusoe kind of character, marooned on island for 3 years. He is the only person who knows where the treasure is burried.
And of course the best character of all the roguish Long John Silver. Also nicknamed as Barbeque and the Sea Cook, he is a man whom even the notorious Capt Flint fears. He is deceitful and crooked. He starts off as Jim’s mentor but he falls out later. With a parrot on his shoulder and he walks on a crutch, having lost one leg. You will love this character for sure.
Treasure Island takes us to those days, when men were men and adventure was fun. When we had books that excited us, enthralled us and still were of a high literary quality. And of course as Long John Silver says "15 Men on a Dead Man’s chest, Yoo Hoo Hoo and a Bottle of Rum". Add a copy of the Treasure Island to that too.
