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Definition of Motif
A motif is an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature. Motifs, which are often collections of related symbols, help develop the central themes of a book... read full definition
A motif is an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature. Motifs, which are often collections of related symbols, help develop the... read full definition
A motif is an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature. Motifs, which are often collections of... read full definition
Motifs
Explanation and Analysis—The Color Black:
The color black is a motif in Treasure Island. Black Dog is the name of the pirate who first attempts to steal the treasure map from Billy Bones. The Jolly Roger flag, with its white skull and bones against a black background, symbolizes the violent, chaotic world of pirates and contrasts the red, white, and blue of the British Union Jack flag. The Union Jack, on the other hand, represents order and authority; the pirates remove the Union Jack from the Hispaniola when they commit mutiny.
What's more, early in the novel, Jim finds out about The Black Spot, a circular paper that's black on one side and contains a message on the other. When the blind pirate Pew delivers the Black Spot to Billy and Billy falls dead immediately after, The Black Spot becomes a symbol of death.
The Black Spot is also a form of communication for pirates, a method of contact that allows them to share information without strangers knowing the message's meaning. When Long John Silver receives the spot from the other mutineers, Jim learns that The Black Spot means a captain has been rejected by his fellow pirates and is no longer considered leader.
In literature, black typically symbolizes death, darkness, and lack of illumination. Interestingly, black contrasts gold, a glittery substance that symbolizes the allure of riches. The desire for gold motivates most of the characters in Treasure Island. In using this motif, Stevenson thus suggests that darkness and danger often exist alongside things that are shiny and enticing. Treasure Island, all in all, reveals the downsides of fortune and greed. The search for the treasure chest is ultimately a success, but not without a heavy cost, as many of the men perish or nearly go mad.
Related Themes:
Chapter 1. The Old Sea Dog at the “Admiral Benbow”
Explanation and Analysis—Dead Man's Chest:
In Chapter 1, Jim recalls a pirate's tune, which he first hears from Billy Bones, the drunk and frightening "captain":
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!
These lines are repeated multiple times by various pirates throughout Treasure Island. The shanty Billy sings encapsulates the typical life of a pirate—one of constant drinking, lawlessness, and rowdy, reckless behavior. Most of the pirates Jim encounters, including Billy, are addicted to rum. This is evoked in the repetition of the lines "Yo-ho-ho, and bottle of rum." The only adult men who don't partake are the Squire, the Doctor, and Long John Silver. As a result, they have a greater presence of mind that allows them to outsmart the pirates and survive. Billy's shanty is also a clue; the dead man's chest refers to Billy's sea chest and Captain Flint's buried treasure.
The song is repeated eight times in Treasure Island, most notably in Chapter 32 before Silver, Jim, and the remaining crew discover the treasure. In a moment of tension, they hear "a thin, high, trembling voice" ring out in the air and sing, "Fifteen men on the dead man's chest / Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!" Believing it's the ghost of Captain Flint, the pirates panic. Only Silver remains calm enough to react with logic, and he eventually convinces the men to continue their hunt for treasure.
Chapter 8. At the Sign of the “Spy-glass”
Explanation and Analysis—Animals:
Animals, especially birds, are a common motif in Treasure Island. Birds are associated with pirates—Long John Silver in particular. When Silver first appears in Chapter 8, Jim uses a simile and compares him to a bird:
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. […] Indeed, he seemed in the most cheerful spirits, whistling as he moved about among the tables, [...].
Jim presents Silver's movements as bird-like, as if he's hopping about. The passage generally paints Silver in positive light. It characterizes him as jovial and pleasant to be around. His whistling is like the call of a bird, and the reader can picture him moving "about among the tables" like a bird hopping from branch to branch in a tree.
To that end, one of Treasure Island's characters actually is a bird: namely, Captain Flint, who is Long John Silver’s worldly parrot:
Now that bird, [Long John Silver] would say, is, may be, two hundred years old, Hawkins—they lives for ever mostly; and if anybody’s seen more wickedness, it must be the devil himself.
Silver's bird shares a name with Captain Flint, the notorious pirate who never appears in the novel but nevertheless haunts many of the characters. Silver speaks about his parrot with great affection and treats him like a trusted companion rather than a pet. Indeed, the parrot is more like a pirate than a bird and even speaks like one.
The pirates in Treasure Island are associated with other animals, not just birds. In Chapter 11, Silver describes pirates as "gentlemen of fortune" who:
Lives rough, and they risk swinging, but they eat and drink like fighting-cocks.
In making such a comparison, Silver characterizes pirates like himself as tough, ruthless, and violent. In Chapter 14, Jim observes Silver attempting to convince Tom, a member of the crew, to join the mutiny. When a frightening cry rings out, Tom reacts with fear:
Tom had leaped at the sound, like a horse at the spur; but Silver had not winked an eye. He stood where he was, resting lightly on his crutch, watching his companion like a snake about to spring.
The story compares Tom to a skittish horse who jumps when urged forward, painting a clear image of his fear for the reader. In describing Silver like an awaiting snake, the story emphasizes the danger Tom is in and foreshadows his murder soon after. When Tom refuses to join Silver, Silver literally strikes and kills him, and the story compares him to yet another animal, this time a monkey:
Silver, agile as a monkey, even without leg or crutch, was on top of [Tom] next moment, and had twice buried his knife up to the hilt in that defenseless body. From my place of ambush, I could hear him pant aloud as he struck the blows.
This comparison to everyday animals allows the reader to vividly picture Silver's violent actions. Silver is not only clever and good on his feet but is also like a shapeshifter, able to transform from one thing to the next. These descriptive details underscore his shadowy nature as a character.
In Chapter 15, the novel uses a simile again to describe a character's physical movements. As Jim runs away from Silver and the other pirates on the island, he suddenly sees a strange figure in the woods:
From trunk to trunk the creature flitted like a deer, running manlike on two legs, but unlike any man that I had ever seen, stooping almost double as it ran.
Jim compares the creature's movements to a deer. This strange "creature" turns out to be Ben Gunn, a former member of Captain Flint's crew who has been moored on Treasure Island for three years. Gunn, forced to survive on his own, has transformed into something more beast-like than human. His appearance reflects his wild state, having been isolated from other human beings for years. All in all, Stevenson uses physical descriptions and characteristics like the one above to reveal important information about a character's emotions or personality.
Chapter 10. The Voyage
Explanation and Analysis—Animals:
Animals, especially birds, are a common motif in Treasure Island. Birds are associated with pirates—Long John Silver in particular. When Silver first appears in Chapter 8, Jim uses a simile and compares him to a bird:
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. […] Indeed, he seemed in the most cheerful spirits, whistling as he moved about among the tables, [...].
Jim presents Silver's movements as bird-like, as if he's hopping about. The passage generally paints Silver in positive light. It characterizes him as jovial and pleasant to be around. His whistling is like the call of a bird, and the reader can picture him moving "about among the tables" like a bird hopping from branch to branch in a tree.
To that end, one of Treasure Island's characters actually is a bird: namely, Captain Flint, who is Long John Silver’s worldly parrot:
Now that bird, [Long John Silver] would say, is, may be, two hundred years old, Hawkins—they lives for ever mostly; and if anybody’s seen more wickedness, it must be the devil himself.
Silver's bird shares a name with Captain Flint, the notorious pirate who never appears in the novel but nevertheless haunts many of the characters. Silver speaks about his parrot with great affection and treats him like a trusted companion rather than a pet. Indeed, the parrot is more like a pirate than a bird and even speaks like one.
The pirates in Treasure Island are associated with other animals, not just birds. In Chapter 11, Silver describes pirates as "gentlemen of fortune" who:
Lives rough, and they risk swinging, but they eat and drink like fighting-cocks.
In making such a comparison, Silver characterizes pirates like himself as tough, ruthless, and violent. In Chapter 14, Jim observes Silver attempting to convince Tom, a member of the crew, to join the mutiny. When a frightening cry rings out, Tom reacts with fear:
Tom had leaped at the sound, like a horse at the spur; but Silver had not winked an eye. He stood where he was, resting lightly on his crutch, watching his companion like a snake about to spring.
The story compares Tom to a skittish horse who jumps when urged forward, painting a clear image of his fear for the reader. In describing Silver like an awaiting snake, the story emphasizes the danger Tom is in and foreshadows his murder soon after. When Tom refuses to join Silver, Silver literally strikes and kills him, and the story compares him to yet another animal, this time a monkey:
Silver, agile as a monkey, even without leg or crutch, was on top of [Tom] next moment, and had twice buried his knife up to the hilt in that defenseless body. From my place of ambush, I could hear him pant aloud as he struck the blows.
This comparison to everyday animals allows the reader to vividly picture Silver's violent actions. Silver is not only clever and good on his feet but is also like a shapeshifter, able to transform from one thing to the next. These descriptive details underscore his shadowy nature as a character.
In Chapter 15, the novel uses a simile again to describe a character's physical movements. As Jim runs away from Silver and the other pirates on the island, he suddenly sees a strange figure in the woods:
From trunk to trunk the creature flitted like a deer, running manlike on two legs, but unlike any man that I had ever seen, stooping almost double as it ran.
Jim compares the creature's movements to a deer. This strange "creature" turns out to be Ben Gunn, a former member of Captain Flint's crew who has been moored on Treasure Island for three years. Gunn, forced to survive on his own, has transformed into something more beast-like than human. His appearance reflects his wild state, having been isolated from other human beings for years. All in all, Stevenson uses physical descriptions and characteristics like the one above to reveal important information about a character's emotions or personality.
Chapter 11. What I Heard in the Apple Barrel
Explanation and Analysis—Animals:
Animals, especially birds, are a common motif in Treasure Island. Birds are associated with pirates—Long John Silver in particular. When Silver first appears in Chapter 8, Jim uses a simile and compares him to a bird:
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. […] Indeed, he seemed in the most cheerful spirits, whistling as he moved about among the tables, [...].
Jim presents Silver's movements as bird-like, as if he's hopping about. The passage generally paints Silver in positive light. It characterizes him as jovial and pleasant to be around. His whistling is like the call of a bird, and the reader can picture him moving "about among the tables" like a bird hopping from branch to branch in a tree.
To that end, one of Treasure Island's characters actually is a bird: namely, Captain Flint, who is Long John Silver’s worldly parrot:
Now that bird, [Long John Silver] would say, is, may be, two hundred years old, Hawkins—they lives for ever mostly; and if anybody’s seen more wickedness, it must be the devil himself.
Silver's bird shares a name with Captain Flint, the notorious pirate who never appears in the novel but nevertheless haunts many of the characters. Silver speaks about his parrot with great affection and treats him like a trusted companion rather than a pet. Indeed, the parrot is more like a pirate than a bird and even speaks like one.
The pirates in Treasure Island are associated with other animals, not just birds. In Chapter 11, Silver describes pirates as "gentlemen of fortune" who:
Lives rough, and they risk swinging, but they eat and drink like fighting-cocks.
In making such a comparison, Silver characterizes pirates like himself as tough, ruthless, and violent. In Chapter 14, Jim observes Silver attempting to convince Tom, a member of the crew, to join the mutiny. When a frightening cry rings out, Tom reacts with fear:
Tom had leaped at the sound, like a horse at the spur; but Silver had not winked an eye. He stood where he was, resting lightly on his crutch, watching his companion like a snake about to spring.
The story compares Tom to a skittish horse who jumps when urged forward, painting a clear image of his fear for the reader. In describing Silver like an awaiting snake, the story emphasizes the danger Tom is in and foreshadows his murder soon after. When Tom refuses to join Silver, Silver literally strikes and kills him, and the story compares him to yet another animal, this time a monkey:
Silver, agile as a monkey, even without leg or crutch, was on top of [Tom] next moment, and had twice buried his knife up to the hilt in that defenseless body. From my place of ambush, I could hear him pant aloud as he struck the blows.
This comparison to everyday animals allows the reader to vividly picture Silver's violent actions. Silver is not only clever and good on his feet but is also like a shapeshifter, able to transform from one thing to the next. These descriptive details underscore his shadowy nature as a character.
In Chapter 15, the novel uses a simile again to describe a character's physical movements. As Jim runs away from Silver and the other pirates on the island, he suddenly sees a strange figure in the woods:
From trunk to trunk the creature flitted like a deer, running manlike on two legs, but unlike any man that I had ever seen, stooping almost double as it ran.
Jim compares the creature's movements to a deer. This strange "creature" turns out to be Ben Gunn, a former member of Captain Flint's crew who has been moored on Treasure Island for three years. Gunn, forced to survive on his own, has transformed into something more beast-like than human. His appearance reflects his wild state, having been isolated from other human beings for years. All in all, Stevenson uses physical descriptions and characteristics like the one above to reveal important information about a character's emotions or personality.
Chapter 14. The First Blow
Explanation and Analysis—Animals:
Animals, especially birds, are a common motif in Treasure Island. Birds are associated with pirates—Long John Silver in particular. When Silver first appears in Chapter 8, Jim uses a simile and compares him to a bird:
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. […] Indeed, he seemed in the most cheerful spirits, whistling as he moved about among the tables, [...].
Jim presents Silver's movements as bird-like, as if he's hopping about. The passage generally paints Silver in positive light. It characterizes him as jovial and pleasant to be around. His whistling is like the call of a bird, and the reader can picture him moving "about among the tables" like a bird hopping from branch to branch in a tree.
To that end, one of Treasure Island's characters actually is a bird: namely, Captain Flint, who is Long John Silver’s worldly parrot:
Now that bird, [Long John Silver] would say, is, may be, two hundred years old, Hawkins—they lives for ever mostly; and if anybody’s seen more wickedness, it must be the devil himself.
Silver's bird shares a name with Captain Flint, the notorious pirate who never appears in the novel but nevertheless haunts many of the characters. Silver speaks about his parrot with great affection and treats him like a trusted companion rather than a pet. Indeed, the parrot is more like a pirate than a bird and even speaks like one.
The pirates in Treasure Island are associated with other animals, not just birds. In Chapter 11, Silver describes pirates as "gentlemen of fortune" who:
Lives rough, and they risk swinging, but they eat and drink like fighting-cocks.
In making such a comparison, Silver characterizes pirates like himself as tough, ruthless, and violent. In Chapter 14, Jim observes Silver attempting to convince Tom, a member of the crew, to join the mutiny. When a frightening cry rings out, Tom reacts with fear:
Tom had leaped at the sound, like a horse at the spur; but Silver had not winked an eye. He stood where he was, resting lightly on his crutch, watching his companion like a snake about to spring.
The story compares Tom to a skittish horse who jumps when urged forward, painting a clear image of his fear for the reader. In describing Silver like an awaiting snake, the story emphasizes the danger Tom is in and foreshadows his murder soon after. When Tom refuses to join Silver, Silver literally strikes and kills him, and the story compares him to yet another animal, this time a monkey:
Silver, agile as a monkey, even without leg or crutch, was on top of [Tom] next moment, and had twice buried his knife up to the hilt in that defenseless body. From my place of ambush, I could hear him pant aloud as he struck the blows.
This comparison to everyday animals allows the reader to vividly picture Silver's violent actions. Silver is not only clever and good on his feet but is also like a shapeshifter, able to transform from one thing to the next. These descriptive details underscore his shadowy nature as a character.
In Chapter 15, the novel uses a simile again to describe a character's physical movements. As Jim runs away from Silver and the other pirates on the island, he suddenly sees a strange figure in the woods:
From trunk to trunk the creature flitted like a deer, running manlike on two legs, but unlike any man that I had ever seen, stooping almost double as it ran.
Jim compares the creature's movements to a deer. This strange "creature" turns out to be Ben Gunn, a former member of Captain Flint's crew who has been moored on Treasure Island for three years. Gunn, forced to survive on his own, has transformed into something more beast-like than human. His appearance reflects his wild state, having been isolated from other human beings for years. All in all, Stevenson uses physical descriptions and characteristics like the one above to reveal important information about a character's emotions or personality.
Chapter 15. The Man of the Island
Explanation and Analysis—Animals:
Animals, especially birds, are a common motif in Treasure Island. Birds are associated with pirates—Long John Silver in particular. When Silver first appears in Chapter 8, Jim uses a simile and compares him to a bird:
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. […] Indeed, he seemed in the most cheerful spirits, whistling as he moved about among the tables, [...].
Jim presents Silver's movements as bird-like, as if he's hopping about. The passage generally paints Silver in positive light. It characterizes him as jovial and pleasant to be around. His whistling is like the call of a bird, and the reader can picture him moving "about among the tables" like a bird hopping from branch to branch in a tree.
To that end, one of Treasure Island's characters actually is a bird: namely, Captain Flint, who is Long John Silver’s worldly parrot:
Now that bird, [Long John Silver] would say, is, may be, two hundred years old, Hawkins—they lives for ever mostly; and if anybody’s seen more wickedness, it must be the devil himself.
Silver's bird shares a name with Captain Flint, the notorious pirate who never appears in the novel but nevertheless haunts many of the characters. Silver speaks about his parrot with great affection and treats him like a trusted companion rather than a pet. Indeed, the parrot is more like a pirate than a bird and even speaks like one.
The pirates in Treasure Island are associated with other animals, not just birds. In Chapter 11, Silver describes pirates as "gentlemen of fortune" who:
Lives rough, and they risk swinging, but they eat and drink like fighting-cocks.
In making such a comparison, Silver characterizes pirates like himself as tough, ruthless, and violent. In Chapter 14, Jim observes Silver attempting to convince Tom, a member of the crew, to join the mutiny. When a frightening cry rings out, Tom reacts with fear:
Tom had leaped at the sound, like a horse at the spur; but Silver had not winked an eye. He stood where he was, resting lightly on his crutch, watching his companion like a snake about to spring.
The story compares Tom to a skittish horse who jumps when urged forward, painting a clear image of his fear for the reader. In describing Silver like an awaiting snake, the story emphasizes the danger Tom is in and foreshadows his murder soon after. When Tom refuses to join Silver, Silver literally strikes and kills him, and the story compares him to yet another animal, this time a monkey:
Silver, agile as a monkey, even without leg or crutch, was on top of [Tom] next moment, and had twice buried his knife up to the hilt in that defenseless body. From my place of ambush, I could hear him pant aloud as he struck the blows.
This comparison to everyday animals allows the reader to vividly picture Silver's violent actions. Silver is not only clever and good on his feet but is also like a shapeshifter, able to transform from one thing to the next. These descriptive details underscore his shadowy nature as a character.
In Chapter 15, the novel uses a simile again to describe a character's physical movements. As Jim runs away from Silver and the other pirates on the island, he suddenly sees a strange figure in the woods:
From trunk to trunk the creature flitted like a deer, running manlike on two legs, but unlike any man that I had ever seen, stooping almost double as it ran.
Jim compares the creature's movements to a deer. This strange "creature" turns out to be Ben Gunn, a former member of Captain Flint's crew who has been moored on Treasure Island for three years. Gunn, forced to survive on his own, has transformed into something more beast-like than human. His appearance reflects his wild state, having been isolated from other human beings for years. All in all, Stevenson uses physical descriptions and characteristics like the one above to reveal important information about a character's emotions or personality.
