Treasure Island – Courage Essay
On Jim’s adventure, not only to Treasure Island, but to manhood, he develops on e major important quality: courage. He bravely leaves his mother all alone onto a voyage that he knew could consequent in never coming back home and he took risky gambles, putting his life on the line for his comrades, showing true manhood. He leaves the stockade without telling the captain to capture the pirates’ ship, the Hispaniola, and courageously stands up to the pirates and their captain: Long John Silver. He told silver that he was not afraid of him and made a deal with the pirates, showing great maturity.
Jim is very much a young child in the early stages of the story, but he is soon confronted with a series of challenges and has to make some important decisions. Jim’s first act of courage, and first stage in development was when he left his mother on his voyage to Treasure Island. He knew he may never come back and could leave his mother without a son but brought together the bravery to go away on his own on a life threatening adventure. Here he has demonstrated a great act of courage, leaving his only parent behind, to search for hidden treasure and make them wealthier, but also knowing he may never return home.
Jim shows great courage when he stands up to Long John Silver and admits ruining the pirates’ plans. The most significant aspect in this part of the novel is the evolution in Jim's character. It is clear that he is very courageous and able to stand up for himself - the speech that he gave to the pirates is not something that he would have been able to deliver before the adventures on the island, and he developed great courage to take this life threatening risk as Long John Silver easily could have killed him. In the theme of Treasure Island as the story of Jim's growing up, this is a significant point: he is only saved because he is able to stand up for himself and offer the pirates a bargain, a very adult-type attitude and...