Treasure Island Description

Treasure Island
Treasure Island is a book that includes piracy, excessive greed, and the growing up a little boy. One main character in Treasure Island is Jim Hawkins. During the entire book, he grows in physical stature and mentally. Also, the pirates Jim meets teach him valuable lessons. The pirates that Jim were with, abided faithfully by their rules, The Articles of Agreement. The articles of agreement were rules ALL pirates were required to abide by.
“Jim Hawkins was the son of tavern owners. At the start of the book, he was a small boy that had no courage what so ever. As the book progressed, he grew not only physically, but mentally as well. To depart on the journey, he had to make the choice of leaving his widowed mother in pursuit of gold. In his early stages of life, he met a pirate that stayed at the tavern for a long period of time. The pirate spoke to practically no one. The one person that the pirate spoke openly to was Jim. He told Jim of another pirate that he knew of and to be one the look out for him. “Jim is the hero of the book. It is Jim who finds the map and eventually saves everyone from the pirates. After many adventures on Treasure Island, he returns to England with the treasure.”
The Articles of Agreement are rules that pirates were required to obey or they could be punished however the captian they were working under pleased. The Articles of Agreement follow:
1. “Every man had a voice in all affairs”
2. “Every man had equal title to all fresh provisions and strong liquors seized.”
3. “Captain and Quartermaster received two shares in a prize. Sailing Master, Boatswain, and Gunner receive one-and-one-half shares. Other Officers one-and-one-quarter shares. Sailors, one share. If one lost a limb or became a cripple in the common service, one received more of a share.”
4. “No gaming for money at cards or dice at sea.”
5. “Lights and candles out before 8 o'clock. Any drinking done after 8 o'clock must be done on open decks.”
6. “Every man must keep his gun, pistol, and cutlass clean and ready for service. If he did not, he would be cut from his share and suffer such punishment as the captain saw fit.”
7. “To desert the ship or abandon quarters in time of battle was punished by death or marooning. The marooned was usually given a bottle of water and some powder, shot and a pistol.”
8. “If someone cheated the company of an article of value, he would be punished by marooning.”
9. “If robbery took place between two crewmen, the guilty one had his nose and ears split and would be marooned.”
10. “No women were allowed on board. If any man carried a woman on board disguised, he would be put to death.”
“No striking another on board ship. Every man's quarrel would be settled on shore with sword and pistol. Quartermaster would accompany both to shore. The disputants were set back to back at 20 paces. At the command, they turn and fire immediately. If both miss, they take up their cutlasses.”
In Treasure Island, greed is a major issue with all of the characters. Jim, Long John Silver, Ben Gunn, and Doctor Livesey. Jim leaves his mother, now sick and without her son or husband could be hopeless. Long John Silver is hired to be a cook on the Hispaniola and turns out to be a greedy man that plots to take all of the treasure for himself. Ben Gunn, a ragged looking man, after getting a portion of the treasure fairly, spends all of the loot in three days and ends up being a porter. Doctor Livesey, the towne doctor, left the whole countryside in need of him to go on a journey in search for gold. All of these characters, and more, made selfish choices to go on this tip but in the end, the good guys won the “fight.”
Treasure Island, with maturing, rule following, and pirates, teaches that no matter what, the good will always reign. It was full of adventure, greed, and many encredible experiences. Treasure Island, though old, still seems quite adventerous. During Stevensons liftime, there was probobly no book that was published that could even get close to relating to it. The book was long, but enjoyable. There is truly not any book like itself.