Published first as a serial in a boys' magazine in 1881-82 and then in book form in 1883, Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island is without a doubt one of the best-loved children's adventure novels of all time. The book has achieved immortality on the silver screen numerous times throughout the years; most notable are several adaptations by Disney, with a live-action version in 1950 and the animated, futuristic Treasure Planet in 2002. But why has Treasure Island achieved such popularity with each generation?
Robert Louis Stevenson understood better than anyone what children want to read about in an adventure novel. His novels deliver a rip-roaring good time: Treasure Island is filled with buried treasure and treasure maps, pirates and mutinies, gunfights and swordfights, narrow escapes, and a young hero who manages to save the day. Stevenson taped into the stuff that the greatest legends are made of... helping to make his tale as timeless as any adventure tale. The novel offers a rare glimpse at a different time in history, when adventures were romantic and thrilling. It was an age when boys like Jim Hawkins could become heroes of their own adventure stories.
An Ambiguous Moral Character: Treasure Island
Amidst the adventure, Stevenson offered important lessons in morality and justice. As a pirate and the ringleader in the mutiny aboard the Hispaniola, Long John Silver is clearly the antagonist in the story. But, Silver also assumes the role of a father figure for Jim. Silver's character frequently walks the fine line between being completely redeemable and utterly despicable.
Silver's role as a father figure begins when the crew first assembled, and the relationship builds until the moment when Jim overhears Silver's plan to mutiny. But, Silver's role is still not clear cut. While he appears to play the role of antagonist, he still risks his own position with his men in order to save Jim from being killed. Despite the seemingly eminent reversal, Silver keeps his word to Jim in the end--before he disappears.
Amidst the adventure, Stevenson offered important lessons in morality and justice. As a pirate and the ringleader in the mutiny aboard the Hispaniola, Long John Silver is clearly the antagonist in the story. But, Silver also assumes the role of a father figure for Jim. Silver's character frequently walks the fine line between being completely redeemable and utterly despicable.
Silver's role as a father figure begins when the crew first assembled, and the relationship builds until the moment when Jim overhears Silver's plan to mutiny. But, Silver's role is still not clear cut. While he appears to play the role of antagonist, he still risks his own position with his men in order to save Jim from being killed. Despite the seemingly eminent reversal, Silver keeps his word to Jim in the end--before he disappears.
Clearly, the interplay of ambiguous moral issues only adds to the adventure. The rapid pace of the novel helps to carry the reader along, as the suspense and the unlikely boy-hero contribute to an unrivaled adventure novel. Still, Silver's humanity and father-figure status contributes an important dimension to a reading of the text.
