Treasure Island

Character Guide

Spoiler-free — fuller detail (with spoilers, if you want them) lives in the reader's Guide tab.

Jim Hawkins

The young narrator who helps his parents run the Admiral Benbow inn before being swept into a voyage to find buried treasure.

Squire Trelawney

A wealthy, talkative, enthusiastic landowner who finances and organizes the treasure-hunting expedition.

Dr. Livesey

A level-headed physician and local magistrate who becomes the ship's doctor and a steadying voice among the gentlemen.

Captain Smollett

The strict, professional captain hired to command the Hispaniola, who distrusts the secrecy surrounding the voyage and much of the crew from the start.

Long John Silver (Barbecue)

A one-legged, charismatic ship's cook hired for the voyage, popular with the crew and unfailingly friendly to Jim.

Billy Bones (the captain)

A gruff, secretive old seaman who lodges at the Admiral Benbow, clearly hiding from something and someone in his past.

Black Dog

A sinister visitor who confronts Billy Bones at the inn, hinting at old, dangerous connections.

Blind Pew (Pew)

A frightening blind beggar who delivers an ominous message to Billy Bones.

Tom Redruth

The squire's loyal old gamekeeper who accompanies the expedition.

Ben Gunn

A marooned, oddly behaved man Jim encounters on the island who has been alone there for years.

Israel Hands (the coxswain)

A senior member of the ship's crew and a skilled sailor.

Mr. Arrow

The ship's mate, who proves troublesome early in the voyage due to drinking.

Glossary

Pieces of eight

Spanish silver coins (also called dollars), commonly used as pirate treasure; famously repeated by Captain Flint's parrot.

Black spot

A piece of paper marked with a black spot, given by pirates as a formal notice of accusation or a death sentence.

Coxswain

A crew member in charge of steering a ship's boat, and by extension a senior sailor's role aboard ship.

Foc's'le / forecastle

The forward part of a ship where the common sailors were berthed, as opposed to officers' quarters aft.

Marooned

To be deliberately abandoned on a deserted island or coast, typically as punishment among pirates.

Gig

A small boat carried aboard a larger ship, used for rowing to shore or between vessels.

Stockade / palisade

A defensive fence or enclosure, here the fortified log structure the loyal party holds against the mutineers.

Man before the mast

An ordinary sailor, as opposed to an officer, referring to where common crew were quartered.

Capstan

A rotating mechanical device used aboard ship to wind in heavy rope or chain, such as when raising the anchor.

Gen'leman of fortune

Pirate slang (used self-referentially by the buccaneers) for a pirate.

Sea lawyer

A period term (implied in crew tension) for a sailor who argues about orders or rights aboard ship.

Bo'sun / boatswain

A ship's officer in charge of equipment, rigging, and crew discipline, who signals orders with a pipe/whistle.

Open the full interactive Guide in the reader →