Photo by Tanner Mardis on Unsplash
I’ve been exploring the conflict in Treasure Island by looking at Jim Hawkins, the protagonist, and Long John Silver, the primary antagonist, especially their similarities and differences. We can see how Jim could easily have taken the route that his primary shadow mentor, Silver, has done, becoming a pirate with all the consequences that flow from that lifestyle.
There are some other relationships that show the true depth of character development in this story.
Jim is a young man who recently lost his father, but he has three men, luminary mentors, that he can observe and learn from: Livesey, Smollett, and Trelawney. Each of these men represent one part of Plato’s tripartite psyche, the person, lion, and monster, and they offer lessons and insights to Jim through their actions in the story. Livesey (reason/person) represents rational judgment, professional ethics, and societal order. Smollett (spirit/lion) represents courage, discipline, and righteous anger. Trelawney (appetite/monster) represents desire, ambition, and material interests.
During the story, each of Jim’s luminary mentors makes mistakes due to an excess of their primary natures, but they soon correct them.
Livesey make errors through overconfidence in rational planning, but he learns to adapt when his initial assumptions prove wrong. He comes to make difficult choices with incomplete information (abandoning the stockade while not knowing where Jim is). This teaches Jim that true wisdom includes understanding the limits of rational planning.
Trelawney's unchecked appetite leads to poor decisions (loose talk, and poor hiring), but he earns redemption through channeling those same qualities. He transforms from a liability to an asset when he becomes the marksman defender. His journey shows Jim that passion and appetite aren't inherently bad but need proper direction.
Smollett accepted a crew he hadn't chosen himself against his usual procedure. This suggests that even discipline requires judgment about when to assert one’s authority. His later steadfastness (the flag incident and maintaining naval discipline) shows how to recover from early compliance. This demonstrates to Jim that courage isn't just about fighting but about maintaining principles under pressure.
In the next post (the final post of this series!), I’ll write about the tripartite shadow mentors who add complexity and perspective to the story.
This post is part of a 75-day writing challenge and experiment. From September 9 through November 22, I'll be posting daily thoughts on writing, storytelling, and creativity based on recent readings or reflections. While my intention was to keep them very short—250 to 400 words—I've found that this range doesn't give me enough space to cover these topics adequately. I aim to keep them brief enough to be read quickly, but they will often be longer than 400 words.
At the end of the challenge, I will organize and revise the material with intention. For now, the object is to explore and share.