Self-Destruction In Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island
It can be said that the developmental course of a typical child is in no way linear, but rather riddled with breakthroughs and setbacks. Written by Robert Louis Stevenson, “Treasure Island” describes an exaggerated form of rapid, nonlinear development in Jim Hawkins as he is exposed to a rich variety of allegedly developed adults. For Jim, the restrictive nature of each of the adult roles that he attempts to adopt quickly become apparent. He learns to outright reject the more rigid, extremist approaches to adulthood in favor of consolidating for himself a more adaptive variant. Jim undergoes the complex development necessary to achieve this through the integration and application of partitioned rather than whole characteristics exhibited by
…show more content…
surrounding adults. Despite his impulsivity, he manages to thoroughly self-monitor his own development in order to solidify his position as a responsible and critical individual at the conclusion of the narrative. Therefore, Jim deliberately and competently assembles his model of a complete man through the components rather than the whole of each source.
2. Rejected Extremes Jim is able to reconcile various manifestations of adulthood where others have failed through the rejection of rigid, extremist, and even stereotypical roles. A clear example of such dismissal of rigidity occurs when Captain Smollett commands Jim to get to work: “I assure you I was quite of the squire's way of thinking, and hated the captain deeply” (Stevenson 28). Smollett is a unique character because unlike even most of the adults, he does not exhibit childlike tendencies and remains static throughout the narrative. Following Jim's recapturing of the Hispaniola, he is hopeful that Smollett would forgive him for his disobedience. Even towards the end of the novel, Smollett indicates that he never wants to set sail with Jim again (Stevenson 99). Ironically, Jim's disregard for his adultlike duties enables him the agency to become a far more dynamic character than that of Smollett (Ward 311). To Jim, the adventure is a game where the rules of society do not apply. Skeleton Island is essentially a playground that is divorced from ordinary laws; to continue to obey those laws would put Jim at an unfortunate disadvantage in terms of both his survival and his development (Deane 701). However, Jim quickly learns that his newfound freedom comes with it the undesirable consequences of danger, chaos, and potential self-destruction.
This other extreme is represented in the various pirates he encounters. Even Long John Silver at his worst falls into this category, particularly in terms of his potential for violence when he murders Tom in cold blood for refusing to mutiny (Stevenson 41). Furthermore, the pirates are hopelessly caught up in their vices of alcoholism and greed, which inevitably results in Smollett's group gaining the upperhand. Jim witnesses the downfall of the pirates from start to finish, and is able to conclude that their losses were essentially self-inflicted through lack of self-restraint: “At the same time, I observed, around both of them, splashes of dark blood upon the planks and began to feel sure that they had killed each other in their drunken wrath” (Stevenson 71). In contrast, a superficial examination of Dr. Livesay typically leads one to conclude that he is an ideal and safe model for Jim to adopt. Many critics praise his traits of maturity, intelligence, and functioning effectively under pressure. If Jim wholly accepted even Dr. Livesay as the ultimate father figure, he would be losing far too much of himself in the process. Underneath Dr.
Livesay's competent exterior, there is a disturbing lack of emotional affect alongside an eagerness to punish those he deems as inferior (Valint 3). It can be thoroughly argued that there is little qualitative difference between Silver and Dr. Livesay as they both represent different aspects of Jim's potential adult character if one or the other were to be wholly absorbed (Ward 313). Dr. Livesay is fully capable of lying, betrayal, and ruthlessness, yet he does so in the name of justice. When Silver promises to protect Jim, Dr. Livesay in turn promises to save Silver, but this promise is deathly insincere. In addition, he only tends to the injured pirates to ensure that they are properly punished by law (Valint 9). Dr. Livesay is a punitive extremist afflicted with self-rightousness, and therefore lacks pity for those who break the rules. Through observational learning, Jim attempts many of these aforementioned behaviors and tendencies. The differences between Jim and each of these adult characters is the way in which he integrates and applies these roles to suit his individuality and consequently retain his boyhood.
surrounding adults. Despite his impulsivity, he manages to thoroughly self-monitor his own development in order to solidify his position as a responsible and critical individual at the conclusion of the narrative. Therefore, Jim deliberately and competently assembles his model of a complete man through the components rather than the whole of each source.
2. Rejected Extremes Jim is able to reconcile various manifestations of adulthood where others have failed through the rejection of rigid, extremist, and even stereotypical roles. A clear example of such dismissal of rigidity occurs when Captain Smollett commands Jim to get to work: “I assure you I was quite of the squire's way of thinking, and hated the captain deeply” (Stevenson 28). Smollett is a unique character because unlike even most of the adults, he does not exhibit childlike tendencies and remains static throughout the narrative. Following Jim's recapturing of the Hispaniola, he is hopeful that Smollett would forgive him for his disobedience. Even towards the end of the novel, Smollett indicates that he never wants to set sail with Jim again (Stevenson 99). Ironically, Jim's disregard for his adultlike duties enables him the agency to become a far more dynamic character than that of Smollett (Ward 311). To Jim, the adventure is a game where the rules of society do not apply. Skeleton Island is essentially a playground that is divorced from ordinary laws; to continue to obey those laws would put Jim at an unfortunate disadvantage in terms of both his survival and his development (Deane 701). However, Jim quickly learns that his newfound freedom comes with it the undesirable consequences of danger, chaos, and potential self-destruction.
This other extreme is represented in the various pirates he encounters. Even Long John Silver at his worst falls into this category, particularly in terms of his potential for violence when he murders Tom in cold blood for refusing to mutiny (Stevenson 41). Furthermore, the pirates are hopelessly caught up in their vices of alcoholism and greed, which inevitably results in Smollett's group gaining the upperhand. Jim witnesses the downfall of the pirates from start to finish, and is able to conclude that their losses were essentially self-inflicted through lack of self-restraint: “At the same time, I observed, around both of them, splashes of dark blood upon the planks and began to feel sure that they had killed each other in their drunken wrath” (Stevenson 71). In contrast, a superficial examination of Dr. Livesay typically leads one to conclude that he is an ideal and safe model for Jim to adopt. Many critics praise his traits of maturity, intelligence, and functioning effectively under pressure. If Jim wholly accepted even Dr. Livesay as the ultimate father figure, he would be losing far too much of himself in the process. Underneath Dr.
Livesay's competent exterior, there is a disturbing lack of emotional affect alongside an eagerness to punish those he deems as inferior (Valint 3). It can be thoroughly argued that there is little qualitative difference between Silver and Dr. Livesay as they both represent different aspects of Jim's potential adult character if one or the other were to be wholly absorbed (Ward 313). Dr. Livesay is fully capable of lying, betrayal, and ruthlessness, yet he does so in the name of justice. When Silver promises to protect Jim, Dr. Livesay in turn promises to save Silver, but this promise is deathly insincere. In addition, he only tends to the injured pirates to ensure that they are properly punished by law (Valint 9). Dr. Livesay is a punitive extremist afflicted with self-rightousness, and therefore lacks pity for those who break the rules. Through observational learning, Jim attempts many of these aforementioned behaviors and tendencies. The differences between Jim and each of these adult characters is the way in which he integrates and applies these roles to suit his individuality and consequently retain his boyhood.