Category: Treasure Island

Imagery is paramount to Stevenson establishing the sense of adventure and awe typically found in adventure novels. Stevenson describes the setting in such detail to incite certain images in the reader’s mind such as the island has such a unique shape with harbors and hills with lush jungle among them and the characters, most prominently the pirates, as drunk, bumbling, fearsome, and extremely superstitious. Jim’s description of Pew at the beginning of the novel, that Pew was “plainly blind, for he tapped before him with a stick, and wore a great green shade over his eyes and nose; and he was hunched, … , that made him appear positively deformed.”, is a prime example of vivid imagery that Stevenson uses to project Pew’s image into the minds of young and old readers alike(Stevenson 28). This imagery allows the imagination of young children to make them feel a part of the adventure while not alienating adult readers. Children may share in the superstitions of pirates as they read along and can feel the suspense rising up after tension-filled scenes such as Jim boarding the Hisponala by himself and declaring himself captain or when the mutineers find a skeleton neatly arranged to point in the direction of the treasure. They will jump when the voice of Ben Gunn rings out and causes the pirates to panic, thinking it was the infamous Captain Flint, the original owner of the treasure, haunting the island. The description of Ben Gunn, provided by Jim, states that “from trunk to trunk the creature flitted like a deer, running manlike on two legs, but unlike any man that I had ever seen, stooping almost double as it ran. Yet a man it was, I could no longer be in doubt about that”(Stevenson 100). The imagery of this scene is very detailed, including Jim’s thoughts as he confronts this creature before interacting with him, learning his name, and recruiting him to help fight the mutineers. Long John Silver is described as a cunning and opportunistic pirate who was quartermaster under the notorious Captain Flint. Stevenson’s portrayal of Silver has greatly influenced the modern image of the pirate, with a wooden leg and a parrot on his shoulder. Silver’s parrot, named Captain Flint, sits on Silver’s shoulder, and chatters pirate phrases like ‘Pieces of Eight’, and ‘Stand by to go about’. Silver uses the parrot as a means of gaining Jim’s trust, by telling the boy exciting stories about the parrot’s history. ” Now that bird,’ Silver would say, ‘is, maybe, two hundred years old, Hawkins… She’s been to Madagascar, Malabar, Surinam, Providence, Portobello and was at the boarding of the Viceroy of the Indies out of Goa … .'(Stevenson 73) This displays the imagery of Captain Flint, leaving the reader wondering what the parrot has gone through on its travels and with Long John Silver, conjuring up an image in the readers’ mind. Silver also served in the Royal Navy and lost his leg under ‘the immortal Hawke'(Stevenson 73). ‘[Silver’s] left leg was cut off close by the hip, and under the left shoulder, he carried a crutch, … , hopping about upon it like a bird. He was very tall and strong, with a face as big as a ham but intelligent and smiling.’ Like many of Stevenson’s characters, there is a duality to Silver; Silver is a hardworking and likable man, and it is only as the story unfolds that his twisted nature is revealed. The duality and descriptions of Stevenson’s characters leave the reader with a clear picture of the different archetypes present in the story. The pirates are seen as lazy, drunkards, and evil and the honest men are seen as noble. This leads to a sort of foreshadowing where the outcome can be shown as a classic fight between good and evil.

Foreshadowing is the author’s use of giving hints for events that occur later in the plot. Stevenson uses foreshadowing heavily in Treasure Island to create the suspense and thrilling nature of the novel. For example, during the beginning of the voyage Captain Smollett states that ”[he doesn’t] like this cruise;… the men; and [he doesn’t] like [his] officer” (Stevenson 64). Stevenson is using Smollett’s sixth sense of leading a voyage to foreshadow the mutiny of Silver’s undercover Pirate crew. Another instance of foreshadowing occurs after Jim overhears the conversation between Silver and his men about mutinying, Jim realizes that ‘the lives of all the honest men aboard depended upon [him] alone’ (Stevenson 99). Here Stevenson foreshadows the importance of Jim’s role in later events of the story. This also foreshadows Silver’s dark intentions for the ‘good guys” on board the Hispaniola once they reach the island. After eavesdropping on Silver and his crew Jim explained his being in danger was a miracle ‘for if it had not been for that, [the ‘good guys’] should have had no note of warning and might all have perished by the hand of treachery’ ( Stevenson 97-8). Jim is foreshadowing the mutiny that takes place on the island and Silver’s plan to kill them all after they reach the treasure. Without Jim being in the barrel, they would have never known and would have been killed. When describing the circumstances that led to Billy Bones to stay in Jim’s father’s inn, Jim foreshadows Bill’s death as “the annoyance and the terror [Bill] lived in must have greatly hastened his early and unhappy death” (Stevenson 15). This foreshadows Billy Bone’s death, the audience immediately understands that the pirate characters of the story aren’t going to continue long in the story’s progression. These hints from the narrator keep the audience involved and build the suspenseful tone of the novel. Billy Bones’ death is foreshadowed when he receives a piece of paper with the black spot and he states,” Ten o’clock! Six hours. We’ll do them yet”, referring to the amount of time that Bones has and what he is planning to do to his enemies (Stevenson 30). Billy Bones dies instantly from a stroke after being panicked by the note. When assessing their situation of taking on the journey to Treasure Island Doctor Livesey states that they “are not the only men who know of this paper. These fellows who attacked the inn tonight— bold, desperate blades, for sure—and the rest who stayed aboard that lugger, and more, I dare say, not far off’ (Stevenson 48). Doctor Livesey’s words foreshadow the mutiny that occurs further on in the novel by his assumption that more pirates will be after them for Flint’s treasure. There is some foreshadowing with Ben Gunn, as he tells Jim his story about being marooned on the island for three years, he says” And, Jim I’m rich”(Stevenson 105). Jim just blows him off because he thinks Ben is crazy, but this is foreshadowing for a major turning point in the end. Jim is captured by the pirates and made to join along in the pirates’ trip to find the treasure but when they arrive, they find out that it has already been dug up. But they don’t know who dug it up, but the reader can infer that it was Ben Gunn before the novel tells you that he dug it up. Foreshadowing is useful for the author to drop hints in the story that children would most likely pass over, but older readers will catch it.

Literary Critic, Josh West, addresses how the themes in children’s literature are still significant in contemporary society, however they have altered with regard to their underlying intent and meaning. Written by Robert Louis Stevenson in 1882, Treasure Island is one of the most well-known pieces of classic children’s literature to exist in our society, with it being read in many schools due to its relevance and influence on our lives. This adventure tale involves Jim (the protagonist) and many of his companions searching for a hidden treasure, and as the novel progresses, it grows into a violent quest where individuals will do anything in order to get their way to the treasure.

The novel’s portrayal of many social themes can be heavily related to that of our society. Classic children’s literature may be more popular than ever before. Its relevance and influence on our society, attitudes, and belief has not let it lose significance, making it an essential part of our lives. The themes and messages frequently discussed in these classics, have a clear link to our society today, with things like greed, social class and exploration being very noticeable in our everyday lives. However, do these themes really have the same underlying implications and meanings as they used to? Greed Then Vs Now What lengths would you go to in order to get treasure? Lying? Stealing? Maybe even killing? This is the basis of Treasure Island, with greed being one of the most fundamental and main themes represented throughout the novel. Similarly to the novel, greed and jealousy is found all throughout our society, within every human being, whether they want to show it or not. While the theme of greed is found in both the book and society, their underlying intentions completely differ from each other.

Treasure Island bases greed purely on wanting the hidden treasure, and although fortune is a common object to be seen to trigger greed in an individual, some of the most common objects that awaken greed inside of us in Social Class Then Vs Now Another central theme displayed throughout the book is that of social class and status. Aboard their ship the Hispaniola, there is a clear social rank, like the world that we live in today. The captain is unanimously above all else, with individuals such as the doctor, squire and well-known pirates being around the top of the social class. The rest are flat characters, most commonly unnamed crewman also embarking on the adventure. The society that we currently live in also comprises a very strong social order, with an upper, middle and lower class. Even though Treasure Island and our society both display social class, they differ in a certain aspect, considering that in the novel, your social status was based on the amount of followers that you had, much like how the antagonist, Long John Silver, gained a following due to his manipulation and deceit. On the contrary, social status these days is based around wealth, and the idea of owning bigger and better things compared to other individuals.

Our society is a reflection of children’s literature, whether you may see it or not. There are numerous aspects in which can be clearly linked in both worlds. From greed and social class in Treasure Island to adventure and wonder in The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, our civilization encompasses all of the themes in which children’s literature successfully attempts to portray. Clearly, over time, these themes have evolved and mean different things to what they did in classic literature, but their overall foundations have stood the test of time. We are living in an adapted literary world.

Jim Hawkins- The book’s main narrator. He is a young boy who starts as timid and mostly insignificant but matures through the course of the novel. He ends up going on a solo adventure, rescuing the ship and saving Long John Silver. He also stands up to Silver, despite their relative ages and him being outnumbered.

Long John Silver- The book’s antagonist. He is the ship’s cook and is missing a leg, though is able to skillfully maneuver with his cane. He leads the mutiny against the captain and only cares for himself.

Dr. Livesey- Narrator for a few chapters. He is the ship’s doctor and a judicial official. He is a calm individual who does not act spontaneously.

The title of the book is Treasure Island. The titular island is a hot-spot for pirate activity. Silver already knows the island well when they arrive. The island itself is described as “grey” and “melancholy”, and the doctor says that it is likely ridden with diseases. If I could change the title of the book, I would name it “A Boy in a Pirate’s World”. This new title shows that it is not just a story of adventure and treasure hunting but that it is truly a coming of age story. In the beginning, Jim is a child and afraid of pirates, running to his mother at the sight of strangers. He later reveals the mutiny to the captain and watches Silver kill an innocent man but still is able to recover. By the end he laughs in the face of Silver despite overwhelming odds and ends up single handedly saving the honest members of the crew.

As mentioned in the previous response, one of the themes is that of Jim’s coming of age. The progression of his maturity is greatly explored throughout the book.

The story starts with Jim Hawkins working at the ‘Admiral Benbow’ Inn. An old pirate arrives at the inn with a large chest. The pirate (Billy Bones) pays Jim to keep his “weather-eye open for a seafaring man with one leg”. Jim’s father, the owner of the in, falls ill causing Dr Livesey to come treat him. Another pirate named Black Dog comes to see Bill, and after a heated conversation Billy chases Black Dog with a sword. Billy then has a stroke, and his life is saved by Dr. Livesey. Billy tells Jim that they are after his chest. Jim’s Father dies.Later on, a third pirate, a blind yet strong and sinister man named Pew comes again to see Billy. Pew gives him a ‘black spot’, and Billy yells that he has six hours left. This causes Billy to have a second stroke, and he dies. Jim tells his mother about the pirate’s plan to get the chest, and so they get the key to it off Billy’s corpse. Inside the chest there are gold coins and papers wrapped in oil-cloth, among other items. They hear a knocking at the door and flee. Jim’s mother faints and they hide under a bridge as Pew and other pirates come and raid the house. They are unable to find what they are looking for and arguing ensues. Police officers come and the men flee, but accidentally run over and kill Pew. Jim takes the papers to Dr. Livesey, and they discover that it is actually a treasure map belonging to the now deceased Captain Flint. A friend of Dr. Livesey, Squire Trelawney decides to set sail to the titular island described in the map and find the treasure. Squire Trelawney travels to Bristol, buy a ship, and attempts to find sailors to go along with them. He meets a one-legged man named Long John Silver, who agrees to become the ship’s cook. Silver helps Trelawney to hire the rest of the necessary men, and after a sad farewell to his mother, Jim travels to Bristol. He meets Silver and decides that this was not the one-legged man Billy had feared. We also meet the captain, Captain Smolett. He expresses that he dislikes the crew and has a bad feeling about the voyage. They set sail and Jim seems in awe of the seafaring world. One day Jim is feeling hungry and so he climbs into an apple barrel to try to get a snack. However, he ends up secretly overhearing a conversation between Silver and other sailors, where they are secretly discussing plans for mutiny. He reveals that a majority of the crew are already disloyal to the captain. Jim tells the captain and Dr. Livesey about the conversation just as they make landfall. The captain allows the men to go ashore so that the ‘honest men’ could reclaim the ship. Jim decides to secretly go with them, and ventures into the woods on the island. He secretly watches as Silver kills a man for not joining the mutiny. Scared, Jim goes deeper into the woods. He meets a man named Ben Gunn, who says he used to be a pirate but Captain Flint marooned him here. He seems to be insane and says he has survived for three years on the island. The narration is now picked up by Dr. Livesey, who describes how the remaining ‘honest men’ sail to the island and take refuge in an old stockade built by Captain Flint. After a minor exchange of fire hey fly the Union Jack (british flag) above the house and Jim soon reenters. The pirates take the main ship and fly the Jolly Roger (pirate flag). Silver approaches waving the flag of truce and asks Smollett to give up the map in exchange for safe passage home. The captain refuses, and Silver then launches an attack on the stockade. The battle is a victory for the honest ones, due to their larger resources. The next day, Dr. Livesey goes into the forest to meet Ben Gunn and Jim decides to take Ben’s boat and cut the ship loose. He looks inside and sees several pirates wrestling, and all of them are drunk. He falls asleep on Gunn’s boat. The next day Jim boards the main ship and finds that the only ones left aboard are the ship’s drunken pilot and a corpse. The pilot is named Israel Hands, and he strikes a deal with Jim that in exchange for alcohol and food, he will help Jim steer the ship back to the stockade. Hands suspiciously asks Jim for wine instead of brandy. Jim watches Hands in secret and sees him grab a long knife and hide it in his jacket. Hands shortly after attacks Jim and Jim pulls a pistol on him. Hands throws his knife at Jim but Jim shoots him. The knife is embedded in Jim’s shoulder but the wound is not very bad and he frees himself quickly. He returns to the stockade but finds that it has been taken over by the pirates. Silver reveals that Dr. Livesey is happy to be rid of Jim, which saddens him but he is glad that his friends are still alive. Jim tells Silver about how he cut the ship loose and killed Hands. At this point, Silver’s men are unhappy about his leadership. They have a meeting without Silver or Jim and later give Silver a black spot, announcing that Silver has been deposed. Silver laughs at this and blames the mission’s failure on the men. They no longer question his rule. Silver tells Jim that Dr. Livesey willing gave the pirates the map, the stockade, and would come to give the pirates medical aid every day. During Livesey’s next visit, he speaks privately with Jim and learns of his adventures and the current werebounts of the ship. Silver and the pirates begin the treasure hunt, with Silver having Jim on a literal leash. They come across a skeleton which seems to have been laid out as a pointer. Silver says that this was definitely one of Flint’s jokes and they continue. When they near the site, they hear a wailing voice from the trees and believe it to be the ghost of Captain Flint. Silver urges them to push on despite this omen. They get to the spot but find nothing but a large hole, suggesting that the treasure has already been excavated. Silver and Jim band together and Dr. Livesey and Ben Gunn charge at the pirates with their rifles, scaring them away. It is revealed that Ben was the one impersonating Flint earlier, and that he had already dug up the treasure. This meant that the map was useless, and so Livesey gave it to the pirates. Silver is extremely nice to the remaining men, knowing they saved his life. They load the bulk of the treasure onto the ship and marooned the remaining pirates. They stop in South America to gather supplies to return home, where Long John Silver is revealed to have stolen a bag of money and escaped. Finally, Jim returns home and remarks that nothing would “bring [him] back to that accursed island” and that he continues to have nightmares about the events that took place there.

Using detailed examples from both Little Women and Treasure Island, compare and contrast the novels’ treatment of conformity and rebellion in young women and in young men.

In this essay I will be comparing and contrasting the treatment of conformity and rebellion in young women in the novels Treasure Island and Little Women. Both novels come under the genre of bildungsroman. I will be looking at Jo who resists the role as well as the paradoxical nature of her end, as well as Laurie and his struggles to fit within the confines of masculinity. I will also be looking at Jim and how his exploration and search for a masculine model shaped how he conformed and rebelled as a male in the 19th century. This was a time with staunch Victorian values and “Much of children’s literature developing through this period echoed the needs of the society and was as Kimberley Reynolds suggests ‘used quite consciously as a form of social control” (Open university, 2012) Naturally, one can expect books within this era, especially children’s literature to hold ideologies and values of that time and promoting said ideologies.

While Little Women is a didactic, domestic fiction which is rooted in Christian and patriarchal ideas that shape what being a female means and should be in the 19th century. Treasure island is a historic romance, that shows the value of “empire” and civil service” and shapes the construction of masculinity that Jims development is shaped by. Stephenson uses his novel, to explore issues around masculinity, using several almost father like characters to shape a young man, “Jim’s identity and ideals around what it meant to be masculine and what was praise worthy and showing us how Jim rebelled and conformed within the constraints of a hyper masculine world, surrounded by ”strong” men who each have different ideas of what it means to truly be a man.

Little women, “A book for women” begins by starting at the home, and seems to be the “centre of the book”, (Study guide p77), the place where they all come back”. This seems to be an ideal and appropriate setting for these young 19th century girls, in contrast to the adventure like scenes that “Treasure island” quickly dives into, suggesting that these books were likely upholding the social values and readers expectations of the novels at that time, clearly presenting an overt message.

Our first introduction to Jo, the character that Alcott uses to present a young girl internally fighting with both herself and her society, is presented as a “masculine, tall and tomboyish” (study guide, p 77) character. She is the anomaly amongst the females around her. Alcott uses her throughout the novel to showcase the rebellion of a young girl, yearning for more than what society deemed acceptable for her as a female. Much like her sisters, she was expected to be “selfless” act in a tender manner, not to have a temper, be overly concerned about her physical appearance and to prepare herself for the day a man may control her and her finances. She has “no desire to marry” and intends her fate to be that of a “literary spinster” (Alcott, p 130)

However, Alcott makes a point to show through the dialogue and interaction between her and Meg, prior to the ball. She lets Meg know ‘I’ll go without” (Alcott, p28) and that she doesn’t care what people say!’ to which Meg gave her a half glove and would rather have mismatched gloves than to see her sister look improper and be “mortified” (Alcott, p28). Ironically enough, Megs desire to look as conventionally attractive and acceptable as possible lead to the burning of her hair and Jo had a better time, who didn’t care so much about what society thought of her. This may be Alcotts way of showing that despite her sister conforming and her rebelling, it is Jo who was rewarded in the end with a pleasant experience and the subvert message that aspiring to more than just looking good for society also bears a reward.

Later on in the novel, we see that Jo’s rebellion shows us Alcotts own limitations as a 19th century female writer. While Alcott herself did not marry, a novel like this that is designed to overtly instruct young girls and model them into the ideals, fitting into and spreading the ideologies of the Author as well as society, Alcott rebelled against giving the audience a romantic ending for Jo, a life without the need of marriage. Jo surprisingly ends up married, convinced by her “fatherly figure” of a husband to forego her dreams of being a fully-fledged writer. Despite Parille (Parille, 2009 p37) observing that critics have said that her marriage to Mr Bhaeur is a punishment” She remarks of her previous life to be “selfish”, and how her book can “wait”, while she tends to her family. Fetterly remarks that the experience of little women is “built on a paradox” of which I agree. (Fetterly, 2009, p27)

Her main lesson on selfishness may come from seeing the destruction her writing can cause, where Beth contracts Scarlett fever due to her irresponsibility and business in writing. This act of rebellion against society and indulging her time in her own pleasure causes fatal issues within her home life, and has negative repercussions to her sister, whom she loves dearly. As Fetterly remarks, “Beth’s life is a constant reminder to Jo of her own inadequacies and failure of what she ought to be” (2009, Fetterly, p29)

Young Laurie, “a frustrated, lonely young man” (Alcott, p57) is reminiscent of a female, locked away in a mansion that indulges in feminine activities such as playing piano. When one of the March guests states, “he keeps his grandson shut up” (Alcott, p25), we are reminded of the state of many 19th century women. Laurie embodies non-traditional ideals of a “masculine” character, rebelling against the societal norms. He serves as an almost parallel to Jo, who is so desperate to be more “masculine” in nature. Parille observes that his unhappiness stems from “proving himself a man” and Amy constantly reminding him of his “distance from cultural ideas of masculinity”. ( 2009, Parille, p35)

His friendship with Jo appears to be the vehicle that Alcott uses to break gender stereotypes, giving each of them attributes usually associated with the opposite gender. Both of them do not conform to societal expectations and are shown to rebel, though with little reward. Laurie pressured by both his grandfather and Amy into fulfilling more “masculine” roles and a stable financial income.

Burning his music sheets, like Jo burning her writing, he gives into societal pressures and conforms. As Parille (2009, Parille, p37) ( states “However, while this does appear to be symbolic sacrifice, unlike the March girls, he still had the opportunity and wealth to travel and do as he pleased. While Parille does state that Alcott may wants to draw our attention to the similar sacrifices boys and girls make” In contrast to Jo, “he ought to be the happiest boy in the world” (Alcott, p60) His societal pressures are different though still valid, but perhaps not to the extent of the way the Parille is describing, since we see evidence of a privileged experience of childhood in contrast to the lives of women and the March sisters.

In the novel Treasure Island, centred on empire and individualism, we can see examples of both conformity and rebellion in young men through the character of Jim. In contrast to little women, where we are introduced to the characters home, Treasure Island delves straight into adventure and excitement, gripping the readers in the eye of a young boy. “As Loxley states, “from domesticity and confinement” to “adventure and freedom” (Loxley, 2009, p61) Due to the expansion of 19th century imperialism, we see that it is linked to a certain masculine identity. This was an ideal of physically strong males who were string pioneers and adventurers. This was a gender expectation that suited the agenda of the elite. It is interesting that there is a lack of parental figures, so Jims construct of masculinity and adhering to gender norms is all learned behaviour from the various men around him who are not as one dimensional as we would think.

Through the pirates, Long John Silver and the Dr, Jim is shown various ideals of what men are, or should be. He is far from any family figures, contrasting to how home centred little women is, which is telling of the social expectations at the time. This is a freedom that was afforded to boys at the time, encouraging them to travel, explore and be brave, unlike the selfless, patient and home bound March girls. An absence of females and family after the first chapters frees Jim from any emotional connections, and encounters.

We can see elements of rebellion in Jim’s initial fascination with Billy Bones and the life of pirates, which were a “threat of degeneracy and corruption” according to Loxley. (Loxley, 2009, p65) Billy Bones was a man who seems to do exactly as he pleases, even withholding rent. Jim looks to him as a standard for masculinity as a strong figure. However, this rebellion of authority and freedom is almost sneered upon in comparison to Dr Livesay who is a magistrate and “gentleman (Stephenson p38) ”, one whom society depends upon and represents a civilised society.However he has his limitations, as his authority is only relevant in the real world has the authority in the real world. When Jim sees the Doctor at the Admiral Benbow, he compares him to Bones. He says, I remember observing the contrast the neat bright doctor, with his powder as white as snow, and his bright, black eyes and pleasant manners, made with the coltish country folk, and above all, with that filthy, heavy, bleared scarecrow of a pirate of ours, sitting far gone in rum, with his arms on the table.”(Stephenson, p11)

Perhaps the only reconciliation for Jim was Long John Silver, a man who seems to be able to navigate both worlds with ease, and Jim wonders if this is the model of masculinity. Jim believes Long John silver to be” well tempered and clean” (Stephenson, p59) suggesting that mild manners are traits of civilised males whom he should aspire to be like.

The novel does not simply encode patriarchal ethics and ideals of empire, rather it resists them as well. Jim learns from Dr Livesey yet does not have the emotional connection to the practical, civilised world Livesey represents. Likewise, he does not completely fit into Silver’s worlds though he takes a fancy to his charismatic figure.

Once he has rebelled against all the masculine authorities, it is only then that he finds victory and also approval from the men, it seems as though going out and proving to be able to hold his own, with no help from the others is a respected and admirable trait that paradoxically pushes him into the man he wants to be. It almost reaffirms the imperial individual values that the book was centred around. In order to prove his masculinity, however, Jim becomes ‘savage-like’ himself at times, suggesting brutal expectations of both colonialism and a constructed masculine gender identity.

As we see further in the novel, he returns back to life on the shore, working in the civil domain, reaffirming that he has a place back home to return to, that despite his courage and strength, his civil duty appears the most rewarding, even with a taste of the more romantic adventurous life. As Loxley (Loxley, 2009, p72) states” Treasure Island grooms it’s Hero Jim” and other young male readers for roles within the British state. The state needed people to come back and re enter society in a dignified manner that men should be, that they couldn’t live out their fantasy forever. This spirit of adventure and growth, along with problem solving skills he developed are all the rewards of his rebellion against the civil society and plunging into this “savage like world”

As a young boy, his spirit of adventure is treated differently to if he was a man, set in his ways of life. Stephenson allows him to explore, and to break free and rebel from the constraints of 19th century society. Stephenson rewards his rebellion and rejection of traditional societal norms by allowing him to seek treasure and go on this great, exciting quest, as Parkes (Parkes, 2009, p78) states he is able to “break free of social constraint in the world of romance: Contrary to the girls in Little Women, it seems that Jim is only able to pursue manhood and reach a model of masculinity that his society may deem acceptable once he has explored and gone out of his comfort zone where the girls are instead taught to nurture their inner selves, at home.

In conclusion, it is apparent that through characters such as Jo and her resistance towards patriachial value and distaste for conventional gender norms that she is seen to be less bothered about her appearance and appears to enjoy life more, however further along she appears to be almost punished through her choices, where she paradoxically ends up marrying a patriachial father figure who convinces her to burn up her writing, choosing to focus on family, in a way that Laurie also had to, symbolysing their dreams dying in favour of conforming to gender norms, That in the end, it appears as though society and conforming to it won.

In Treasure Island, Jim is heavily influenced by some of these hyper masculine figures who shape what masculinity is for a young boy going into adulthood, but also resists these ideals. He is taught by Dr Livesey yet he doesn’t emotionally connect to the civilised and proper world that Livesey is a representative of, not does he entirely fit into Silver’s world. However, his rebellion of civil society was rewarded as they allowed him to develop skills that would later prove useful in the civil society where he was welcomed back with open arms. As Reynolds says “all the origins of popular forms of children’s publishing have their roots in this period” (Open university, 2012)

Robert Louis Stevenson wrote ‘Treasure island’ in 1881. This written work shows common problems in that time – the strength of pirates. Most of the events of the book happen in the inn by the sea called ‘Admiral Benbow’ and in the treasure island. The story is told by a young boy named Jim Hawkins. Her father was the owner of the inn. And one-day old pirate comes to the inn to find a piece place to hide from other seamen. His name was Billi Bones. He was one of the members of the group with is dominated by the evil pirate Cap’ Flint.

The Capitan had buried a huge amount of treasure in an island. He had a chest where he hid the map of the treasure island. He used to drink so much rum. In those days, the boy’s father dies. And one day a seaman comes to find him and left a ‘Black spot’ in his hand. According to pirates’ tradition, it means death for those who receive that kind of black spot. He tries to escape from the inn to stay alive but he dies there. The boy and his mother open the chest and counts money to get their payment for the service. After that pirates come but find the chest opened and get angry by the action of boy. Because the boy stole the map and some money from the chest.

The pirates leave the inn and Jim brings the map to Dr.Livesey who is very honest man that he knows. The Doctor shows the map to Mr. Trelawney and they decided to travel to treasure island to find the wealth. Mr Trelawney bought a ship which is called Hispaniola and finds enough man and gives a job to a man called John Silver as a cook. Jim is a cabin boy who help everybody in the ship. They started their voyage but in the middle way Jim heard an evil plan of John Silver and told to the Captain of the ship and the Doctor. They decide to wait until arriving in the island. When everybody arrives in the island they are divided into two groups: Pirates and Treasure Seekers. They fought for many days and killed each other’s men. In the island, Jim sees a member of the pirates of Captain Flip’s group.

The name of the man is Ben Gunn. He helps Jim’s group to fight again pirates. In one of the nights, Jim shows courage by bringing ship from pirates to Doctor. The doctor gives a map after getting informed about Ben has hidden the treasure to another place. But Jim is arrested by the pirates, at first they decide to kill him but their captain does not let this to happen and there, he makes a plan with John Silver. After the pirates know about empty treasure hall they get angry and try to kill the captain. At that moment doctor’s group shot the two pirates, and another one escapes from there. They return to England. John Silver leaves the ship with some money. They leave three pirates on the island.

By reading this book, children can feel the feeling of adrenaline that can be taken from adventures. The author describes scenes of pirates with great writing skills. The reader can see motivation in young Jim Hawkin’s braveness during the voyage. He tries to help his group in any situation.

Treasure Island, a quintessential time-out novel with the truly recommended virtually sincerely useful recommended resource of Robert Louis Stevenson, serialized in the journal Young Folks from October 1881 to January 1882 under the title The Sea-Cook; or, Treasure Island and posted in e e book structure in 1883. Although no longer the first about pirates, Treasure Island is seen with the in truth in actuality useful surely truly simply advisable influenced recommended actually beneficial useful aid of acquainted hooked up each and every day regular traditional overall performance of the utilization of the way of many to be the best.

The quintessential character, youthful Jim Hawkins, helps his mom and father run the Admiral Ben bow, an hotel shut to Bristol, England. One day a desperate-looking ruffian, Billy Bones (‘the captain’), looks and takes a room. After being visited with the besides a doubt truely beneficial barring a doubt certainly truly useful encouraged aid of the use of manageable of a former mate named Black Dog, Billy suffers a stroke. Later, at the equal time as rum, he tells Jim that he is a pirate and that he has a treasure map. However, Billy fears that any exceptional pirate would per threaten mark him with a black spot (a summons or threat). Shortly thereafter, Jim’s in horrific health father, who is being tended to by using the use of way of the use of the utilization of way of way of every day ordinary performance of way of every day quintessential each and every and every day extensively often used each and every day normal common performance of Dr. Lindsey, dies. A blind beggar, later posted to be the pirate Pew, due to this fact arrives and areas some hassle in Bones’s hand. After Pew leaves, Billy has a lethal stroke.

Jim and his mom open Billy’s sea chest, taking the money owed to them as extremely excellent as a packet, until now than fleeing. A crew of pirates led with the stimulated beneficial certainly advisable beneficial aid of way of practicable of Pew descends on the inn, on the one-of-a-kind hand they are scared off with the in reality influenced truely barring a doubt encouraged in fact in truth barring a doubt in truth really useful delivered on without a doubt beneficial truely truely beneficial in actuality advisable beneficial useful resource of the sound of drawing shut horses; Pew is trampled to death. Believing that the pirates have been searching out out out out out for the packet, Jim seeks out Dr. Lindsey, who is with Squire Ireland. The packet is printed to embody a treasure map, and the three father or mother out to mount a day time out to Skeleton Island to apprehend the hidden riches. However, they are fooled into hiring some of Billy’s former shipmates, at the equal time with the chief of the pirates, Long John Silver.

During the voyage, Jim overhears Silver and his guys planning to steal the treasure as all of a pinnacle notch as it is determined and to kill all the non-pirates. What follows is a rip-roaring story of mutiny, treachery, sword fights, and murder as Jim, Dr. Lindsey, and the squire are compelled to proceed to be with the delivered about delivered on truely influenced truely truly encouraged in each and every day mission besides a doubt added on influenced encouraged truely advisable virtually truly useful really helpful resource of their wits in order to proceed to be on in opposition to ruthless enemies. They are aided with the prompted barring a doubt influenced in reality really helpful resource of the way of the utilization of Captain Smollett and through the utilization of intelligence of the usage of way of the utilization of the use of the way of Ben Dunn, a pirate marooned on Skeleton Island. Jim and the others quicker or later be truly encouraged over the pirates and return home with the treasure. Silver commonly speakme escapes with some money.