ENG3UE
Mrs. McConkey
December 2, 2011
Treasure Island Apologia
Treasure Island is considered to be the first masterpiece novel written by Robert Louis Stevenson. Stevenson went on to write many other novels, including The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. But what makes Treasure Island a classic novel? Treasure Island has stood the test of time, it has generated many of it’s own movies, similarities can be found between it and popular media, and it has the necessary ingredients, such as the characters and morals, of a classic.
Treasure Island was first published in May 1883 which means that it has been in print for over a hundred years. After all of that time, it still has not lost the power to enchant readers. The College Board website rated it in the top 101 greatest books, and The Telegraph rated it among the top 20 children’s books of all time. This book has been found on at least one suggestion list for a classic novel study. It has been able to survive amongst countless other books, and still stand today in modern literature.
Many movies have been made about Treasure Island. One of the most well known versions is the Disney rendition, Treasure Planet. The movie cost Disney $140 million to produce, and the movie was nominated for “Best Animated Feature” in the 2002 Academy Awards. Treasure Island was made into full length movie in 1950, as well as a movie for TV in 1990. The story of Jim Hawkins has been popular enough to create works such as the ones shown above, and retain that popularity.
As well as it’s own movies, Treasure Island has created many modern portrayals. It was one of the first popular books to use “X” marks the spot, as well as eye patches, peg legs, and parrots that are common pirate themes today. Movies such as Pirates of the Caribbean On Stranger Tides, allude to many of these themes, one example being a peg-legged pirate. “X” marks the spot has appeared in many forms of children’s shows, such as Spongebob Squarepants, and Looney Tunes. Treasure Island sparked the creation of a prototype for modern pirate culture. The pirate theme that Stevenson helped to influence, after a hundred years, isn’t dying out. Pirates of the Caribbean On Stranger Tides made over $1 billion in total sales.
Treasure Island, also has some of the necessary ingredients of a classic novel. The essay What Makes a Good Novel, lists a host of possible tests that can determine whether a novel is a classic. One test is about the morals of the story. “Yet a great novel must take a stand on the question of good versus wrong.” (What Makes a Good Novel 3) Treasure Island does take a stand on the morality issue. At many points in the story, the protagonist, Jim Hawkins, has the oppourtunity to side with the mutineers, but even as a young boy Jim knows that it is his honour and duty to stick by his word, and do the right thing. Even when Jim is captured by the pirates, and has a chance to escape he says, “...I passed my word, [not to escape] and back I go.” (Stevenson Treasure Island 178) The quote shows that even though Jim is only a child, he still takes matters of honour and morals very seriously.
Another test from the essay, is a test of character. The characters have to be believable, the reader has to sympathize with the characters, and the characters have to be memorable. Jim Hawkins does many extraordinary things in the book, but never does the reader feel like they were impossible, that they couldn’t be done. Jim also gets sympathy from the reader, because it brings the reader inner child and adventurer, two emotions rarely shown in todays society. The reader believes that Jim is doing the right thing, and the reader will stick with Jim until the end. The reader is captivated by Long John Silver, for even though he is greedy and evil, it is the hatred of that greed that keeps the reader hanging on. Finally, the characters were all very memorable, especially the antagonist, Long John Silver, for the way he manipulates people to get exactly what he wants. "You may imagine how I felt when I heard this abominable old rogue [Long John Silver] addressing another in the very same words of flattery as he had used to myself. I think, if I had been able, that I would have killed him..." (Stevenson 64) The quote shows how Silver uses flattery to get people to do what he desires.
Treasure Island, is a classic novel. It has created the pirate theme, it has stood the test of time, it has been remade countless times, and it includes the necessary ingredients of a classic novel. It is a book that has been enjoyed for generations, and I am sure it will be enjoyed for generations to come.
