From the beginning of the novel, we watch a young boy cry at the death of a pirate who dies from natural causes, a stroke. The second thematic moment that comes from his point is that it continues the maturation of the narrator, young Jim Hawkins. The fact that nature is mute in the face of this monstrous evil symbolizes the fact that nature does not judge Long John Silver's actions, they were merely necessary in order to ensure that their cause wins out. Stevenson himself claimed that this book has no moral lessons and this is one of the ways that he makes this prediction come to life in the pages. First, the amoralistic aspect of this book. The awareness of young Jim that despite the absolute cold-blondness and ruthlessness of the crime that nothing else in nature has changed sets about two major thematic points. The major thematic moment of this chapter comes when Long John Silver murders the innocent Tom. Everything else is left to both the imagination of the reader and of the young narrator. Because Jim does not witness this murder, he is forced to describe the murder through primarily sounds, including the yell of the victim, the rustle of birds, the boom of the surf, and finally, silence. Another great description in this chapter is of the murder of Alan.
The behavior of the birds, the swamps, thickets, and the open sandy area, enables the reader to have a vivid mental picture of the geography and setting of the island. The description of the island's plant life is particularly incredible, and makes the island leap out of the pages and into the readers imagination, especially as Jim is running through the island, desperate to escape the clutches of the pirates. The chapter ends with Jim's facing a "fresh alarm" with a "thumping heart." He is in a dilemma, however, because he also realizes that if he doesn't return the pirates will realize that he knows their secret. While he is still escaping, he realizes that there is no possible way to return to the boats because if he does he will certainly be killed. Silently, Jim crawls into an open space and runs as fast as he can, not paying any attention to where he is going. Finally, Jim comes to his sense and realizes that if he does not escape, he will be the next person that is dead. The one-legged Silver, devoid of his crutch, is still able to swiftly move to Tom and stick him with a knife not once, but twice.īecause of the recently-witnessed violence, Jim feels dizzy and like fainting. Tom starts to walk away, but Silver reacts very angrily, throwing a tree branch at him which makes him fall to the ground. Alan, another honest sailor, has been killed by the pirates because he will not convert to their cause. Their conversation, however, is interrupted by an angry cry in the distance and then a scream, something that Jim recognizes is a death cry. When he gets close enough to hear, he realizes that Silver is trying to persuade a man named Tom to join the pirates.
Frightened, Jim realizes that even though he is scared, he should try to get closer in order to overhear what is happening amongst the pirates. By hiding in a oak tree, he overhears Long John Silver, who is angrily conversing with another man. This carefree attitude, however, is quickly impinged on, as he hears birds circling overhead that signal that the pirates are nearby. By crossing a swamp, Jim believes he has escaped from Silver and thus can relax and enjoy exploring the mysterious island.
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