For fans captivated by the swashbuckling Starz series, Black Sails, the story’s end left a significant void. Serving as a prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson’s timeless classic, Treasure Island, Black Sails charted the tumultuous rise of Captain James Flint and his cohort of pirates. Central to this narrative was Long John Silver, portrayed with compelling complexity by Luke Arnold. Silver’s transformation from a cunning quartermaster to a figure of legendary pirate infamy is a core element of Black Sails, but what became of this iconic character after the series concluded? The narrative of Treasure Island offers glimpses into the post-Black Sails Long John Silver, hinting at adventures and developments that shaped the one-legged pirate we encounter in Stevenson’s novel. This exploration delves into the implied timeline of Long John Silver after Black Sails, piecing together the events that bridge the gap between the prequel series and the renowned Treasure Island.
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1. The Inevitable Clash: John Silver and Billy Bones
Re-establishing a Contentious Partnership for Treasure Island
The finale of Black Sails leaves John Silver and Billy Bones at a narrative crossroads concerning their Treasure Island trajectories. Treasure Island commences with Billy Bones, known as “the Captain,” seeking refuge at the Hawkins family inn, clutching a treasure map and haunted by the specter of a one-legged pirate. He warns young Jim Hawkins of this very figure. However, Black Sails concludes with Billy marooned on Skeleton Island, a twist from Stevenson’s original tale where Ben Gunn was the stranded crew member.
To align with Treasure Island, it’s presumed that Billy, during his isolation, uncovers Flint’s hidden treasure, drafts a map, and is eventually rescued. Crucially, John Silver and Billy Bones must cross paths again. This reunion would likely reveal Billy’s knowledge of the treasure’s location to John, rekindling their strained relationship. Their history in Black Sails is marked by escalating tension and distrust, providing ample groundwork for the animosity evident in Treasure Island. A final confrontation, perhaps centered on the fallout from Flint’s saga and Billy’s resolve to safeguard the treasure from Silver, would effectively position them for their roles in Treasure Island.
2. Marriage to Madi: A Bond Forged in Rebellion
A Significant Relationship Hinted at in Treasure Island
Black Sails introduces Madi, a compelling character crafted for the series and based on a subtle reference in Treasure Island. In Stevenson’s novel, Long John Silver mentions his wife, described as a woman of color, to his recruited pirate crew. While Black Sails doesn’t depict John and Madi’s marriage, the narrative strongly suggests it occurs post-series, given John’s later references to her as his wife.
Madi, portrayed by Zethu Dlomo, emerges as a vital figure in John Silver’s life in Black Sails. She is the daughter of the Maroon Queen and Mr. Scott, leaders of a community of freed slaves on Maroon Island. When Flint’s crew lands on Maroon Island, Madi becomes instrumental in forging an alliance between her people and the pirates. Her relationship with John deepens throughout the series, evolving into a partnership built on mutual respect and shared ambition. The implication is that their bond endures beyond the events of Black Sails, with Madi becoming not only his wife but also a trusted confidante, entrusted with managing his affairs in Bristol, signaling their continued partnership in ventures beyond piracy.
3. Bristol and The Spyglass Tavern: A New Facade
Establishing a Base for Future Schemes in England
The narrative of Treasure Island begins with Jim Hawkins encountering Long John Silver in Bristol, England. Silver operates a pub named the Spyglass Tavern, a seemingly respectable establishment that belies his piratical nature. It’s at the Spyglass that Jim and others enlist Silver for the voyage to find Flint’s treasure. This Bristol setting implies a significant shift in Long John Silver’s life after Black Sails. He and Madi must have relocated from the Caribbean to England, establishing a new life far from the pirate haven of Nassau.
The decision to leave Nassau could be attributed to various factors. By the end of Black Sails, Nassau is under the unofficial control of Max, John’s former associate. Furthermore, the Golden Age of Piracy is waning, symbolized by the fates of figures like Jack Rackham and Anne Bonny. This changing landscape might have prompted John and Madi to seek new opportunities and a less volatile environment. Establishing the Spyglass Tavern in Bristol suggests Long John Silver’s resourcefulness and adaptability, successfully embedding himself within a seemingly legitimate society while subtly laying the groundwork for his future piratical endeavors.
4. From Terrible Sailor Cook to Competent Chef
An Unlikely Skill Development Between Series
In Black Sails, Long John Silver’s initial portrayal is far from the charismatic pirate leader of Treasure Island. He begins as a common sailor, claiming to be a cook to survive capture by Flint’s crew. However, his culinary skills are initially abysmal, quickly exposed as a fabrication. Flint even provides basic cooking instructions, highlighting John’s lack of expertise in this area.
Yet, in Treasure Island, Long John Silver is employed as the Hispaniola’s cook, and his culinary abilities are notably proficient. This transformation signifies a period of learning and skill acquisition between the two stories. Perhaps spurred by Flint’s initial guidance, or perhaps through Madi’s influence or another acquaintance in Bristol, Long John Silver must have genuinely learned to cook. This seemingly minor detail underscores his capacity for reinvention and highlights how he meticulously crafts his persona for each new scheme, using even culinary skills to enhance his deceptive facade.
5. “Captain Flint”: The Parrot as a Persona Prop
Embracing Pirate Tropes and Character Lore
Treasure Island is credited with popularizing many enduring pirate tropes, including treasure maps marked with an ‘X’, peg-legged pirates, and parrots as companions. Long John Silver embodies two of these: the peg leg and the parrot. His parrot, named “Captain Flint,” becomes a memorable aspect of his persona, adding to his mystique and perceived danger, especially after Billy Bones’s warning about a one-legged pirate.
The parrot’s name itself is a darkly humorous inside joke for Silver, a constant reminder of his complex history with Captain Flint. In Treasure Island, Silver spins elaborate tales about the parrot’s history, claiming it sailed with infamous pirates like “Cap’n England” and witnessed countless acts of wickedness. This storytelling further enhances Silver’s fabricated persona. The parrot “Captain Flint” is not just a pet but a carefully chosen prop, solidifying Long John Silver’s pirate image and showcasing his penchant for theatrical deception, a trait vividly displayed throughout Black Sails.
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6. Assembling the Crew: Seeds of Mutiny Planted
Recruiting Familiar Faces for the Treasure Hunt
When Long John Silver joins the Hispaniola crew in Treasure Island, he subtly orchestrates the recruitment of several of his own trusted associates. A pivotal plot point in Treasure Island is that a significant portion of the Hispaniola’s crew are pirates secretly loyal to Silver, essentially forming a crew within a crew. Many of these are implied to be former members of Flint’s crew, individuals who have long been obsessed with the legendary captain’s hidden treasure. Silver, upon learning of the treasure map’s discovery, seizes the opportunity and alerts his network.
The ease with which Silver gathers his pirate faction suggests he maintained contact with these individuals after Black Sails, even as they dispersed from the Caribbean to places like England. Among them is Israel Hands, a character from Black Sails and formerly Blackbeard’s first mate. Long John Silver’s ability to reassemble this pirate contingent demonstrates his enduring influence and leadership, allowing him to manipulate the Hispaniola voyage and set the stage for the inevitable mutiny.
7. Crafting a Respectable Past: The Art of Deception
Reconciling Conflicting Backstories Through Lies
One of the most notable divergences between Black Sails and Treasure Island lies in the explanation of how Long John Silver lost his leg. Treasure Island states that Silver claims to have lost his leg honorably serving in the Royal Navy. However, Black Sails depicts a far more brutal and less heroic origin: his leg is severely injured in a fight, necessitating amputation.
The most plausible explanation for this discrepancy is that Long John Silver simply fabricates the Royal Navy story in Treasure Island. Black Sails firmly establishes Silver as a master manipulator and liar, with Flint himself suspecting the veracity of much of Silver’s self-proclaimed history. In the context of Treasure Island, Silver needs to project an image of trustworthiness and respectability to gain the confidence of Jim Hawkins and the other members of the expedition. Therefore, he constructs a false narrative, presenting a sanitized and heroic version of his past, a calculated deception entirely consistent with his character as developed in Black Sails.
8. The Meeting with Jim Hawkins: A Pivotal Relationship
Forging a Bond That Shapes Both Their Fates
The encounter between Long John Silver and Jim Hawkins is central to Treasure Island. Jim, the young protagonist, acquires Billy Bones’s treasure map and becomes entangled in the quest for Flint’s fortune. In Treasure Island, it’s emphasized that many characters, including Jim, are initially deceived by Silver’s charming facade, perceiving him as trustworthy. Jim, in particular, develops a strong bond with Long John Silver during the voyage.
Numerous adaptations of Treasure Island have explored the complex relationship between Silver and Jim, often portraying Silver as a surrogate father figure to the young boy, especially given the absence or loss of Jim’s own father in many versions. Considering the character arc established in Black Sails, Jim Hawkins’s arrival in Long John Silver’s life is a significant future event, one that will profoundly impact both their destinies, testing Silver’s manipulative skills and perhaps even revealing a flicker of genuine paternal affection beneath his piratical exterior.
9. The Mutiny on the Hispaniola: A Calculated Betrayal
Executing the Long-Planned Takeover for Treasure
The core conflict of Treasure Island revolves around the mutiny orchestrated by Long John Silver. His plan is to seize the treasure for himself and his pirate faction, betraying Captain Smollett and the loyal members of the Hispaniola crew. The presence of Madi in Bristol, ready to liquidate their assets and flee, strongly suggests she is complicit in and aware of Silver’s mutinous scheme.
In Treasure Island, Long John Silver’s mutiny is depicted as a brutal and calculated act of betrayal. He murders a sailor in cold blood and leads attacks against Smollett’s loyalists, resulting in casualties on both sides. He even takes Jim Hawkins hostage as leverage in his pursuit of the treasure. Silver himself faces near-death experiences during the mutiny, particularly when the pirates discover the treasure is missing, turning their wrath upon Silver and Jim. This violent and treacherous mutiny is the culmination of Long John Silver’s ambition and cunning, setting the stage for the final act of Treasure Island.
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10. Partial Spoils and an Uncertain Future: Escaping with a Portion
Long John Silver’s Fate Beyond Treasure Island
In the resolution of Treasure Island, Long John Silver’s mutiny ultimately fails to secure him the entirety of Flint’s treasure. Most of his pirate crew are either killed or marooned on the island. Ben Gunn, who has allied with Smollett’s party, reveals that he has already located and moved the bulk of the treasure. Smollett’s group captures Silver, but as they reach port in Central or South America, Long John Silver manages to escape, absconding with a portion of the recovered treasure.
This ambiguous ending mirrors the open-ended fate of Anne Bonny after Jack Rackham’s execution in Black Sails. Assuming Madi remains a part of Long John Silver’s life, his escape likely prompts him to either return to Bristol to reunite with her or contact her and arrange a rendezvous in the Americas. Black Sails masterfully crafted a complex and compelling version of Long John Silver, enriching the character and casting his actions in Treasure Island in a new, more nuanced light. His post-Black Sails journey, as hinted at in Treasure Island, is a testament to his resilience, cunning, and enduring pirate spirit, leaving his ultimate fate intriguingly open to interpretation.
