Treasure Island Transition Into Maturity

The transition into maturity is a process by which a boy adapts traits from male figures and chooses a moral identity. Jim Hawkins, in Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, begins an innocent boy, encased in a domestic setting. By loosing his father, Jim is able to utilize characteristics from other male characters, specifically Silver and Dr. Livesey, during his quest for maturity. Although Silver’s intensions seem genuine, the reader quickly discovers he lacks a consciousness, making his affection towards Jim untrustworthy. Thus, the qualities that Jim admires in Silver, which Silver uses for villainous endeavors, are adapted in Jim’s quest for maturity and enable him to develop a moral identity, courage, mental resolve, cleverness,

and maturity.
In the beginning of Treasure Island, Jim Hawkins, the hero, recalls his innocence.

At the Admiral Benbow, Jim is an obedient and cowardice boy entrapped by the domestic setting. Jim innocence and immaturity are highlighted as the one-legged pirate causes “the worst of nightmares” (Stevenson 10). Additionally, Jim’s childish attachment to his mother is present when the old sailor Pew scares him into running to his mother for protection. However, following the death of his father and Billy Bones, who was struck dead by “thundering apoplexy,” Jim is able to gain initiative (23). He obtains the map to “square the count” between the pirate and himself (28). Thus, the map’s attachment to Jim thrusts him out of his domestic setting into his voyage for treasure and

maturity.
In Bristol, Jim encounters Silver. Although Jim had been warned of the one-legged sailor, Silver’s “cheerful spirits” and “clean and pleasant-tempered” demeanor diminished Jim’s fear that “he might prove to be the very one-legged sailor” that Billy Bones warned him about (45-46). Silver’s presence causes multiple characters to respect him; Jim describes him as “clever” (48) and the “most interesting companion…[and] one of the best possible shipmates” (49), while Dr. Livesey identifies Silver as an “honest” man, and Israel Hands proclaims his bravery (53, 57). Jim declares that he believed Silver to be “the best of men,” displaying Jim’s admiration for Silver’s character (58). Although Silver’s character later frightens Jim, he remains influenced by characteristics, such as Silver’s courage, cleverness, and mental resolve, throughout his transition into maturity.
From their first meeting, Silver attempts to befriend and gain Jim’s trust to utilize later. Although Silver’s intentions seem pure as he attempts to “get along well” with Jim, his true nature as a self-serving and disloyal character quickly arise (49). According to Haden Ward, Jim’s innocence causes adults, including Silver and Dr. Livesey, to attempt to persuade him to become a collaborator (Hayden Ward, 308). However, Jim’s innocence results in Silver attempting first to create a parental bond and corrupt Jim as his “son” (Stevenson, 57). After seeing Silver kill Tom without remorse, Jim becomes cautious of Silver, describing him as a “monster” (78). Silver, therefore, lacks conscience as part of his piratical character (Lisa Honaker, 42). Silver later protects Jim to gain an escape plan for later. Jim, therefore, is a tool that Silver manipulates out of necessity to avoid death (Ward, 313).
Nevertheless, Jim utilizes Silver’s characteristics as he transforms into a man. Silver’s bravery is only discussed initially, but the respect he is able to command from other men, Jim admires. Jim, when he is being followed by Ben Gunn, attempts to adapt the courage and bravery both shown by Silver and discussed of him. Jim attaches security and courage to to his pistol, enabling “courage” to fill his “heart” (Stevenson, 81). Jim also displays Silver type of courage when Jim abandons his post, leaving his comrades unguarded, to cut loose the Hispaniola. Although Jim’s results aid his comrades, he acts only by considering his own heroism. Being Jim’s “second folly, far worse than the first,” he applies his independence ultimately resulting in “saving all of [them]” (117). Courage becomes a characteristic of Jim, which he adapts from Silver. Like Silver, Jim is “no coward” by the end of the novel (160). When Jim returns from the Hispaniola to meet the pirates, he imbues courage when he becomes “bolder” when replying to Silver (146). Although the fear of death has not disappeared, Jim’s new courage enables him to confront Silver.
Throughout the novel, Silver is constantly plotting. Silver plots and is resolved to steal the treasure and, later, to abandon the pirates to escape death. Jim, initially impulsively, displays resolve when he decides to hide in one of the boats that go ashore. Jim abandons Captain Smollett, Dr. Livesey, and the squire to escape to Treasure Island and “given the slip to Long John” (76). Jim’s actions, though impulsive, highlight the utilization of Silver’s mental resolve. Jim, as he attempts to gain standing with his colleagues, begins to “scheme” (116) and becomes mentally resolved to “cut the Hispaniola adrift” (118). As he accomplishes this task, Jim also decides to steer the Hispaniola ashore alone. Although Israel Hands guides him, he steers the large ship around Treasure Island alone.
During Jim’s discourse with Israel Hands, he utilizes Silver’s conscienceless and piratical character.

Jim threatens the injured Hands from superior position: “‘One more step, Mr. Hands,’ said I, ‘and I’ll blow your brains out!’” (138). Jim’s lack of consciousness and piratical character is highlighted because he “laughed aloud” (138). According to Lisa Honaker, Jim becomes adept to Silver’s piratical boastfulness and has embraced Silver’s piratical characteristics (Honaker, 42). As Jim is “smiling away, as conceited as a cock upon a wall,” he presents the smugness of Silver, which he firstly detested. When Jim kills Hands, “without conscious aim,” he becomes “sick, faint, and terrified” (Stevenson, 139-140). Jim is incapable of adhering to a piratical character and reclaims values of order and justness from Dr. Livesey. Following, Jim becomes resolved to cease actions of instinct and disobedience (Honaker, 43). Thus, Jim’s moral identity and maturity becomes constructed of Silver’s courage, mental resolution, and Dr. Livesey’s justness

values.
Ultimately, Jim concludes to become a courageous, loyal, mentally resolved, and just man. Although Silver is a pirate, Jim protects him because Jim “passed [his] word” to Silver (Stevenson, 161). Here, Jim is loyal to his word, just, and courageous, because Silver did save him previously and Jim is forced to stand up to his comrades to protect Silver. Additionally, Jim, for the remainder of the novel, does not abandon his comrades, highlighting his loyalty. Although Jim dislikes Silver’s disloyalty, Jim is not upset following Silver’s escape.
Silver’s villainous character enables Jim to transition into maturity. As Silver’s characteristics are tested, Jim is able to choose his own moral identity. Although Jim utilizes Silver’s villainous characteristics for good, he also becomes piratical himself momentarily, only to dismiss villainous actions for the remainder of the novel. Jim’s quest for maturity and utilization of Silver’s characteristics create an enjoyable imperfect hero who has been corrupted and rectified. Ultimately, Silver’s characteristics result in the enjoyment of the novel and heroism of Jim.