Treasure Island Essay
Why is Treasure Island considered a classic novel?
Changing the Face of Fiction
Many people are very familiar with the highly popular movies of the time such as The Hunger Games or Pirates of the Caribbean. But little do they know, these movies are highly inspired by the classic novel, Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. Treasure Island is rightly considered a classic novel because it has set the scene for countless pirate adaptations, while setting the standard for fast paced adventure fictions, and creating classic characters that are apparent in many different stories.
The list of films and stories that have been inspired by Treasure Island is endless, but what’s impressive is the fact that they’re not all pirate themed. Common characters, themes, plot twists, and conflicts are easily identified as originating from Treasure Island, and there are many examples you would never gAuess. One of the most obvious, being Treasure Planet. This 2002 Disney film, is largely based on the Treasure Island novel, merely substituting the setting while keeping all characters. Jim Hawkins, Captain Flint, Long John Silver, and all other essential characters are still carried over into this modern rendition, however now portrayed as their corresponding animals. This film adds the twist of outer space, to keep the story more interesting and less of a cliche. While there are a few differences in the plots of Treasure Island and Treasure Planet, they both highlight the main ideas of a childhood adventure, underlining the core theme of Treasure Island.
Dating far before the release of Treasure Planet, the classic 1950’s story of Peter Pan was released. Many would agree that Peter Pan is a classic pirate story, however what most viewers don’t know is that Peter Pan did not originate all of their storylines and characters. Both stories incorporate the themes of a coming of age story packed with adventure. In the case of Peter Pan, it’s an adventure for Wendy Darling, who is put into life threatening situations similar to Jim Hawkins. Both protagonists begin the books in a state of adolescence and are eventually posed with choices of alliances and friendships, creating a bridge from innocence to experience throughout the book. In addition, there is extreme similarities between Captain Hook, and Long John Silver who both take the role of highly feared captains. Evidence of the relationship between both captains are shown is this quote; "there was some that was feared of Pew, and some that was feared of Flint; but Flint his own self was feared of me" (Stevenson 58). J. M. Barrie references Treasure Island and alludes to this quote in his 1911 novel Peter Pan when his character Captain Hook remarks, "I am the only man whom Barbecue feared, and Flint himself feared Barbecue." (Barrie 121) According to J. M. Barrie's play Peter Pan, Captain Hook was the only man whom Silver ever feared, so they’re often compared to each other. Similarly to above, Peter Pan indirectly references to Treasure Island often, and shares a lot of thematic similarities.
It’s quite easy to understand how Treasure Island has influenced these two pirate themed movies, however many would be surprised to know how similar aspects of Treasure Island has carried over to modern day best sellers. One example of this, is in the 2008 science fiction novel and movie franchise written by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games. Both The Hunger Games and Treasure Island are fast-paced books, that tell the descriptive story of adventure and tragedy. Both books follow the same pattern where the actual games or arrival on the island doesn’t take place until the second half of the book. This shows the authors similar writing styles that incorporate strong and descriptive build-ups. Both books also feature young protagonists, that are eventually thrown into life or death situations who must decide who their allies are, and who the real enemy is. Treasure Island and The Hunger Games both have very compelling ‘bad guys.’ Though Long John Silvers is a very classic, crafty, and conniving ‘bad guy’, the fiend in The Hunger Games isn’t as definable. It seems that the vague ‘bad guy’ in the Hunger Games is authority. This comes from the capital, the gamemakers, the peace keepers, and even the other tributes, especially the career tributes.
Based on the similar plot lines and characters in these movies and books, it’s clear that Treasure Island has inspired many films and stories, by influencing the plots, and characters. Not only has it set the standard for fast paced adventure fictions, but it has created classic characters, storylines, and plot twists that are apparent in numerous popular books and movies.
Many people are very familiar with the highly popular movies of the time such as The Hunger Games or Pirates of the Caribbean. But little do they know, these movies are highly inspired by the classic novel, Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. Treasure Island is rightly considered a classic novel because it has set the scene for countless pirate adaptations, while setting the standard for fast paced adventure fictions, and creating classic characters that are apparent in many different stories.
The list of films and stories that have been inspired by Treasure Island is endless, but what’s impressive is the fact that they’re not all pirate themed. Common characters, themes, plot twists, and conflicts are easily identified as originating from Treasure Island, and there are many examples you would never gAuess. One of the most obvious, being Treasure Planet. This 2002 Disney film, is largely based on the Treasure Island novel, merely substituting the setting while keeping all characters. Jim Hawkins, Captain Flint, Long John Silver, and all other essential characters are still carried over into this modern rendition, however now portrayed as their corresponding animals. This film adds the twist of outer space, to keep the story more interesting and less of a cliche. While there are a few differences in the plots of Treasure Island and Treasure Planet, they both highlight the main ideas of a childhood adventure, underlining the core theme of Treasure Island.
Dating far before the release of Treasure Planet, the classic 1950’s story of Peter Pan was released. Many would agree that Peter Pan is a classic pirate story, however what most viewers don’t know is that Peter Pan did not originate all of their storylines and characters. Both stories incorporate the themes of a coming of age story packed with adventure. In the case of Peter Pan, it’s an adventure for Wendy Darling, who is put into life threatening situations similar to Jim Hawkins. Both protagonists begin the books in a state of adolescence and are eventually posed with choices of alliances and friendships, creating a bridge from innocence to experience throughout the book. In addition, there is extreme similarities between Captain Hook, and Long John Silver who both take the role of highly feared captains. Evidence of the relationship between both captains are shown is this quote; "there was some that was feared of Pew, and some that was feared of Flint; but Flint his own self was feared of me" (Stevenson 58). J. M. Barrie references Treasure Island and alludes to this quote in his 1911 novel Peter Pan when his character Captain Hook remarks, "I am the only man whom Barbecue feared, and Flint himself feared Barbecue." (Barrie 121) According to J. M. Barrie's play Peter Pan, Captain Hook was the only man whom Silver ever feared, so they’re often compared to each other. Similarly to above, Peter Pan indirectly references to Treasure Island often, and shares a lot of thematic similarities.
It’s quite easy to understand how Treasure Island has influenced these two pirate themed movies, however many would be surprised to know how similar aspects of Treasure Island has carried over to modern day best sellers. One example of this, is in the 2008 science fiction novel and movie franchise written by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games. Both The Hunger Games and Treasure Island are fast-paced books, that tell the descriptive story of adventure and tragedy. Both books follow the same pattern where the actual games or arrival on the island doesn’t take place until the second half of the book. This shows the authors similar writing styles that incorporate strong and descriptive build-ups. Both books also feature young protagonists, that are eventually thrown into life or death situations who must decide who their allies are, and who the real enemy is. Treasure Island and The Hunger Games both have very compelling ‘bad guys.’ Though Long John Silvers is a very classic, crafty, and conniving ‘bad guy’, the fiend in The Hunger Games isn’t as definable. It seems that the vague ‘bad guy’ in the Hunger Games is authority. This comes from the capital, the gamemakers, the peace keepers, and even the other tributes, especially the career tributes.
Based on the similar plot lines and characters in these movies and books, it’s clear that Treasure Island has inspired many films and stories, by influencing the plots, and characters. Not only has it set the standard for fast paced adventure fictions, but it has created classic characters, storylines, and plot twists that are apparent in numerous popular books and movies.