An Ordinary HeroTreasure Island is supposed to be a novel for boys. This is coming out of stodgy, Victorian England, so girls aren't supposed to want to sail away and hunt for treasure. But some of...

We think Long John Silver is the best part of this book. He's totally what we imagine a pirate should be: cunning, sly, peg-legged, with a parrot on his shoulder. There's a reason why he's what we...

Doctor Livesey is the local medical man and judge in Jim's hometown back in England. He's also friends with Squire Trelawney and part of the original group of treasure hunters. He's the only one of...

Squire Trelawney is a local example of the landed gentry, or nobility, in Jim's hometown. His status isn't as high as that of a lord, baron, or earl, but he does have aristocratic blood. He is a go...

Captain Smollett is a stand-up guy, but he's also all about the discipline. The way he knows there's something wrong with the crew is that they've been spoiled: Squire Trelawney has given them a ba...

Ben Gunn is a marooned sailor Jim Hawkins finds on the island. He had been a part of Captain Flint's crew, like Long John Silver and Billy Bones. But unlike these men, absolutely no one respects hi...

Billy Bones is the hard-drinking, sea-chanty-singing pirate who first appears at the Admiral Benbow Inn seeking a quiet, out-of-the-way place to live. In many ways Billy Bones is a template for the...

Three of Squire Trelawney's four named servants accompany him on his voyage to Treasure Island. He leaves one behind, Mr. Blandly, to send another ship after them if they don't turn up in Bristol b...

Pew is the blind pirate who delivers the black spot – a summons to appear at a certain time – to Billy Bones. After seeing Pew, Billy Bones has a sudden heart attack (from fear? anger? We don't...

Israel Hands is the coxswain aboard the Hispaniola, and he also appears to be Long John Silver's second in command of the pirates. The coxswain is the crewman who monitors the steering of the ship....

Jim's parents are honest innkeepers. Jim's father is dying at the start of the novel; he passes away in Chapter 3. With his death Jim becomes free to carve out his own way in the world. Jim's mothe...