The Classic of all Classics
A classic novel is a rare type of novel that is timeless and it is a novel that many readers can relate to. The phenomenal author Robert Louis Stevenson, has written many novels throughout his life but he is most remembered for his classic Treasure Island. Greed is one of the human’s defective qualities that cannot be erased nor disregarded. Trust is being able to rely on someone without fearing betrayal. Adventure is needed in everyone’s lives, to live a life free of regret. The life of a hero is something everyone desires. Treasure Island is classic novel that proves it through its relatable themes, life changing lessons, powerful archetypes, and universal symbols.
Without greed the world would be at peace, and as one, but since everyone desires something that they don’t have, such as wealth, power or fame, problems are created. Greed is an important and major theme that is presented throughout Treasure Island and our everyday lives. This amazing classic novel, illustrates how greed is a trait that leaves misery and death on its destructive path. The plot of this novel is based on finding pirate treasure and it revolves around the universal theme of greed. The adventure begins with Billy, a mutineer who fled with treasure from his previous crew to keep for himself. The Billy’s greed gets him killed and the treasure map to the whereabouts of the treasure ends up in Jim’s hands. As Jim, the protagonist of this story comes close to finding the immense treasure they’ve been looking for; the greed of mankind reveals its true form. Because of the pirate’s greedy and selfish ways, they could only think of themselves and not the “friends” they had lost along their journey. A crewmate of Caption Silver’s (the antagonist) grew ill on their travels to the “X” that marked the spot. The heat and over exertion must have made Dick sick and tired. In this state, he clutches onto his bible realizing what the greed in his heart has done to him and begs for forgiveness. As he does so, oddly enough the group stumbles upon a clue leading to where the treasure is kept. As the clue is revealed to the crew, their greed for the gold brings out their remaining strength to fulfill their dark pleasure of being rich. As the crew believes they’ve found the treasure they’ve been looking for and “…their whole soul was bound up in that fortune, that whole lifetime of extravagance and pleasure, that lay waiting there for each of them”. (Stevenson 268). At this moment they’re at their greediest states. Their eyes brighten as they had seemed to have found what they have been seeking for eternity. Yet they had forgotten all the sacrifices that had to be made for them to be where they were. Their greed acted like their motivators and pushed them forward towards their goals. Although they were all pumped full of adrenaline and energy, they were falsely led and there was no gold to be found. Angered by this nothingness, and as they thought about everything that was lost, the crew turned against the captain. This becomes a slaughter and the only two that are left remaining when the battle comes to a close, are Jim and Captain Silver. Greed exists in everyone’s hearts but the quantity of that greed is what differentiates between life and death. Greed is one of the seven deadly sins that every human possesses. When Jim finally reaches the real gold’s location he thinks about his journey and once again about the greater misery that had come out of it. As he “beheld great heaps of coin and quadrilaterals built of bars of gold…that had cost already the lives of seventeen men and blood and sorrow”. (276) This was the price that had been paid for the greed of the pirates. It was a hefty price to pay but it was necessary, like a sacrifice for what they obtained in return. The narrator illustrates throughout the novel that the path of greed is a dangerous one to follow. This theme relates to many, as everyone has felt the greed for something in their lives. A quality that goes hand in hand with greed is betrayal.
Throughout history the groups of people known most for their disloyalty and betrayals are pirates. To trust someone is to be able to give someone your life in their hand and rely on them enough to keep you alive and protect you. After giving your trust away, you expect that person to have enough honour to respect your wishes and keeps that information to themselves. This is not a perfect world where everything you wish may come to be nor is it in Treasure Island. Jim begins the novel as a naïve child who believed in the best of everyone and thought the journey to the treasure would be smooth sailing. He would’ve never expected to be betrayed by everyone he thought he could trust just because they may seem friendly and trustworthy. To disappoint someone who trusts, is to fouls your name as an person with honor. Jim’s first betrayal proceeds when he is in dire need of help to protect his mother and their Inn yet he is disappointed. “This was certainly the end for both of us, I thought. How I cured the cowardice of the neighbours”. (41) Even though these were the men, women and children Jim had grown with his entire life with, none lifted a finger to help him when he was in need. They were all selfish to only think for themselves and not for the sake of another. Everyone has experienced betrayal at least once in their life before. To betray someone, they would have to be someone you have known. Jim thought he knew his crew well but was misled and left wth mutineers in return.“…Dooty is dooty mates. I give my vote death. When I’m in Parlyment and riding in my coach, I don’t want none of these sea lawyers in the cabin a coming home … Wait is what I say, but when the time comes why let her rip”. (96) When Jim first finds out the ship is filled with real pirates and not just sailor, he is shocked to see that Captain Silver is one of them. He was one of the first newcomers on the ship and Jim had taken a liking to him. A lesson Jim quickly learned was that looks may be very deceiving. Treasure Island taught readers lessons in life that could be used by a person of any age, proving that this novel is a timeless classic. People who betray others may be no hero but Jim chose to be something they were not, he chose to be a hero.
It has been everyone’s dream since childhood to be a superhero; a person who saves a damsel in distress and is loved by all. Although that may not be possible, the path of an ordinary hero is still possible. Jim is the typical hero character who faces the antagonist and after all the trials and obstacles, comes out victorious. He is the lovable character who the readers fall for. Jim may not start the plot being a Grade A hero but his courage and determination helps him become an absolute hero. When Billy is killed, Jim understands that his mother and himself are in danger. Since none of the cowardly villagers are willing to help, Jim bravely decides to take measures into him own hands, he puts his own life at risk to protect his mother. As he gathered a crew to take board his ship and head towards the treasure he acts selflessly towards the inhabitants of the ship. “Hawkins hasn’t had his breakfast. Hawkins, help yourself and back to your post to eat it …” (166) Treasure Island may revolve around pirates, greed and disloyalty, but there is still a great sense of heroism. Jim selflessly gives up his lunch in this scene and offers it to another on the ship. Jim’s loyalty is shown through his thoughts on his fellow crewmates. Although there are people against him on his own boat Jim sticks on the side of justice and fight’s to protect the weak. Deeper and deeper into the novel it is clear that Jim’s intelligence, quick thinking and courage increases. He had saved and protected his crew multiples of times as Treasure Island progressed, “…but like the first, it was a help towards saving all of us.” (177) The protagonist’s heroism was not tested once but twice to the point of death, yet he ended victorious. After finding out there was mutiny aboard their ship, Jim took helpful measure of moving the ship after everyone departed so that he and his crew have a safe travel home. Thus helping his people survive against the vaguer and filthy pirates. Jim represented the title of hero efficiently by overcoming his fears and showing his courage and bravery. A hero is a great character trait that makes a novel memorable and unforgettable. A hero is a character and is often a one for adventure.
Adventure is the exploration of a world through a hazardous journey filled with new discoveries and experiences. A Treasure map is a universal symbol for adventure and new discoveries. Life is filled with options to live a boring life or a life with outstanding experiences and it’s the person’s choice for what to follow. As Jim obtains the treasure map his character changes from an innkeeper’s son to an adventurous sailor. When he first finds the treasure map, “ The paper had been sealed …opened with great care, and there fell out the map of an island, … upon its shores these words : Bulk of treasure here”. (56) As the story starts Jim gets a taste of adventure and his desire to be free and to explore the land, drives him to gather others for his journey. As Jim holds the treasure map it is the key to his adventurous path. He convinces others to join him on a wild expedition out to see to maybe find treasure that might or might not be there. As Jim holds the map his desired freedom is now available to him and now nothing holding him back. When they reach the island another map is found identical to the one they possess. “And he cast down upon the floor a paper that I instantly recognized-none other than the chart on yellow paper with three red crosses, I had found in the oilcloth at the bottom of the captain’s chest”. (240) The adventure in this part of the novel is at its peak with two treasure maps given the adventure grows to new heights. Also the fact that the previous map they had was a fake further develops the protagonist vs. antagonist plot. The treasure map is universal symbols for freedom and adventure and it proves the fact that this novel is a classic.
In conclusion throughout the reading of the novel Treasure Island its clear and evident that it should be considered a classic. This novel uses greed, life lessons, archetype, and symbols to create relatable and memorable scenes. Every aspects of this novel would help someone further benefit their lives in the future. Stevenson used the theme greed and a symbol for adventure because everyone has been greedy and adventure in their lives. He illustrated a brave hero that the readers admired and important life lessons can be learned from. Altogether Robert Louis Stevenson created a book that is highly relatable to anyone. Therefore Treasure Island can be called nothing else but a classic.

Work Cited
Stevenson, Robert. Treasure Island. New York: Knopf Publishing, 2006. Print