Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!” (6)
We are first introduced to this ditty Billy Bones comes sauntering into Jim's family's inn to pass his time for an indefinite period.. He comes to the Admiral Bimbo, and Jim overhears him singing it. Billy Bones is Jim's, or at least the reader's, first real encounter with a pirate. The beginning with Billy Bones sets up the framework for the rest of the story. In just about every discussion of pirates and of Treasure Island, reference to this pirates' drinking song will somewhere in the conversation almost inevitably come up. This little ditty speaks not only to Stephenson's creativity in his story, but also of the culture of the pirate, that which has since come into the conscious public concept of what it means to be a pirate. Being a pirate includes fraternity (i.e. men), villainy, treasure, shouts of "yo-ho," and most importantly rum.
Stephenson makes sure to frequently mention of the ubiquity of rum, the power of drink, and the unquenchable thirst of a pirate many times throughout the novel. Nothing better connotes the culture of drunkenness than this pirate song. It is interesting to note that rum is most readily spoken of and available to a pirate. Gin, beer, whisky, wine, vodka are also popular alcoholic drinks, but rum was cheap and conveniently, was issued to sailors by the British government. This was in practice until 1970 (Porges). As Billy Bones lays dying, he asks Jim to get him some rum. Israel Hands desperately asks Jim for rum after he is injured. Though the presence of alcohol was common and little was known of its harm, the doctor shows some presence of mind, and also disdain for the pirate. He says, "I only have one thing to say to you, sir,...that if you don't stop drinking rum, the world will be rid of a very dirty scoundrel!" (7)
Song is one of the most simple, yet powerful, ways to get a message across. The pirate’s drinking song illustrates a concentrated idea at least as concentrated as the alcohol in the drink. The first line creates some ambiguity in meaning. "Fifteen Men on a Dead Man's Chest" could either refer to the chest on the body, perhaps referring to fifteen men murdered by, and therefore on the conscience of, a dead man. It could also be referring to a treasure chest, alluding to the many people seeking for in involved with finding the treasure. The third line brings up the connection with drink (i.e. alcohol, namely rum), and the devil (sin, carelessness, crime, immorality, wickedness). Pirates have a bad reputation for drink and devilry, part of which has historical context, and part of it comes form Stephenson’s imagery.
“I forgot to tell you that Silver is a man of substance; I known of my own knowledge that he has a banker’s account, which has never been overdrawn. He leaves his wife to manage the inn; and as she is a woman of color a pair of old bachelors like you and I may be excused for guessing that it is the wife, quite as much as the health, that sends him back to roving.” (39)
This passage brings up a number of interesting points in the novel. It is an excerpt of a letter that Jim’s sailor friend, John Trelawney wrote to tell Jim, Tom Redruth, and Dr. Livesey of his findings. He had gone to the port for the purpose of getting a ship and crew to sail to find the treasure located on Jim’s map. In his letter, the reader gets the first indication of the infamous Long John Silver. Silver is one of the novel’s main and most complicated characters. Trelawney is struck by Silver’s character, honesty, and charm. Jim also makes fast friends with Silver. That swarthy charm is what drives the main events and moral dilemma of most of the novel. Soon Jim learns of Silver’s duality. He is the kind of person who is on the winning team, and switches loyalties to save his own skin.
We know so little of Silver's history, except what is revealed through Trelawney's letter. Trelawney assures his mates of Silver’s uprightness and dignity. He has never overdrawn on his account and is therefore not flagrant with money. This also indicates to the history of banking. Bristol, according to Stephenson, in 17--, had a working bank system that the emerging middle class used. Through the bank system, they could make transactions, manage debts, get loans presumably, and had a standing credit. He keeps a respectable in with his wife. This is the only mention of Silver’s wife in the course of the novel, and it is brings up questions regarding race, gender, and the historical context of slavery.
Stevenson's positions Silver's character in a solid grey zone. As opposed to Trelawney's and Jim's first impressions, Silver's personal character is put under suspicion. The reader is forced to directly confront the moral ambiguity of Treasure Island's hero/anti-hero.
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