The Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl was the
first of a now popular series. It romanticized pirates' legendary lust for
adventure and gold. One detail that I would like to discuss is a sub-theme that
is a little hidden within the series, the story of Captain Jack Sparrow. Jack
Sparrow can be perceived as the embodiment of piracy, both from his appearance
and from his actions.
Later in the series in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, the audience would discover how Jack Sparrow became branded as a
pirate. This scene was cut from the movie, but appears in the deleted scenes. In it the audience sees an interaction between
Cutler Beckett and Jack Sparrow. Cutler Beckett said, “Remarkable. The last I
saw of that ship, she was on fire. A blackened hulk sinking beneath the waves.
We had a deal, Jack. I contracted you to deliver cargo on my behalf. You chose
to liberate it.” Jack Sparrow replied, “People aren’t cargo, mate.” To which Cutler
Beckett said, “And you incurred a heavy debt to raise her up again, didn’t you?”.
This scene would have shown the audience a moral belief of Jack Sparrow and the
reason that he was branded as a pirate. It also shows how Jack Sparrow received
his debt to Davy Jones. Davy Jones raised Jack Sparrow’s ship the Wicked Wrench
from the depths of the seas in near perfect condition except the hull was permanently
charred black. This is what caused Jack Sparrow to rename the ship the Black
Pearl. For those who do not know, Jack Sparrow’s debt to Davy Jones is a
hundred souls for raising his ship. Here is where Jack Sparrow’s morals become
more important. If he was only a selfish pirate that cared only for himself and
treasure, then Jack would not have had a second thought about the 100 souls if,
in the end, his goals were still accomplished. However, Jack Sparrow is a moral
pirate that cares for people more than he would like them to believe so he
faces a huge dilemma.
Hints of Jack Sparrows good morals
are shown thought-out the series in contrast with his rough appearance. In fact,
the ironic morality of pirates expresses an aspect of free will rather than a
group of rough, greedy, raiders that would do anything to see their wants
accomplished. Truthfully, it is the government that shows a lack of morals. The
East India Trading Company branded Jack Sparrow a pirate because he refused to
do their dirty work when he liberated the slaves. This contrast of morals has romanticized
piracy and the freedom, adventure, and dangers that goes together with their
lives. At the same time, it shows the danger that a powerful government can
have if it is not held in check. Pirates are free to live and die as they
please on open sea. The government officials in contrast are greedy and forsake
the people they represent to preserve their wealth and livelihood. This shows a
bitter reality hidden beneath the adventure in the movie. A person’s rank in
life is not always expressed in their appearance and does not set their morals.
In fact, I believe that the Pirates of the Caribbean shows that any
person can have good morals or bad morals. Also it shows that the choices a person
makes defines who they are going to be in life not rank that they are born
into.
