In Suspense
Suspense is a huge element of Treasure Island without it the reader would become disinterested in the novel immediately. For instance, in the beginning of the novel Billy Bones and Doctor Livesey share "a battle of looks ... but the captain soon knuckled under, put up his weapon, and resumed his seat, grumbling like a beaten dog" (13). Not all the battles in the novel are physical, this one is an example of battling wills rather than bodies. Doctor put the pirate in his place, which the pirate submits to so as to not make a scene because someone is looking for him and he doesn’t want to be found. The audience might perceive this as cowardice, however the pirate is being more cautions than anything else, which is in turn building more suspense in the audience.
Captain Smollett's earlier suspicion about the crew is justified when Jim tells him about Silver's discussion that he eves dropped on accidentally. In response Captain Smollett reveals that he "‘never heard of a crew that meant to mutiny but what showed signs before...But this crew,’ he added, ‘beats me.’' to which Doctor Livesey responds ‘with your permission, that’s Silver. A very remarkable man'" (116). The is an example of suspense because the reader now is assured that the crew will indefinitely attempt mutiny, however it is still unclear how Smollett could avoid such an incident from occurring. This exchange also shows that Silver and his crew are not ordinary pirates they are cunning and lead by an intelligent man. Even more suspense is created further on in the novel when Smollett's "slightest order was received with a black look and grudgingly and carelessly obeyed" (123-24). However intelligent a leader Silver is of the pirates, their patients is waning from their eagerness and greed for the treasure. The unknown is also a contributor to the suspense of novel, Jim describes “The great sea-chest none of us had ever seen open” (110). Here the narrator is creating suspense by drawing out the mystery of what the chest contains, and the implications of what might occur when they find out.
Jim's spontaneous decision to reclaim the Hispaniola is a moment of high suspense, describing his attempting to board the ship and states that his "first impulse was one of despair, but my second was towards joy. Round she came, till she was broadside on to me—round still till she had covered a half and then two thirds and then three quarters of the distance that separated us" (225). The suspense of this event is created by Jim's struggle and determination to get the ship back, so he and his comrades have an advantage of escape if their circumstances are too dangerous. However the circumstances to retrieve the ship are treacherous in Jim's small coracle and the audience questions whether Jim will be able to get on board alive, let alone capture Israel Hands and his fellow guard.
As Jim lands the recaptured Hispaniola with Israel Hand's, the boy recollects that he had "heard a creak or seen [Hand's] shadow moving with the tail of my eye...there was Hands, already half-way towards me, with the dirk in his right hand...[Hands] threw himself forward and [Jim] leapt sideways towards the bows...[he] let go of the tiller, which sprang sharp to leeward, and...struck Hands across the chest and stopped him, for the moment, dead" (243). The suspense of this moment lies within the building to the quickness of the action. While on their way to the island in the overloaded boat Israel Hands begins shooting at Captain Smollett and his crew, in the midst of dodging the shots the boat capsizes leaving all their "stores at the bottom, and...only two guns out of five remained in a state for service" then once on the island the group " [hears] voices already drawing near [them] in the woods along shore, and [they] had not only the danger of being cut off from the stockade in [their] half-crippled state" (163). The dire circumstances of Jim's group really becomes understood, they are outnumbered and out gunned by a large margin. The suspense is created by the fact that the odds aren't in Jim's favor and the voices add to the suspense further because it means the threat is close by. One of the most suspenseful moments of the novel occurs when Jim wakes up in the apple barrel below decks to a secret conversation. Jim hears "Silver’s voice, and before I had heard a dozen words, I would not have shown myself for all the world, but lay there, trembling and listening, in the extreme of fear and curiosity, for from these dozen words I understood that the lives of all the honest men aboard depended upon me alone" (99). The diction as well as Jim's circumstances create the suspense of this interaction, "trembling" and "fear" cause the audience to continue reading to make sure that Jim escapes from his inconvenient position in the barrel that Silver is reaching into at the end of his discussion. |
While exploring the island Jim comes across Silver and Tom speaking not far off, suddenly a "cry of anger, then another... and then one horrid, long-drawn scream...Tom had leaped at the sound, like a horse at the spur, but Silver had not winked an eye. [Silver] stood where he was, resting lightly on his crutch, watching his companion like a snake about to spring (132). Jim witnessing this moment is suspenseful for many reasons. First and foremost, scream off in the distance causes Tom, Jim, and the audience to feel on edge, it not only signals the death of a crewman but it shows that the pirates didn't kill the man quickly, instead it seems they draw it out. The pirates enjoyment from others suffering can be further viewed from Silver calmly watching Tom and later his lighthearted reaction to Tom's anxious behavior. Then Jim watches as Silver grabs a tree branch [whipping] the crutch out of his armpit, and sent that uncouth missile hurtling through the air. It struck poor Tom, point foremost, and with stunning violence...he gave a sort of gasp, and fell” (133). Silver's merciless and brute way of murdering Tom creates suspense because it is a warning that Silver could strike out in violent ways without warning or cause.
As Jim walks through the forest on the island exploring and absorbing the wonder of the island, however he notices that he is not alone and something has been following him, "the terror of this new apparition brought [Jim] to a stand...[he] was now, it seemed, cut off upon both sides; behind [him] the murderers, before [him] this lurking nondescript" (137). Here suspense is created by the unknown, Jim doesn't know who or what is following him and being just a boy it would be difficult for him to defend himself from one of Silver's men or a natural predator of the island. As the Jim, the Captain, Doctor Livesley, and the Squire flee to the island to battle the mutineers they discover that there boat is "gravely overloaded. Five grown men, and three of them—Trelawney, Redruth, and the captain— over six feet high, was already more than she was meant to carry...Several times we shipped a little water...we got her to lie a little more evenly. All the same, we were afraid to breathe" (157). The circumstances of this quote are suspenseful because the "good guys" are traveling to their enemy to battle for Flint's treasure. In addition, the boats that they are traveling on are extremely overloaded and could capsize at any moment, this causes the audience to be on edge for Jim and his companions. "'And here, sure enough, is my mate Bill...bless his old ‘art, to be sure. You and me’ll just go back into the parlour, sonny, and get behind the door, and we’ll give Bill a little surprise—bless his ‘art, I say again'" (18). When Pew is introduced in the story it is clear he doesn't come with good intentions. Immediately the audience is in suspense due to Pew's appearence (missing fingers, a missing leg, etc) and the shiftiness the narrator perceives in him. For instance, Pew asks Jim about "Bill" thinking that a child is the easiest person in the parlor to manipulate for information, this shows the pirates cunning. As Pew continues questioning Jim, the audience is in suspense not knowing what Pew's motivation is to meet with Bill, other than it isn't going to be friendly. When Pew meets Billy Bones he reaches for "the hilt of his cutlass and loosened the blade in the sheath... [Pew] kept swallowing as if he felt what we used to call a lump in the throat" (18). Here the writing creates the audiences suspense by describing all of Pew's slight movements. Another way the author creates suspense is by Pew's edginess about Bill and the fact that Bill doesn't want to be found, which makes Jim nervous as well. During the beginning of the voyage to Treasure Island Captain Smollett is naturally suspicious of his new crewmen and how they are behaving due to their knowledge of the destination of the trip. Smollett speaks to Dr. Livesey about how "'every man before the mast knows more than [he does]’" (83-4). This builds suspense early on during the voyage, the destination and what lies on it where meant to be known only by Jim, Captain Smollett, and Squire Trelawney (who is more than likely responsible for "blabbing" around the harbor when he was looking for a crew). Suddenly the reader is aware that there are some inconsistencies on the ship and questions the loyalty of the crew to Captain Smollett's command.
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