One Word -- Pirate!
Author's Note: Okay, this is the first fiction I've written in a while. The past year has been rather filled with serious paper-writing about topics like "John Locke and the American Revolution" so I've been creatively brain-dead. But the new movie, as well as people's reactions to it, got me thinking. This is my take on Jack's character during the events of Dead Man's Chest. I've only seen the movie once, on opening day, so this may be a little early in the game, but I just had to write something to get my thoughts in order. So please forgive any errors, since I don't have access to a DVD or a script.
Don't forget to review!
Disclaimer: I don't own Pirates of the Caribbean.
Some may call him cowardly. Others might say he's selfish.
To the first accusation he would ask said accusers how they might react if they had a colossal, odoriferous sea monster chasing them. How would they react facing the prospect of 100 years of servitude to a psychotic, heartless (in the literal sense) squid-faced monstrosity? The only safety from such a fate being to remain forever on land, solid, stationary land.
To the second accusation, he would have one word to say. "Pirate!"
It wasn't as if he wanted to betray Will. Sending the whelp over to Davy Jones was merely a temporary solution. Once Jack had the chest, he would have the leverage to get Davy Jones to do whatever he wanted. First he'd have him call off that blasted kraken. There was no way a pirate could make a proper living, if every single time he ventured out onto the open sea that beastie would be lying in wait to swallow his ship. Once the monster was taken care of, he could do something about the crew of the Flying Dutchman. They would be set free and Will would go marry his bonny lass, and Bootstrap would soon be playing host to half a dozen grandbabies, no doubt.
Speaking of Bootstrap, he was really doing the lad a favor, arranging a reunion for the two of them, like. Right considerable of him, actually.
He just had to get that chest. And now that Elizabeth was here, he had a heading. Why the compass was suddenly working for Lizzie and not for him, he had no idea. But at least it was working. Once he had the chest and took care of Davy Jones, he would no longer be a marked man, and then he could pull himself together. This whole situation really had him in a bit of a state.
That had been a bit of surprise seeing Lizzie on the dock back at Tortuga, although he should have expected it. That girl would do whatever it took for her beloved William. And that was another thing bothering him. He wasn't altogether sure he liked the idea of the two of them living happily ever after. He was somewhat drawn to the girl, despite her rum-burning tendencies.
He was uncharacteristically confused, he didn't know what he wanted. It wasn't a feeling he liked. No wonder the compass wouldn't work for him.
Having Elizabeth on the Pearl was a further distraction for him. And to make things worse, she kept trying to convince him that he was "a good man!" Whatever that meant. He was a pirate. He was out for number one. A really bad egg!
Wasn't he? Then why was he so confused about what he wanted? Blasted compass. The bloody thing was defective, that's all. Right?
He just had to get that chest. Until then he'd do whatever was necessary to stay alive.
But even as he decided this, Lizzie's words echoed in his head, "you and I are alike. And there will come a moment when you have the chance to show it. To do the right thing." He had responded in true Jack Sparrow fashion: "I love those moments. I like to wave at them as they pass by." But he wondered -- when such a moment came, would he be able to wave it by? He had a funny feeling that, due to a growing case of very un-piratical scruples, he might not. Blast.
Please review! Oh, and If you know how to pronounce Bill Nighy's last name, could you please tell me? It's driving me nuts.