On the page and on screen, pirates slash and parry their way through high-stakes seafaring thievery. Never far away from a bottle of rum or coveted treasure chest, these characters are the embodiment of recklessness. And honestly, we love it! In celebration of the rich tapestry of pirate lore out there, we assembled a list of five iconic pirate characters.
Captain Jack Sparrow From the Pirates of the Caribbean Franchise
Jack Sparrow — excuse us, Captain Jack Sparrow — may be humorous, drunk, and a little kooky, but don’t underestimate his ruthlessness. When we first meet him in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, he’s hellbent on reclaiming his ship at any cost. Though he starts out with only William Turner on his side, he soon reassembles a proper crew to take down the traitorous Barbosa. Sparrow’s antics may be questioned by everyone around him, but he always manages to come out on top. And isn’t that what being a pirate is really all about?
The Dread Pirate Roberts From The Princess Bride
We learn in William Goldman’s novel, The Princess Bride, and its 1987 movie adaptation, that the Dread Pirate Roberts is a title that is passed from sailor to sailor. Westley is merely another in a long line of pirates who have taken up the mantle in order to invoke fear in those who cross them on the high seas. As he so aptly puts it, “No one would surrender to the Dread Pirate Westley.” With his dark mask, cavalier swordsmanship, and swaggering smile, this Dread Pirate Roberts puts in mind classic silent film pirates, such as Douglas Fairbanks.
Long John Silver From Treasure Planet
Treasure-hungry mutinous pirate Long John Silver is an iconic character from Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, but his interpretation in the movie Treasure Planet adds beautiful depth. This version dives further into the father/son dynamic between Silver and Jim Hawkins, making Silver’s eventual betrayal all the more heartbreaking. In the book, Long John Silver has a classic pirate look, complete with a pegleg and parrot sidekick. The movie puts a space-age twist on this by making Silver a cyborg, and the click and whirr of his robotic prosthetics heighten our unease around him. Ultimately, Silver’s story is a cautionary tale of what can go wrong when a pirate becomes too obsessed with finding the perfect treasure.
Captain Hook From Peter Pan
The handsome and perfectly coiffed Captain Hook from J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan stories prefers brain over brawn. Though his sword skills are certainly fearsome, his favorite method is to lure his targets (most often Peter Pan and his fellow Lost Boys) into delicately laid traps. Hook may be self-conscious of his namesake feature, but best believe he knows how to use that hook when he needs to. Peter Pan’s story has been adapted countless times, but Captain Hook’s most iconic portrayal is in the zany and comedic 1953 animated film.
One-Eyed Willie From The Goonies
Every coastal town needs a great pirate legend, and in the 1985 movie The Goonies, Astoria, OR, has exactly that. One-Eyed Willie has a lot in common with Captain Flint from Treasure Island’s lore, including rigging his treasure trove to prevent anyone from taking his ill-gotten goods. And, of course, his eyepatch is also classic pirate fodder. Though this character may be dead in the movie, One-Eyed Willie proves that the impact of pirate stories and legends transcends time itself.
Whether they have the stereotypical look or not, these pirates all contain a piece of what makes these adventurous characters so special. And their lasting power proves that pirate stories are far from ending up in a watery grave.
Look behind the eye-patch and learn real pirate history here.
Check out our Recommendations bookshelf on Bookshop to find the best treasure there is: a good book!
