Buzz
Ahoy, mateys! Fictional pirates often fit a predictable mold: eye-patched, parrot-loving, rum-swilling figures in billowy Seinfeld-style shirts, chanting yo-ho-ho as they roam the high seas. From searching for hidden treasures to forcing captives to walk the plank, these exaggerated characters are known for their frequent exclamations of “Arr!”
Why does this image persist? As Talk Like a Pirate Day 2015 sets sail, let’s dive into the origins of these swashbuckling stereotypes.
1. PARROT COMPANIONS
Many of the pirate traits we recognize today can be traced back to Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. Originally published as a serial from 1881 to 1882 (and as a novel shortly after), it has inspired countless pirate tales, from On Stranger Tides to Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.
Treasure Island also immortalized its characters, particularly Long John Silver and his loyal parrot, “Captain Flint.” Stevenson suggested that the bird was a nod to Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe (1719), where the protagonist, isolated for decades, finds companionship in a talking bird.
The connection between pirates and parrots has some historical grounding. While food shortages on ships made pets a rarity, sailors in the 16th to 18th centuries often captured exotic creatures as keepsakes. Parrots, which fetched high prices in London’s markets, were particularly prized. Pirate captain Stephen Haynes even used live parrots to bribe British officials.
2. EYEPATCHES
There’s a clever theory about why pirates might have worn eyepatches, but historical evidence supporting their actual use is scarce.
The human eye can take up to 25 minutes to adjust to darkness. During a pirate attack, spending that much time below deck in total darkness could be deadly. Wearing an eyepatch keeps one eye adjusted to the dark, ensuring immediate visibility in low-light situations—a clever tactic indeed!
However, this theory has a significant flaw. Eyepatches were rarely worn by pirates. The only well-documented pirate who wore one was Rahmah ibn Jabir al-Jalahimah, an Arabian ruler and pirate who lost an eye in battle and used a patch to cover it.
The idea of pirates wearing eyepatches likely stems from a celebrated non-pirate figure. During the 1794 siege of Calvi in Corsica, Lord Horatio Nelson suffered a severe injury that left him blind in one eye. Artists later depicted him with an eyepatch (though he likely never wore one), and his heroic reputation led to the association of eyepatches with maritime valor.
3. THE "SKULL & CROSSBONES" FLAG
This ominous symbol dates back to the Middle Ages, where it represented death during the bubonic plague. By the early 1700s, pirates began using skulls and crossbones on black flags, with Emanuel Wynn possibly pioneering the trend. Surprisingly, these flags conveyed a peaceful intent: a black flag signaled that surrender would spare the crew, while a red flag warned of no mercy and imminent slaughter.
Unlike the Royal Navy, pirates didn’t adhere to strict flag designs. While the black skull and crossbones were common, some captains opted for unique symbols. Thomas Tew, known as “the Rhode Island pirate,” used an arm wielding a cutlass, while Blackbeard showcased a horned skeleton holding an hourglass and stabbing a bleeding heart.
Pirate flags, often called “Jolly Rogers,” have an unclear origin. Some believe the term comes from the French “joli rouge,” meaning “red flag,” while others suggest it’s derived from “Old Roger,” a nickname for the devil in 18th-century England.
4. WALKING THE PLANK
Walking the plank is more myth than reality, with few verified instances. One notable case occurred in 1829 when pirates captured the Dutch ship Vhan Fredericka and subjected its crew to this horrific fate. Similarly, in 1822, the captain of the Jamaican sloop Blessing was forced off a plank and shot before he could escape.
However, such incidents were rare. Pirates typically kept prisoners alive as bargaining chips. If execution was necessary, simply throwing someone overboard was far more practical.
In Treasure Island, walking the plank is depicted as a frequent practice, mentioned twice in Stevenson’s novel. While some claim American pirate Stede Bonnet used this method, no surviving records confirm it.
5. PEG LEGS
The trope of pirates with peg legs was popularized by Long John Silver and other literary figures. Stevenson may have drawn inspiration from real-life individuals like Francois Le Clerc, a pirate who lost a leg in battle and was nicknamed “Pie de Palo” (peg leg) by the Spanish.
Another possible inspiration was Stevenson’s friend, William Ernest Henly, who lost his left leg to tuberculosis at 19 and used a wooden prosthetic. Henly, a renowned poet, is famous for his work “Invictus,” which concludes with the powerful lines, “I am the master of my fate/ I am the captain of my soul.”
Interestingly, Long John Silver might not have frequently used a peg leg in the book. He’s described as skillfully using a crutch, and early illustrations often show him without a prosthetic. The peg leg may have been added in film adaptations, possibly influenced by Captain Ahab from Moby-Dick, who famously had an ivory leg.
6. BURYING TREASURE
Pirates weren’t hoarders. When they acquired loot, they typically spent it right away. Burying treasure would have been an impractical and risky endeavor, requiring a level of trust rarely seen among thieves.
Unsurprisingly, historical evidence of buried treasure is nearly as rare as plank-walking. The association between pirates and hidden loot likely stems from the actions of one infamous captain: William Kidd.
The Scottish pirate once buried a hoard of gold and valuables worth around £20,000 (over $1 million today) on Gardiner’s Island, near Long Island. After his arrest in 1699, the treasure was recovered. Kidd was executed in 1701, but legends of his undiscovered riches persist to this day.
Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Gold-Bug” (1843) explores this idea, with characters deciphering a code to find Kidd’s hidden treasure. Treasure Island borrows this concept, replacing the cipher with a map. As Stevenson admitted, “I broke into the gallery of Mr. Poe.” After all, great writers don’t just borrow—they steal.
7. THE "PIRATE ACCENT" STEREOTYPE
During the golden age of piracy, buccaneers hailed from diverse backgrounds, including British, French, German, and Jewish origins. The idea that they all spoke in the same exaggerated “pirate accent” is, frankly, absurd.
Disney’s 1950 adaptation of Treasure Island is largely responsible for this misconception. Actor Robert Newton’s portrayal of Long John Silver introduced an exaggerated West Country English accent, complete with growls and drawn-out r’s. As linguist Molly Babel explained to the Vancouver Sun, this dialect features phrases like “be” instead of “is” or “are,” and the iconic “arrr” in place of “yes.”
Newton’s accent became so iconic that he was typecast in pirate roles, including 1952’s Blackbeard the Pirate and 1954’s Long John Silver. His performances cemented the exaggerated pirate voice as a cultural staple, still celebrated today. So, if ye be observin’ Talk Like a Pirate Day, tip yer hat to Newton.
All photos courtesy of iStock
