Long John Silver

Age and build

Heavy-set man of mature years

“a heavy man sat down with rather a clash close by” (Treasure Island, chapter 10)

Face and hair

Great smooth blond face, shining with heat

“his great, smooth, blond face, all shining with heat, was lifted to the other man’s in a kind of appeal” (Treasure Island, chapter 14)

Eyes that gleam like glass when watchful

“his eye a mere pin-point in his big face, but gleaming like a crumb of glass” (Treasure Island, chapter 14)

Dress

Dressed in his best with immense blue coat and laced hat

“He was tricked out in his best; an immense blue coat, thick with brass buttons, hung as low as to his knees, and a fine laced hat was set on the back of his head” (Treasure Island, chapter 20)

Carries multiple weapons and a pipe

“Silver had two guns slung about him—one before and one behind—besides the great cutlass at his waist and a pistol in each pocket of his square-tailed coat” (Treasure Island, chapter 31)

Voice and speech

Can speak like a book when minded, with educated background

“He had good schooling in his young days and can speak like a book when so minded” (Treasure Island, chapter 10)

Uses sailor's oaths and colloquialisms habitually

“shiver my timbers” (Treasure Island, chapter 11)

Voice trembles when in earnest about his life

“his cheeks seemed to have fallen in, his voice trembled; never was a soul more dead in earnest” (Treasure Island, chapter 30)

Signature words

Shiver my timbers

“shiver my timbers, the man was starving” (Treasure Island, chapter 11)

You may lay to that

“you may lay to that” (Treasure Island, chapter 11)

By the powers

“By the powers” (Treasure Island, chapter 11)

Dooty is dooty

“Dooty is dooty, mates” (Treasure Island, chapter 11)

Hand over hand

“hand over hand, by the powers” (Treasure Island, chapter 8)

Split my sides

“Split my sides, I’ve a sick heart to sail with the likes of you” (Treasure Island, chapter 11)

Gait and mannerisms

Stumps about on crutch with jerking motions

“he was stumping up and down the tavern on his crutch, slapping tables with his hand, and giving such a show of excitement” (Treasure Island, chapter 8)

Moves with gymnastic agility despite his leg

“Hands off!” cried Silver, leaping back a yard, as it seemed to me, with the speed and security of a trained gymnast” (Treasure Island, chapter 14)

Agile as a monkey even without leg or crutch

“Silver, agile as a monkey even without leg or crutch, was on the top of him next moment” (Treasure Island, chapter 14)

Rests lightly on crutch, watching like a snake

“He stood where he was, resting lightly on his crutch, watching his companion like a snake about to spring” (Treasure Island, chapter 14)

Strengths

Extraordinarily brave and fearless in combat

“brave—a lion’s nothing alongside of Long John” (Treasure Island, chapter 10)

Master of deception and manipulation

“he was too deep, and too ready, and too clever for me” (Treasure Island, chapter 8)

Quick to recover from disappointment and adapt plans

“Every thought of his soul had been set full-stretch, like a racer, on that money; well, he was brought up, in a single second, dead; and he kept his head, found his temper, and changed his plan” (Treasure Island, chapter 33)

Maintains discipline and control over mutineers

“Silver was the captain, and a mighty rebellious crew he had of it” (Treasure Island, chapter 13)

Shrewd financial sense and self-preservation

“Silver is a man of substance; I know of my own knowledge that he has a banker’s account, which has never been overdrawn” (Treasure Island, chapter 7)

Flaws

Driven by greed for treasure above all else

“In the immediate nearness of the gold, all else had been forgotten: his promise and the doctor’s warning were both things of the past” (Treasure Island, chapter 32)

Double-dealing and treacherous to all sides

“Silver, already doubly a traitor, would not hesitate to adopt it” (Treasure Island, chapter 31)

Struggles to control his murderous impulses

“he plucked furiously at the line that held me to him and from time to time turned his eyes upon me with a deadly look” (Treasure Island, chapter 32)

Traits

Intelligent and educated despite his station

“He’s no common man, Barbecue” (Treasure Island, chapter 10)

Charismatic and persuasive leader

“his last night’s victory had given him a huge preponderance on their minds” (Treasure Island, chapter 30)

Pragmatic and calculating in his schemes

“Tain’t earning now, it’s saving does it, you may lay to that” (Treasure Island, chapter 11)

Capable of genuine affection and loyalty

“I’ve always liked you, I have, for a lad of spirit, and the picter of my own self when I was young and handsome” (Treasure Island, chapter 28)

Polite and obsequious when it serves his purpose

“the same bland, polite, obsequious seaman of the voyage out” (Treasure Island, chapter 33)

Lines in their own words

Expressing his philosophy of wealth

“Tain’t earning now, it’s saving does it, you may lay to that” (Treasure Island, chapter 11)

Recruiting Jim to his cause

“I’ll talk to you like a man” (Treasure Island, chapter 11)

Returning to duty at the cave

“Come back to my dooty, sir” (Treasure Island, chapter 33)