It’s a stunning moment in one of the great books: Jim Hawkins doesn’t jump the stockade. The other day when reading Treasure Island aloud with the family, I fairly wanted to jump out of my skin when we came to it. For the fortunate hearer, a moment like this can change everything—or reaffirm everything—about what matters in life.
You might recall the scene. Young Jim Hawkins (aged around 13) has fallen in with the pirate scoundrels (Long John Silver is their captain) who have control of the block house and stockade. Good Dr. Livesey has generously tended the wounds of injured pirates and then asks if he can speak alone with Jim at the outer fence of the stockade. Silver allows it, having received a promise from Jim he won’t jump and run away with the doctor.
When Jim whispers to the doctor of his fear of being tortured, the doctor, though himself a man of character, in a moment of fear and weakness says, “Jim, I can’t have this. Whip over, and we’ll run for it.” Jim reminds him that he gave his word. The doctor presses again saying it’s just too much to endure and that he’ll take the blame. Then comes the great moment of a simple but amazing response.
“No, you know right well you wouldn’t do the thing yourself—neither you, nor squire, nor captain [Smollet]—and no more will I. Silver trusted me; I passed my word, and back I go [to the blockhouse].”
As I read these words aloud, gulping deeply, I dared not peer over at my own thirteen-year-old. What was going through his mind and heart? I could have asked, but I didn’t—not then in any case. We went on with the story.
But this much I know: the rest of my day was suffused with a powerful if somewhat indistinct brightness. This character is fictional, but what he did is profoundly real. He enunciated and enacted the truth of human life. And every such enactment, even if just in a story, stirs us so deeply because it expresses an eternal truth, something good and enduring about God. And about what we can and should be.
Socrates once said, “My whole concern is not to do anything unjust or impious.” This is but a negative formulation of the positive focus of his life: always to act with integrity. Christians have a deeper perspective on moral rectitude. The broader context of living in relationship with the Lord does not lessen the importance of moral character but rather gives it its higher significance.
There are so many angles to consider in this wonderful story, and in its retelling today. How beautiful that the young manhood of Jim has blossomed, evidently, in the shadow of adults who grasp, enact, and pass on something transcendent. How beautiful that a young man—for surely anyone who acts thus is a ‘man’—can stand as witness and reminder to an older man who momentarily forgets himself. How beautiful that John Silver has an opportunity to see what he himself should be (for we find out that he noticed Jim’s rejection of the doctor’s prodding), regardless of whether Silver really takes it to heart.
And how beautiful that in our own homes through the power of a great story revisited we can savor this richness, and ponder who we are and what we would do. For every such retelling is an opportunity to see again, and to see better, a truth at the center of life. And to see it and savor it together. These are great gifts. ~ ~ ~
LISTEN to this MOMENT in TREASURE ISLAND. We just posted this brief Jim Hawkins moment as our latest READ-ALOUD. Our aim is to encourage you in bringing great stories, essays, etc to life in your home (or car, or on a jog). This connects to the theme of our…
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Husband, father, and professor of Philosophy. LifeCraft springs from one conviction: there is an ancient wisdom about how to live the good life in our homes, with our families; and it is worth our time to hearken to it. Let’s rediscover it together. Learn more.
John, one trivial question. How long do you & the family read each day.
Ken, thanks for asking a non-trivial question. We don’t have the chance to read together every day. It goes somewhat in cycles depending on other pressures on time. We tend to read together an average of 4 days a week for anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour plus. Choosing something we look forward to is key; we often find ourselves saying: ‘Now when can we sit down together today?’ But we are at an especially conducive time regarding ages of children. When we had very small children, it was a balance: sometimes trying to read with them around; other times waiting until the youngest are napping or gone to bed for the night. Even just one slot a week on Sunday can go a long way in our experience. Thanks again for asking.
This is such a wonderful post and a reminder of a simple yet essential virtue. Thanks for putting it out there. It should be shouted from the rooftops!
Thanks Bob!
Thanks