Reasons to love Treasure Planet: John Silver
Jim is my favorite character in Treasure Planet, but John Silver holds a special place in my heart for a number of reasons. He is such a refreshing character that we don’t get to see in animation very often, and so I am making this post to illustrate why.
When we are first introduced to Silver, this is the Silver we are introduced to. Warm, friendly, kind, a goofball. A “Dad” character. We like him, instantaneously. However, like Jim, we don’t trust him, because of Billy Bones’ ominous warning.
Right after we have been introduced to him, we get this scene, in which he says, “We best keep a sharp eye on this one, eh Morph? We wouldn’t want him straying into t’ings he shouldn’t.” Immediately, we distrust him.
Then, that montage bonding scene happens, which always makes me emotional, because we get the parallel of Silver and Jim’s father. Silver is being turned into a father figure, and we trust him.
But seriously, as a tangent on the parallels of Jim’s father and Silver, that montage scene is incredible. Especially at the end, when Jim helps Siver untie the longboat, and Silver rides away. Jim’s smile turns into a sad expression, and the film cuts to the scene of Jim’s dad leaving. That is basically telling us that Jim was reminded of when his dad left him when he saw Silver get in that boat. However, Silver then motions for Jim to get in the boat with him, showing that Silver is not the absentee, negligent father that Jim had.
Then, we get this scene. This scene is incredibly powerful, because we understand that Silver wants Flint’s trove as badly as Jim does, if not more. Just looking at Silver we can see that not much has stopped him in pursuit of his dream. He lost his right leg, right arm, right eye, and right ear in his obsessive search for Treasure Planet. Silver will literally stop at nothing to get what he’s been chasing his entire life. This undoubtedly has ruined countless relationships, and later threatens his relationship with Jim. Silver understands that dreams often take away things you care about, and realizes that Jim is an idealist, and a dreamer. As a fellow dreamer, but a realist by experience, Silver is warning Jim about his dream to find Flint’s trove, even if Jim doesn’t really realize that.
During the storm scene, we see just how much Silver cares for Jim. Silver literally uses his body as a barrier to shield Jim from the black hole. That’s incredible.
Then, after the lifeline scene, and after Jim beats himself up for hours about something he wasn’t responsible for (even though he doesn’t realize it), this touching scene happens, which made me bawl my eyes out the first time I saw the movie, and continues to choke me up everytime I rewatch it. Silver really cares about Jim, probably because Jim reminds him of himself when he was younger, and less world-weary. This scene is so incredibly important, because it really does set up the events of the rest of the film.
Immediately the next morning, Jim witnesses Silver say that he doesn’t care about him at all. Jim of course, doesn’t realize he is lying to protect himself from the other pirates. The only thing that Jim sees is another father betraying him and leaving him.
This causes a confrontation between Jim and Silver,
Which is directly responsible for the early mutiny, because Jim stabs Silver in his cybernetic leg. This is showing how Silver’s desire for Flint’s trove is messing up his relationship with a person he cares about.
Then finally, after about fifteen minutes of the movie, they find Flint’s trove, and Silver finally has achieved his dream. However, the situation quickly goes awry when Treasure Planet goes into self destruct mode.
During this confrontation scene, Silver says “I like you, lad. But I’ve come too far to let you get in between me and me treasure.”
In other words, Silver is content screwing up every relationship he’s ever built, just to get Flint’s trove. However, Silver understands something: Jim is just like Silver, and Silver knows it. Jim will also stop at nothing. One of them will have to bend, have to give in, or they will both die.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a picture of the scene that I am referencing next. In this scene, Jim is about to fall to his death, and Silver is forced to choose between saving Jim, or saving his treasure. Silver ultimately chooses Jim.
“You give up a few things, chasing a dream.” Well, it seems Jim Hawkins was the one thing John Silver couldn’t give up.
Jim then has to save the entire crew, and afterwards, we get a touching scene between him and Silver, as Silver is leaving.
We get this touching embrace, as the two bid farewell to each other. This never fails to make me sob like a baby.
Silver’s story before Jim was one of complete isolation. He ruined every relationship in pursuit of his dream, until he found someone who meant more to him than treasure.
Jim needed a father, and Silver needed a son.
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