Black Spot (Treasure Island) facts for kids
The Black Spot is a scary message used in the famous book Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. This book was first published in 1883. In the story, pirates use the Black Spot to tell someone they are in big trouble. It's like an official warning or a judgment against them.
The Black Spot is usually a round piece of paper or card. One side is colored black, and the other side has a secret message. Pirates would put this spot into the hand of the person they were judging. Getting the Black Spot made pirates very afraid. It meant they might lose their power as a leader, or face serious consequences.
In Treasure Island, a character named Billy Bones gets the Black Spot. He is very scared by it. Later, Long John Silver also receives the spot. He is clever enough to notice that the paper came from a Bible. He warns his crew that using a holy book for such a purpose might bring them bad luck.
The message on the Black Spot in the book was often short and to the point. For example, one spot simply said "Depposed" (meaning "deposed" or removed from power). The black part was made from wood ash.
What is the Black Spot?
The Black Spot is a special warning used by pirates in the book Treasure Island. It is a round piece of paper or card, blackened on one side. The other side has a message. When a pirate receives the Black Spot, it means they are in serious trouble. It often means they will lose their leadership or face other bad outcomes.
Where Did the Idea Come From?
The idea for the Black Spot might have come from real pirate traditions. Some historians believe that Caribbean pirates used to show an Ace of Spades playing card to someone they thought was a traitor. This card would put the person "on the spot," meaning they were in danger. The Ace of Spades has a single black symbol, which might have inspired Stevenson's Black Spot.
How the Black Spot Appears in Other Stories
Since Treasure Island became so famous, the Black Spot has appeared in many other books, movies, and games. Here are some examples:
- 1930: In the book Swallows and Amazons, a character called Uncle Jim gets the Black Spot from a crew member.
- 1938: In the movie Algiers, drawing the ace of spades is called "very bad luck," like getting the Black Spot.
- 1946: In the novel Joy in the Morning, a character mentions the Black Spot when someone gets into a difficult situation.
- 1964: In a short story called "Lonelyache" by Harlan Ellison, a character has a dream where someone comes to give him the "black spot."
- 1969: In A Pirate Utopia, a pirate lord named Olaf is given the black spot.
- 1986: In Stephen King's book It, a place is named "The Black Spot."
- 1990: "The Black Spot" is mentioned in an episode of the TV show "The Bill" by a character.
- 1996: In the movie Muppet Treasure Island, which is a fun version of Treasure Island, Billy Bones gets the Black Spot. Later, Long John Silver also gets one, torn from a Bible. He cleverly uses this to his advantage.
- 2000: The video game Skies of Arcadia features a black spot. It's a message from a bounty hunter saying you will be hunted.
- 2002: In the game Puzzle Pirates, "Black Spot" is a way to temporarily silence players who are being rude.
- 2006: In the Disney movie Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Captain Jack Sparrow gets a "Black Spot" from Davy Jones. This spot looks like a black mark on his hand. It means a sea monster called the Kraken can find him.
- 2007: In the TV show Pirate Master, the captain gives the black spot to contestants he wants to vote off.
- 2008: The band Murder By Death has a song called "The Black Spot" on their album Red of Tooth and Claw.
- 2009: The pirate-themed band Alestorm mentions the Black Spot in their song "Chronicles of Vengeance."
- 2011: An episode of Doctor Who, "The Curse of the Black Spot", takes place on a pirate ship. In this episode, a black spot appears on anyone who is sick or hurt.
- 2006–2011: In Kate Beaton's comic Hark! A Vagrant:, pirates sometimes receive the black spot in funny situations.
- 2016: In the TV series Black Sails, a character named Billy Bones uses a black spot to scare people who might betray him.
- 2016: The video game Endless Legend has an expansion called Tempest. It includes a game feature where players are rewarded for attacking empires marked by a Black Spot.
- 2018: The JT Music channel released a rap song called Booty Bound. It talks about a black spot being given to pirates who fail to find treasure.
- 2020: The video game Terraria added an item called The Black Spot. When used, it gives the player a flying pirate ship to ride.
