In Treasure Island (1883) by Robert Louis Stevenson, Billy Bones–an ex-pirate–is given the black spot by a blind beggar named Pew, who is in fact a pirate looking to exact revenge; and that’s precisely what the black spot stands for when given–judgement!
But what is the historical significance of the black spot, and why did Robert Louis Stevenson choose the black spot as his means of vengeful conveyance? Let’s find out today on the blog!
Description
The black spot is a sheet of paper the size of a “crown piece.” One side is blank with the word “Depposed,” written on it, and on the reverse side, there is a verse from Revelation: “Without are dogs and murderers.” As Stevenson writes, “The printed side had been blackened with wood ash, which already began to come off and soil my fingers ….”
In the novel, Billy Bones is given the black spot and soon dies of fright, even though he intended to leave the inn. Alcohol and stress got the better of him in the end. Later, we will find that the black spot is given to another character who reacts quite differently from Billy Bones due to his craftiness and intelligence.
Internet Archive, Public Domain
Invention
So, to put it as straightforward as possible, Robert Louis Stevenson invented the black spot as a literary device in the novel Treasure Island. The idea perhaps comes from Caribbean pirates who used the ace of spades to pronounce condemnation on somebody as a traitor or informer.
“The expression on the spot has its origins in this superstition,” writes Brian H. Scott, “which probably derives from the old pirate practice of sending the ace of spaced, which has one printed ‘spot’ in the middle, as a death threat to an informer or coward whom they intended to kill.”
Appearances elsewhere
- “The Lottery” (1948) by Shirley Jackson: Those ritualistically killed are selected by a black spot.
- The film Treasure Planet (2002) uses a “black hole” has the depiction of the black spot.
- The television show Pirate Master (2007) used a black spot to vote off contestants.
- Bands Murder by Death and Alestorm both have references to the black spot in a song.
- Other examples
Works Cited
Scott, H. Brian. “To Put on the Spot.” All About Stuff. Web. https://web.archive.org/web/20110530084332/http://www.allaboutstuff.com/All_Kinds_of_Trivia/To_Put_On_The_Spot.asp
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[…] we examined the impetus of the black spot–where it came from and how it was used–and then we explored the factors that make a […]