In Treasure Island (1883) by Robert Louis Stevenson, a nasty, blind pirate named Pew gives ex-pirate Billy Bones a mark of revenge. This act is precisely what the black spot stands for when given in malice: judgement day. For those who hold it are doomed to die! But what is the literary origins of the black spot? Why did Robert Louis Stevenson choose the black spot as his means of vengeful conveyance? In this post, we will examine the literary origins of the black spot.
Description of the Black Spot
The black spot is a sheet of paper the size of a “crown piece.” One side is blank whereupon a pirate wrote, “Depposed.” 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 receives the black spot and soon dies of fright, even though he was en route for escape. Alcohol and stress got the better of him in the end. Later in the novel, another pirate, Long John Silver, receives the black spot as well. However, as a stout, intelligent pirate, reacts quite differently from Billy Bones. With this in mind, the literary origins of the black spot start here in the novel. Yet, there are similar, earlier incarnations across history.
Investigating the Literary Origins of the Black Spot
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.”
Considering this, the literary origins of the black spot come from a few different origins. One of which is Robert Louis Stevenson himself. The other is from previous authors that inspired his creativity. Honestly, this is a pretty good lesson in that history can inspire creativity and the creative process.
Appearances of The Black Spot in other Literature and film
- “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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