How Treasure Island Created the Pirates We Know Today
Posted on August 25, 2025
Close your eyes and picture a pirate. Do you see a rugged sailor with a parrot on his shoulder? A weathered treasure map marked with a big red X? A chest of gold buried on a secret island?
Here’s the secret: Almost everything we imagine about pirates today comes from one place—Treasure Island.
When Robert Louis Stevenson published his legendary novel in 1883, he didn’t just create a thrilling story—he shaped the way the world pictures pirates, from how they talk to the adventures they have.
Before Treasure Island, pirates in books and history were often just dangerous criminals. But Stevenson’s story transformed them into colorful, cunning, and unforgettable characters—the kind we still see in movies, TV shows, and Halloween costumes today.
It All Started with a Treasure Map
The whole adventure began in the most ordinary way—on a rainy day in Scotland. Stevenson was trying to entertain his 12-year-old stepson, Lloyd Osbourne. To pass the time, they drew an imaginary treasure map together: mountains, hidden coves, and a mysterious “X” marking the spot.
The map was so full of possibility that Stevenson couldn’t resist building a story around it. Soon, there was a boy hero named Jim Hawkins, a one-legged ship’s cook named Long John Silver, and a dangerous voyage to find buried treasure.
What began as a simple game of imagination turned into one of the most famous adventure stories ever told.
The OG Pirates: Why Treasure Island Changed Everything
Nearly every pirate cliché we know today traces back to Treasure Island.
- Parrots on Shoulders
Long John Silver’s talkative parrot, Captain Flint, made parrots the ultimate pirate companion. - Treasure Maps and Buried Gold
Maps with winding paths, dotted lines, and a giant red X? Stevenson put that on the map—literally. - Pirate Talk
Stevenson’s dialogue gave pirates their distinctive slang, which later actors (especially Robert Newton in the 1950 movie) expanded into the famous “Arrr!” - The Swashbuckling Crew
A ship full of mutineers, an innocent cabin boy, and a cunning captain—this became the blueprint for pirate crews in every story that followed.
From Page to Stage—Your Chance to See the Original Pirates
When you come see Treasure Island at Children’s Theatre Company, you’re not just watching a play—you’re stepping into the very story that inspired more than a century of pirate adventures.
Sword fights. Sea shanties. Buried treasure. Legendary characters.
These are the original pirates, sailing straight from Stevenson’s imagination to the stage.
Treasure Island runs September 9-October 19. Reserve your seats for the adventure!
The Story of Treasure Island: The Essentials
Jim Hawkins, a young innkeeper’s son, discovers a treasure map in the chest of a mysterious old sailor. With the help of Dr. Livesey and Squire Trelawney, he sets off aboard the Hispaniola to find the fortune.
But danger lurks aboard the ship—many of the crew, led by the charming but treacherous Long John Silver, are secretly pirates planning a mutiny.
What follows is a thrilling game of wits: sword fights, daring escapes, shifting alliances, and the ultimate hunt for buried gold. In the end, Jim must use his courage, cleverness, and quick thinking to outsmart the pirates and make it home.