Black Spot (Treasure Island)

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The pirates gather to deliver the Black Spot to Silver (chapter 29).
The pirates gather to deliver the Black Spot to Silver (chapter 29).

The Black Spot is a fictional literary device invented by Robert Louis Stevenson for his novel Treasure Island. In the book, a pirate is presented with a "black spot" to officially pronounce a verdict of guilt or judgment. It consists of a circular piece of black paper or card placed in the hand of the accused. It was a source of much fear because it meant the pirate will be executed. In Treasure Island, Billy Bones is so frightened by it he suffers a stroke and dies. Later Long John Silver receives the spot, but is calm enough to notice that it has been torn out from a bible, and warns his rivals of the curse this will bring upon them. There is no record of "black spots" in reality and how Stevenson came up with the idea is unknown.

The Black Spot has since been used in other works of popular culture:

[edit] Reference

  • Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson, chapter 3 (Billy Bones receives the spot), chapter 29 (Long John Silver receives the spot).
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