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The Boy & the Commander

After the attack on Port Royal and the kidnapping of Elizabeth Swann, Will rushes to go see Norrington and Governor Swann, who are discussing important matters to work on rebuilding, resources, and logistics, quite rudely. He insists Elizabeth is missing, and Norrington dismisses him, just telling him to leave, and it’s hard to blame Norrington, as the city is dealing with many missing individuals, deceased, and many injured officers, meaning that his efficiency is very limited.

Norrington is busy, and as much as he loves Elizabeth, he has duties before him. When Will refuses to listen, Governor Swann steps forward and he starts in a very level-headed tone, that they don’t have any leads to track her down, and he follows by shifting into the worried father that he is, demanding to know if Will has any leads. This does tell us that Swann is compartmentalising, and focusing on fixing the town, and staying by Norrington is the only thing keeping him sane. He knows that as it stands there’s nothing he can do, and it’s driving him nuts.

This is when the two idiot guards comment about Jack Sparrow and the Black Pearl, the only real lead they have, however it would mean that Norrington would need to make a deal with Jack Sparrow, the only pirate they have in custody. Will wants to push to make a deal with him, but Norrington shuts it down, knowing that he can’t let his emotions get the better of him. And making a deal with a pirate over one woman in which there is no lead to track her is insanity, especially for one as moral and proper as Norrington. He dismisses the idea that since the pirates left Jack in his cell, he wouldn’t know where they were, seeing it as a waste of time.

Will gets upset and insists they should still question Jack, as he sees him as a lead, but we do have to consider that he is a pirate. Will is only right in that asking Jack for information might help locate Elizabeth, but it’s a gamble at best, and Norrington can’t afford to deploy ships over a maybe by a pirate who is fickle and whimsical.

Norrington then harshly scolds Will after Will’s tantrum, reminding him he is neither a sailor or soldier, and that he is a blacksmith. These are different roles with different reasons. For example, in the event of a draft, Will might end up given an exception as a blacksmith is of far more value in the Smithery creating weapons, instead of the battlefield. Will has his role, and in a way, he should be back in the forge to help rebuild, not harassing a military man from doing his job.

The Commodore also reminds Will that he is also worried about Elizabeth, and that he is doing everything he can to try and locate her, which he can’t really do. He is frustrated by parts of his duty, and pretty much says that he is tempted to jump on a ship to go find her, but he doesn’t. He wants solid facts about where she is before jumping the gun.

In the narrative we are supposed to side with Will, but it’s hard not to argue that Norrington’s right. Cooler heads will prevail. And even when Will goes to make a deal with Jack, the pirate actually repeats what Norrington says, explaining that rash action against the Black Pearl is absolutely stupid.

The Pirate in the Cage

Will pleads with Jack for information about where the Black Pearl lands, and Jack mocks him with the folk tales, spitting out Barbossa’s name as “Captain” Barbossa, as if he’s spitting, and then calls the crew miscreants. The crew mutinied, therefore he doesn’t see why he should have loyalty to them, and thinks that the crew deserve no better than Barbossa. He also reveals the information about the Isla de la Muerta, translated to “Isle of the Dead”, then says that only those who know would be able to find it.

And when Will gets excited over the information, Jack withholds the rest of the information as he wants to know what kind of leverage Will has in order to get information and assistance to find the island. When Will mentions Elizabeth, Jack mocks him and his romantic spirit, and tells him that he needs a plan, and he needs to calm down, all the while demanding the price Will can offer. Will offers the one thing that Jack needs: to break free from his cell. Jack dismisses it as the key is gone, and Will then explains to him he helped build the cell doors. This certainly catches the pirate’s attention and finally asks Will’s name, who answers.

Upon hearing the name Turner, Jack gets intrigued and confirms Will’s parentage, which grants him leverage over Barbossa, something that Jack realises. He is smart enough to realise that Barbossa thinks that Elizabeth is “Bootstrap” Bill Turner’s child, but Jack is the only one that paid attention to the fact that Bill had a son, and not a daughter. It also grants him even more leverage over Will as he pretty much states that he knows Bill and about WIll’s personal history from before he was found by Governor Swann.

And Jack Sparrow actually says that on pain of death, that he will take Will to the Black Pearl and Elizabeth, something that Jack doesn’t swear very often. It says that he’s serious about things, and he also sees that this is the way that he can have vengeance against Barbossa, as he is the only real person who is willing to read the fine print, and he reminds everyone about that, of course when it benefits him.

Therefore, Will springs Jack from his cell, and the two work to escape from the prison building. And they hide and examine ships to choose, and here is when something fascinating happens. Jack’s demeanor changes from trickster, to the folkloric devil from French Canadian folk tales. He asks in a rather serious tone, how far Will is willing to go for Elizabeth, which shows that it’s Will’s last chance to step away, as there’s no turning back.

That’s the last time Will can ever go back to Port Royal, and he has signed a deal with the devil. He is sworn to Jack, and dealing with Jack is dangerous. He always withholds a part of the information you need, which is how he holds leverage over others.

And it proves Norrington’s concerns true: When you make a deal with Jack, you will regret what you get later on. Jack has his own agenda, and will do anything to accomplish it, although there is a line in the sand. He doesn’t like the idea of a lady drowning and men making excuses and doing nothing, but he is still self-serving.

But when Elizabeth is in danger, Will is willing to do whatever it takes to save her, even if it’s unwise to do so. Certainly this can lead to bad situations like this, but it is why she falls for him as this is what a man does for his woman; he goes to the ends of the earth and back for her if he must.

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