What defines loyalty? Loyalty to a friend, to a family or simply to yourself? The analysis of Robert Louis Stevenson's character Long John Silver in Treasure Island is complex and interesting, but in some ways ultimately subjective. Silver displays many charismatic and leadership-oriented traits, keeping a constant commitment to his own projects, but does this make him loyal? Can a person have bad intentions and still be loyal? This dilemma is difficult to interpret because we automatically associate loyalty with a positive goal, but this is not always the case. Loyalty to a cause is a very important theme in Treasure Island when analyzing mutineers versus honest men, but Silver was simply being true to himself. Long John Silver's constant determination in his goals to obtain treasure never wavers until he finally achieves his goal, thus proving his loyalty to his own mindset. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Despite Long John Silver's suspicious intentions, his greed keeps him constantly committed to his schemes. It's easy to remember how successfully Long John Silver hid his true identity for days, until Jim accidentally overheard the pirates expressing their rebellious plans for mutiny. Until then, Silver had deceived Jim, Dr. Livesey, and the Squire. Jim remembers, "It was Silver's voice, and before I had heard a dozen words I wouldn't have shown up for anything, but I stood there, trembling and listening, in extreme fear and curiosity, for, in those dozen words, In other words, I understood that the lives of all the honest men on board depended only on me” (Stevenson 99). The mutinous leader could even control a group of illegal pirates for weeks. What is he so passionate about that could motivate these actions? He is attached to his own selfishness. Silver will kill innocent, decent men, such as Tom Redruth, appearing to express no guilt or sorrow even when committing extremely violent and immoral crimes; thus, he shows how focused he is on his goals. This mutineer must have an essential need for this treasure, or rather, he may simply have a sense of immeasurable greed, as evidenced by his ability to measure his own wealth against the lives of others. Long John Silver has the same plans, obtaining riches, from the beginning to the end of the quest. Even near the end of the book, when Silver is supposed to be on the side of honest men, he abandons his honor to steal some of the jewels, never to be seen or heard from again. Although Long John Silver's determination is focused on carrying out precarious plans, it is still present. There are few scenarios in which relationships get in the way of Long John Silver's ultimate plans. The pirate once said: “I like this boy now; I've never seen a better boy than that. He is more of a man than any pair of rats among you in this house” (Stevenson 266.) This is how Silver describes Jim, a mere adolescent, though more manly than any of the mutineers. This attachment seems genuine, even if it does not prevent Long John Silver from his inevitable commitment. He will hurt Jim emotionally, but never physically. Although Long John Silver's affection for Jim seems legitimate, he never lets it get in the way of his narrow, one-way path. Feeling an immense responsibility to win the treasure, the one thing Long John always grants in..