Jim Hawkins (character)
Jim Hawkins | |
|---|---|
| Other names | James Pleiades Hawkins |
| Occupation(s) | Inn employee, treasure hunter, sailor |
| Known for | Central character and storyteller in Robert Louis Stevenson's 1883 novel Treasure Island; protagonist in Disney's 2002 animated film Treasure Planet |
James Pleiades "Jim" Hawkins serves as both the central character and the storyteller in Robert Louis Stevenson's 1883 classic, Treasure Island.
Appearances
At the outset of the narrative, Jim is employed at his family's inn. A visitor, the ex-pirate Billy Bones, receives a dreaded pirate summons known as the Black Spot, shortly thereafter passing away unexpectedly. Within Bones's sea chest, Jim and his mother discover a bundle containing a logbook that chronicles Captain Flint's hidden treasure alongside a treasure map pinpointing its whereabouts. Motivated by this discovery, Squire Trelawney organizes an expedition to retrieve the treasure, recruiting Dr. Livesey and Jim to join.
While in Bristol, Jim encounters Long John Silver at the Spy Glass tavern. Silver, who has a missing leg as Bones had cautioned, gains Jim’s confidence despite underlying doubts. Although Captain Smollett expresses mistrust toward Silver and his crew, the Hispaniola departs for the Caribbean Sea. As they near the island, Jim overhears Silver conspiring with some crew members to stage a mutiny after claiming the treasure. Jim promptly alerts Smollett, Trelawney, and Livesey to this threat.
Upon arrival on the island, Silver’s men disembark immediately. After witnessing Silver kill Tom, a loyal crew member, Jim narrowly escapes capture. He then encounters Ben Gunn, a marooned former sailor who offers assistance. Subsequently, Jim joins Trelawney, Livesey, and their group inside a fortified stockade. Despite repeated attacks by Silver’s pirates, they fail to seize control.
Under cover of darkness, Jim uses Ben Gunn’s coracle to set the Hispaniola adrift by cutting its anchor cable before boarding the ship himself. Only one pirate remains aboard: coxswain Israel Hands, who initially agrees to navigate the vessel in exchange for help but soon attempts to kill Jim; Jim defends himself by shooting Hands.
The following day reveals that the treasure has vanished. The pirates turn against both Silver and Jim; however, Ben Gunn and Dr. Livesey’s forces ambush them, killing two pirates and scattering the rest. Silver surrenders and pledges allegiance. The treasure is recovered from Ben Gunn’s cave and divided among them. Later on, Silver escapes with some gold bags. Jim remains haunted by memories of Silver’s parrot incessantly squawking "Pieces of eight!"
Adaptations
Numerous actors have portrayed Jim Hawkins across various adaptations of Treasure Island:
| Version | Actor |
|---|---|
| 1918 film | Francis Carpenter |
| 1920 film | Shirley Mason |
| 1934 film | Jackie Cooper |
| 1937 film | Claudia Pugacheva (credited as Jenny Hawkins) |
| 1950 film | Bobby Driscoll |
| Long John Silver | Kit Taylor |
| 1954 film | Dawn Addams (as Jamie Hawkins) |
| 1971 film | Aare Laanemets |
| 1971 animal-themed film | Minori Matsushima (voice) Billie Lou Watt (English dub) |
| 1972 live-action film | Kim Burfield |
| 1972 animated film | Davy Jones |
| 1982 film | Fyodor Stukov |
| 1985 film | Melvil Poupaud |
| 1987 film | Todd Boyce (voice) |
| 1987 compilation film of 1978 TV series | Masako Nozawa (child voice) Kenyuu Horiuchi (adult voice) Erica Mendez (English dub, child) Johnny Yong Bosch (English dub, adult) |
| 1988 film | Valeriy Bessarab and Jan Rabson (English dub voices) |
| 1990 film | Christian Bale |
| 1996 Muppets film | Kevin Bishop |
| 1999 film | Kevin Zegers |
| Treasure Planet | Joseph Gordon-Levitt (voice) Austin Majors (young voice) |
| 2006 film | Tom Nagel |
| Version | Actor |
|---|---|
| 1954 TV series | Kit Taylor |
| Die Schatzinsel | Michael Ande |
| 1968 TV series | Michael Newport |
| 1977 miniseries | Ashley Knight |
| 1978–79 TV series | Mari Shimizu (child voice) Kiyotaka Mitsugi (adult voice) Koichi Yamadera (1992 OVA adult voice) |
| 1984 TV series | Christopher Guard |
| 1987 space-themed TV series | Itaco Nardulli (as Gimmi Hawkins) |
| 1993–95 TV series | Dawn French (season 1 voice) John Hasler (season 2 voice) |
| 2012 miniseries | Toby Regbo |
| Year | Program | Voice actor |
|---|---|---|
| 1938 | Mercury Theater on the Air | Orson Welles/Arthur Anderson |
| 1951 | Lux Radio Theater | Bobby Driscoll |
| 1989 | BBC Radio 4 | Ben Rodska |
| 1995 | BBC Radio 4 | James MacPherson |
| 2013 | Big Finish Productions | Edward Holtom |
Treasure Planet interpretation
In Disney's 2002 animated adaptation titled Treasure Planet, Jim Hawkins is reimagined within a science fiction context. His full name remains James Pleiades Hawkins. As a child (voiced by Austin Majors), he idolizes pirate Captain Flint and dreams of uncovering "Treasure Planet." Twelve years later, now a rebellious adolescent (voiced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Jim assists his mother in managing their inn while indulging in "solar surfing," often clashing with authorities.
Following a spaceship crash nearby, the mortally wounded pilot Billy Bones entrusts Jim with a spherical device containing a holographic map leading to Treasure Planet. When pirates assault and set fire to the inn, Jim escapes alongside his mother and their friend Dr. Delbert Doppler. Doppler commissions the starship RLS Legacy for their quest, with cook John Silver covertly commanding the crew. Although wary of Silver—who is revealed to be a cyborg—Jim works in the galley but gradually develops a tentative father-son relationship with him.
Upon arriving at Treasure Planet, Silver instigates a mutiny. Jim, Doppler, and Captain Amelia flee but leave behind the crucial map. Silver hesitates to kill Jim due to their growing bond. The fugitives encounter B.E.N., an eccentric robot suffering from memory loss, whom they care for along with Amelia. Pirates capture them; however, Jim and B.E.N. later return to reclaim the map but are taken prisoner once more.
Utilizing the map leads them to a portal located at the planet’s core where the treasure is concealed. By restoring B.E.N.'s memory, they learn that Treasure Planet is unstable and collapsing. Amidst ensuing chaos, Silver chooses to save Jim rather than pursue wealth. The group escapes aboard the damaged Legacy; using a rocket-powered board, Jim opens the portal back to their home spaceport while Doppler pilots the ship.
With pirates apprehended, Captain Amelia offers to recommend Jim for admission to the Interstellar Academy in recognition of his bravery. Although Silver manages to escape custody, he leaves behind Morph—a shape-shifting pet—and jewels intended to help rebuild the inn. The story concludes with Jim as a reformed cadet respected by law enforcement authorities who gazes up at clouds shaped like Silver’s image.
This version of Jim Hawkins also features in video games inspired by the movie, such as Treasure Planet: Battle at Procyon.
External links
- Articles with short description
- Articles with hCards
- No local image but image on Wikidata
- Treasure Island characters
- Literary characters introduced in 1883
- Fictional English people
- Fictional sailors
- Fictional treasure hunters
- Child characters in literature
- Adventure film characters
- Male characters in film
- Teenage characters in literature