Jack Sparrow's compass

"Aye, the compass doesn't point north, but we're not trying to find north, are we?"

- Joshamee Gibbs

Jack Sparrow's compass was a strange navigational instrument traded to Captain Jack Sparrow by Tia Dalma.

The compass was unusual in that it did not point due north, but rather pointed to the thing the holder desired most. This worked in Jack's favor during the search for Isla de Muerta, as, desiring to obtain the treasure of Cortés held on the island, Jack simply followed the direction of the compass straight to the island.

However, the effect of the compass was not limited to locations and objects, but could also indicate the user's desire towards another person. Jack was able to discern the location of Davy Jones through Elizabeth Swann's use of the compass, since she wanted to find Will Turner, currently serving out a debt to Jones. Prior to this, the effect of the compass had been nullified by the curse placed upon Jack Sparrow by Davy Jones. After, however, it continually pointed towards Jack or Elizabeth whenever the other attempted to use the compass, indicating their desire towards one another&mdash;though this could simpy have been an indication of Elizabeth's desire to use Jack to reach Will, or possibly her desire of the freedom he enjoyed as a pirate.

The compass earned a measure of reknown during Jack's ownership of it, and its power ultimately attracted the attention of Lord Cutler Beckett, who wanted to use the compass to find the Dead Man's Chest, which would give him command over Davy Jones and his crew&mdash;which, in turn, would provide him with the resources to wipe the pirate scourge from the Caribbean. To this end, he enlisted Will Turner to find the compass and bring it to him, in exhange for his life and that of his fianceé.

Ultimately, Jack and Elizabeth used the compass to locate the Dead Man's Chest themselves, though its contents ended up in Lord Beckett's possession due to the machinations of former Commodore James Norrington.

Appearances

 * Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
 * Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest