Jack Sparrow and Elizabeth Swann marooned on Rumrunner's Isle.
- "When you marooned me on that godforsaken spit of land, you forgot one very important thing, mate. I'm Captain Jack Sparrow."
- ―Jack Sparrow to Hector Barbossa
Maroon was the intentional leaving of someone in a remote area, such as an uninhabited island. The practice was a highly common punishment for crewmen, or for captains at the hands of a crew. Generally, a marooned man was set on a deserted island, often no more than a sand bar at low tide. If possible, the island should be uncharted.[1] He would be given some food, a container of water, and a loaded pistol so he could commit suicide if he desired; though in some cases, only a pistol was given.
History[]
- "Now, Will, when a pirate's marooned, he's given a pistol with a single shot. One shot. Well, that won't do much good hunting, nor to be rescued. But after three weeks of a starvin' belly and thirst, that pistol starts to look real friendly."
- ―Joshamee Gibbs to Will Turner
When the Queen Anne's Revenge ran aground in 1718, Blackbeard marooned some of his crewmembers. In 1720, Captain Edward England was marooned by his crew on the island of Mauritius.
Jack Sparrow was twice marooned on Rumrunner's Isle by Hector Barbossa, the second time with Elizabeth Swann at Sparrow's side, with no hope of escape.[2] Mary Lash was marooned by her crew on Isla Perdida.[3] In 1750, Sparrow marooned Angelica on Sola Fide Beach.[4]
Behind the scenes[]
Marooned (1909) by Howard Pyle, whose evocative artwork influenced everyone on the Pirates crew.
- Marooning was mentioned several times by maritime historian David Cordingly in Below Deck: An Interactive History Of Pirates, a special feature in the DVD/Blu-ray release for Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. "Code of Conduct" mentioned how if pirates deserted their post in battle, they would be marooned. "Robinson Crusoe" mentioned how Daniel Defoe based his life on that of Alexander Selkirk, who was a real-life seaman marooned on the island of Juan Fernández by the privateer William Dampier, and was on the island for four years, living on goats and fish, tamed all the cats on the island, and was then picked up by Woodes Rogers, who was doing his circumnavigation on the way home. "Punishments" went into further detail by saying that marooning was the chief pirate punishment. You put the pirate ashore, usually on a deserted island or islet. By tradition he was allowed a gun, a bit of gunpowder and some bullets and a flask of water to survive or not. It all depended whether he was picked up by a passing ship.
- Marooned (1909) by Howard Pyle, whose evocative artwork influenced everyone on the Pirates film crew, was featured in Below Deck special feature and the book Bring Me That Horizon: The Making of Pirates of the Caribbean.[5]
- The word is derived from the term maroon, a word for a fugitive slave, which could be a corruption of Spanish cimarrón, meaning a household slave who has run "wild".
- In the non-canon comic book The Buccaneer's Heart! Jack Sparrow maroons his former crew on Rumrunner's Isle.
- Several quests in Pirates of the Caribbean Online require a player to capture a Royal Navy officer and maroon him on some wild island.
Appearances[]
- Pirates of the Caribbean (game) (Mentioned only)
- Jack Sparrow: Silver (Mentioned only)
- The Price of Freedom (Mentioned only)
- Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
- A Mysterious Light!
- The Eyes Have It! (Mentioned only)
- Pirates of the Caribbean Online
- The Buccaneer's Heart! (Non-canonical appearance)
- The Treasure of Shipwreck Island!
- Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Sources[]
- Below Deck: An Interactive History Of Pirates
- Pirates of the Caribbean: The Complete Visual Guide
- Bring Me That Horizon: The Making of Pirates of the Caribbean
