Israel Hands
Israel Hands serves as the coxswain of the Hispaniola, a role that places him at the heart of the ship's operations and, later, at the center of its betrayal. He is introduced as "a careful, wily, old, experienced seaman who could be trusted at a pinch with almost anything," a description that hints at both his competence and his untrustworthiness. Hands is a great confidant of Long John Silver, the ship's cook and the mastermind of the mutiny, and their alliance is central to the plot. His past as Flint's gunner—a fact revealed by Abraham Gray during the voyage—adds a layer of menace, linking him to the most notorious pirate of the age and suggesting a deep familiarity with violence and treachery.
Identity and Background
Israel Hands is a seasoned sailor whose career spans decades of service under some of the most infamous pirates in history. He served as gunner aboard the Walrus, Captain Flint's old ship, a vessel that Silver describes as having been "amuck with the red blood and fit to sink with gold." This background places Hands among the old guard of buccaneers, men who had sailed with Flint and witnessed his cruelty firsthand. His experience is both a practical asset and a moral liability: it makes him invaluable to the mutineers but also marks him as a man steeped in violence. Hands's loyalty to Silver is not born of friendship but of mutual interest; he is a pragmatist who follows the strongest leader, and Silver's authority over the crew is reinforced by Hands's support.
Role in the Mutiny
Hands is one of the principal mutineers, though he rarely takes center stage in the early stages of the conspiracy. He is present in the apple barrel scene, where Silver recruits the young sailor Dick, and he voices his impatience with Captain Smollett's discipline, complaining that he has "had a'most enough o' Cap'n Smollett" and wants to "go into that cabin" for the pickles and wines. This reveals his greed and his desire for the comforts of the officers' quarters, a motivation that aligns with the mutineers' broader goal of seizing the treasure. Hands's role as coxswain gives him authority over the ship's boats, and he is instrumental in the mutineers' plans to escape with the treasure. His loyalty to Silver, however, is not absolute; he is a man who looks out for himself, as evidenced by his later attempt to kill Jim Hawkins.
The Duel with Jim Hawkins
Hands's most significant role comes after Jim Hawkins, having cut the Hispaniola adrift and boarded her, finds himself alone with the wounded coxswain and the dead body of O'Brien. Hands, though injured, is still dangerous, and he feigns weakness to lure Jim into a false sense of security. He asks Jim to fetch him wine, a pretext to get the boy below deck, and then reveals his true intentions by arming himself with a dirk. Jim, having suspected the trick, catches Hands in the act and prepares for a confrontation. The duel that follows is a tense, life-or-death struggle on the deck of the careening ship. Hands, despite his wound, moves with surprising speed, and Jim is forced to climb the rigging to escape. From the cross-trees, Jim shoots Hands, who falls into the water and drowns. The fight is a turning point for Jim, who has "seen too many die" and now takes his first life, a act that marks his transition from boy to young man.
Death and Aftermath
Hands's death is both a personal victory for Jim and a strategic blow to the mutineers. With Hands gone, the mutineers lose their most experienced sailor, and the ship is left in the hands of the loyal party. Jim's recapture of the Hispaniola, made possible by Hands's death, is a crucial step in the defeat of the mutiny. The coxswain's body, along with that of O'Brien, lies on the sand in the shadow of the ship, "food for fish in the very place where he had designed my slaughter." His death is a grim reminder of the cost of the adventure, and it foreshadows the eventual downfall of the pirate crew. Hands's legacy is one of treachery and violence, but his death also serves to highlight Jim's courage and resourcefulness, qualities that prove essential to the survival of the loyal party.
Thematic Significance
Israel Hands embodies the theme of the "gentleman of fortune"—the pirate who lives by violence and dies by it. His career, from Flint's gunner to Silver's confidant, illustrates the precariousness of the pirate's life, where loyalty is fleeting and death is always near. Hands's betrayal of Jim, despite the boy's kindness in giving him brandy and binding his wound, underscores the moral corruption of the pirate code. His death, brought about by his own treachery, is a form of poetic justice, and it serves as a warning about the consequences of a life of crime. In the broader narrative, Hands represents the old order of piracy, a world that is dying out, and his demise clears the way for the new order of honest men who will carry the treasure home.
