Summary
As one of Walt Disney’s most well-known franchises,Pirates of the Caribbeanfound inspiration in famous figures of the Golden Age of Piracy. Though the series of films is based on Walt Disney’s theme park ride of the same name, many of the films' characters have similarities to real-life pirates. ThePirates of the Caribbeanfilms don’t strive to be accurate historical depictions, butthe real-life connections to the fictional set of characters add depth to the adventurous fantasy films. The franchise comprises five films that introduce new characters along the way.
Only a few fictional pirates have specific real-life counterparts, but the representation of such figures inPirates of the Caribbeandraws from pirate historyas a whole — from the ships that trek across the water to the garb donned by the on-screen characters. Certain characters such as Captain Jack Sparrow, Hector Barbossa, and Elizabeth Swann have a lot in common with real pirates. As the main protagonist in thePirates of the Caribbeanfilms,the inspiration behind Jack in particular comes from many real-life pirates, while other characters are only inspired by one or two.
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Jack Sparrow
Inspired By John Rackham, Samuel Bellamy, And More
The characterization of Jack Sparrow is an accumulation of various real-life pirates. From Jack’s wardrobe to his interactions with others,the famous character is inspired by many pirates from the Golden Age of Piracy (viaRoyal Museums Greenwich).One of the pirates with the most similarities to Jack is John “Calico Jack” Rackham. Romance isn’t the focus of thePirates of the Caribbeanfilms, butJack’s love interestsspeak to the character’s charm and relationship with women. Similarly, John has a famous connection to two female pirates, Mary Read and Anne Bonny, with the latter having had a relationship with John.
Additionally, unlike the stereotypical powerful, robbing buccaneers who turned to piracy, a few famous pirates throughout history are known to have shown compassion towards others. Of the ships attacked by him and his crew,Samuel Bellamy is said to have possessed a generosity towards the victims. It is because of his behavior, such as allowing raided victims to keep their ship, that he was nicknamed the “Prince of Pirates.”
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Jack’s actions are reminiscent of Samuel’s. As it’s explained, thePirates of the Caribbeancharacter refused to transport enslaved people captured by the Wicked Wench, upsetting Cutler Beckett in the process. Jack also bears some resemblance to Edward Teach, known as Blackbeard. Edward is an infamous pirate depicted for his ruthless actions. However, though violence was never off the table for Edward, he was clever and often chose to intimidate others with his physical appearance and aggressive reputation instead (viaBBC).
Hector Barbossa
Inspired By Charles Vane And William Kidd
Throughout thePirates of the Caribbeanfilms, Hector Barbossa remains highly motivated to achieve his goals. Hector begins the film series with evil characteristics, acting as the films' antagonist. ThoughHector does have a redemption arc,his initial ruthless actions have strong comparisons to English pirate Charles Vane. Unlike other pirates during the age, such as the previously mentioned Samuel Bellamy, Charles showed no remorse for his actions. When attacking ships, Charles used his physical strength against sailors as a means of interrogation.
Hector embodies a similar cutthroat attitude, but, whether it’s because longtime fans know where the character ends up, or because of his alluring, cunning nature, he’s someone audiences can’t look away from. In the fourth film,Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Hector teams up with Jack on an expedition put in motion by King George II.Hector’s part of the journey serving as the privateer, much like real-life privateer William Kidd.Starting as a pirate sailing the Caribbean, William was eventually authorized to act as a privateer by King William III of England.
In modern pirate storytelling, William is remembered most for the rumor that he left buried treasure at multiple locations.
William set sail in 1696 with his crew, but their goal of hunting down pirates wasn’t the success they’d hoped it to be. In modern pirate storytelling, William is remembered most for the rumor that he left buried treasure at multiple locations. The legend surrounding the supposed treasure ignited searches from those wishing to find it.
Elizabeth Swann
Inspired By Anne Bonny And Mary Read
Men are often at the center of both thePirates of the Caribbeanfilms and piracy in general. However, that is not to say women didn’t have an important role in the history of piracy. The story of two female pirates, Anne Bonny and Mary Read, has inspired countless pirate characters in the media, including Elizabeth Swann. InDead Man’s Chest, Elizabeth disguises herself as a cabin boy.Dressing in male clothing was common practice for many female pirates, including Anne and Mary, who revealed their true identity to one another whilst aboard a ship with Calico Jack and his crew.
The similarities between Elizabeth and Mary end there, but Anne’s story continues to play an important role in the characterization of Elizabeth.Both Anne and Elizabeth are seen as powerful leaders, especially when the latter is given the title of Pirate King inAt World’s End. According to historical accounts, Anne was described as being foul-mouthed and demanding. When Anne and the others were eventually arrested and put on trial, she and Mary were described by a victim, Dorothy Thomas, to have held a machete in one hand and a pistol in the other whilst yelling at the male pirates to kill Dorothy.
The mystery surrounding Anne’s life also resemblesElizabeth’s ending inAt World’s End. Anne was set to be executed for her crimes but appears to have vanished before it happened. Though it’s not proven that Anne was pregnant leading up to her execution, it’s believed that after she escaped, she left piracy behind to raise her child in hiding, much like Elizabeth did.
Blackbeard
Inspired By Edward Teach And Charles Vane
In addition to the fictional Jack Sparrow, one of the most famous pirate names is Blackbeard. The infamous pirate’s real name is Edward Teach, but his nickname comes from his threatening physical appearance and thick, dark beard. A character is introduced inOn Stranger Tideswith the same name, but oddly enough,the fictional portrayal of Blackbeard differs from the real-life pirate.
There is no doubt that Blackbeard inOn Stranger Tidesholds an equal amount of power in his appearance as the real-life Blackbeard. However, Blackbeard’s reputation towards the end of his life and in the decades following his death have resulted in a romanticization of his image. Stories of his brutish acts and cruelty are likely exaggerated to add to his alarming image (viaRoyal Museums Greenwich). In reality, Blackbeard didn’t rely on violence as much and rather used his notorious reputation to scare others.
Instead,the fictional version of Blackbeard is most similar to Charles Vane, the pirate who inspired Hector Barbossa’s villainous actions. Many specific incidents have been documented detailing the methods of torture enacted by Charles and his crew against victims. Most of the time, the torture was inflicted in hopes the victims would surrender their valuables to the pirates.
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James Norrington
Inspired By Woodes Rodgers
Though he isn’t a pirate like the otherPirates of the Caribbeancharacters, there is still a real-life counterpart to James Norrington.Intending to get rid of pirates and the threat they pose, James and Woodes Rodgers are nearly one and the same. Woodes is one of the most famous privateers and colonial administrators in history.
Woodes' fame mostly comes from his time spent in the Bahamas, where he eventually served as the governor. The Bahamas at the time was overcrowded with pirates, so Woodes established an agreement to control the area and put an end to piracy. He wasn’t always successful in his pirate-hunting efforts, but Woodes' time as governor had him labeled as a hero.
James doesn’t necessarily reach hero status in thePirates of the Caribbeanfilms the way Woodes did in real life, but he is still a compelling character.
James doesn’t necessarily reach hero status in thePirates of the Caribbeanfilms the way Woodes did in real life, but he is still a compelling character. Despite being overshadowed by the films' main characters at times,James has an interesting character arc — one that serves as an opportunity to bring back the strength of the franchiseif aJames Norrington spinoffwere to be made.
Brethren Court
Inspired By Zheng Yi Sao And Olivier La Buse
ThePirates of the CaribbeanBrethren Court is based on the Brethren of the Coast. The members of the real-life coalition aren’t the exact inspiration for the fictional characters that make up the court.However, pirates such as Olivier La Buse and Zheng Yi Sao have parallels to Capitaine Chevalle and Mistress Ching,respectively.
Olivier is one of the most successful pirates of the era and is remembered for capturing theNostra Senora della Cabowith fellow pirate, John Taylor. Olivier was a strong and influential leader, often sporting an eye patch over his eye, which is now synonymous with pirates. Chevalle, too, has a memorable look to him, albeit much bolder with a powdered face and feathered hat.
InAt World’s End, Mistress Ching is not to be messed with. Ching is a skilled fighter with a penchant for brutality. Ching’s real-life counterpart, Zheng Yi Sao, was also in a position of authority. As the leader of the Guangdong Pirate Confederation, Zheng Yi was incredibly accomplished. While there aren’t as many specific cases of a callous force being used by Zheng Yi,she did pull off numerous successful raids and attacks against enemies,solidifying her place among the greatest pirates in history.
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Pirates of the Caribbean
A series of fantasy swashbuckler films produced by Disney, featuring the adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow. Known for its supernatural elements, high-seas action, and iconic characters, the franchise has become a cultural phenomenon and was loosely based on the Disney theme park ride of the same name.
