The Black Spot is a literary device created by Robert Louis Stevenson for his novel Treasure Island (serialized 1881–82, published as a book in 1883). It is a message written on paper or card, signifying the verdict of accused pirates. Depending on the context, it signifies either the recipient’s removal from leadership or a sentence of death at the hands of fellow pirates.
Contents
In Treasure Island
In the book, pirates are presented with a "black spot" to officially pronounce a verdict of guilt or judgment. It consists of a circular piece of paper or card, with one side blackened while the other side bears a message and is placed in the hand of the accused. It was a source of much fear because it meant the pirate was to be deposed as leader, by force if necessary—or else killed outright. In Treasure Island, Billy Bones is much frightened by it, yet remains determined to outwit his enemies; however, he suffers a stroke caused by the overconsumption of liquor and dies. Later Long John Silver receives the spot, but is calm enough to notice that the paper bearing the spot has been torn out from a Bible, and warns his associates of the bad luck this will bring upon them.
The words on the back of that black spot were taken from the Biblical Book of Revelation, like an allusion to the mark of the beast and the last judgement, i.e. Chapter 29:
It was around about the size of a crown piece. One side was blank, for it had been the last leaf; the other contained a verse or two of Revelation—these words among the rest, which struck sharply home upon my mind: "Without are dogs and murderers." The printed side had been blackened with wood ash, which already began to come off and soil my fingers; on the blank side had been written with the same material the one word "Depposed".
Origins
The origin of Stevenson's Black Spot might be in the historical tradition of Caribbean pirates of showing an ace of spades to a person condemned as traitor or informer. The card was putting the person dangerously "on the spot", as the ace bears a single pip.
In other works
The Black Spot appears in other works of popular culture, chronologically:
1911: In the story "Casting the Runes," by M.R. James, the runes of the title are likened to the black spot because they bring death to the bearer.
1930: In the novel Swallows and Amazons the pirate captain Uncle Jim (James Turner, also known as Captain Flint) receives the Black Spot from Nancy, a member of his crew.
1933: In the film Gabriel Over the White House displeased racketeer Nick Diamond draws a Black Spot on some notepaper during a meeting with John Bronson, an activist for the unemployed. Bronson says, "I get you, Diamond. But you can't put a million men on the spot."
1938: In the film Algiers Regis draws the ace of spades when forced to cut the deck. Carlos calls this drawing of the black spot "very bad luck".
1946: In the P. G. Wodehouse novel Joy in the Morning the character Boko Fittleworth commiserates about Stilton Cheesewright, stating "I did think that the black spot had finally passed into Stilton's possession."
1948: The Shirley Jackson short story "The Lottery" describes the use of the black spot to select the annual victim of ritual human sacrifice.
1964: In the Harlan Ellison short story "Lonelyache" the protagonist Paul has a recurring nightmare in which a different young, good-looking man comes to kill him or "tip him the black spot".
1969: In the novel A Pirate Utopia the pirate lord Olaf is given the black spot by Leonard as he had tortured some people without permission.
1986: In the Stephen King novel It the doomed "Negro nightclub" is named "The Black Spot".