Ramblings on a Pirate's Life...

"Now and then we had a hope that, if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates." -- Mark Twain.

While the theological implications of this quote are clearly off, the idea behind its penning is fascinating. What is it about pirates that made even Mark Twain think of that lifestyle as a reward? Is it the swashbuckling? The crusty speech? The ill-gotten gain? In all honesty, I can't remember having a love affair with pirates before watching Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl. Until that point there was Muppets Treasure Island (Tim Curry gave/gives me nightmares) and the occasional Errol Flynn-type cinematic treasure that my father probably forced me to watch. And then there was the turning point: Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow, a character whose creation changed my perspective on pirates forever. Suddenly a pirate's life seemed full of mystery, intrigue, excitement, curiosity, danger, riches, and humor! Though I knew this couldn't possibly be the reality of a pirate's life years ago, I was drawn to everything pirate as Barbosa was drawn to the Aztec Gold.

I dabbled in some research and found interesting tidbits, but it wasn't until the other day when I visited Chicago's Field Museum's Pirate Exhibit that I truly understood the magnetism of a pirate's life.
In the days of little freedom and much hardship, the pirate life was a beacon of freedom and democracy, nevermind the little problems of thievery and violence. Africans, Indians, and poor European immigrants with little to no rights anywhere were offered the chance to have a say in their leadership, an opportunity for advancement, and payment for their hard work. They signed an agreement and suddenly had the respect of their crewmen and a voice among their peers. It was as if on the open sea, there were no racial or economic boundaries as there were on land. Perhaps the pirates were given to a bit of communism (if there weren't enough hammocks to go around, no one slept on a hammock!)... but it can be forgiven due to the fact that they gave rights to those who'd had none. No wonder this pirate life seemed bright and shiny! Africans weren't slaves on a pirate ship-- they had power and position! Even certain women were given position and rank beyond what was typical for the time. A particularly intriguing character is Anne Bonny, who joined the ranks of "Calico" Jack Rackham. I like to think we're related because her father's last name was Daly, a family name of ours, and she was from the area of Ireland from which our family emmigrated. If only.

But what of the pilfering, plundering, and violence? Humankind has certainly proved its love of titilation. We love the sensational. The ancient Greeks showed this with their gladiators. Americans showed this with their love of men like John Dillinger. We show this with our love of reality TV and certain celebrities. There is something about the pirate life that appeals to the basest of our humanness. And yet, what is glossed over and purposefully turned from is the consequences of a pirate life. The gallows. Public decomposition. Disease. Eternal damnation... you know, the basics. So really, I guess I don't want to be a pirate. What I think I really want is a rugged, self-assured, courageous man who is not afraid of anyone, knows what he wants and pursues it, and a life peppered with adventures and moments of bravery. Together we will fight against the injustice we encounter, and stick it to the socialistic man. That may or may not be my psychological reasoning for loving pirates.