Dr. Livesey

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dr. Livesey is a fictional character in the novel Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson. The doctor's first appearance in the book is when he comes to the "Admiral Benbow". There he demonstrates his courage and strength of character when the pirate Billy Bones attempts to bully him, standing his ground, threatening the pirate with hanging when he draws a knife, and warning him that he will use his authority as a magistrate to punish Billy Bones if he makes any more nuisance of himself.

He later saves Billy Bones's life by bleeding him after the pirate has suffered a stroke while chasing off Black Dog (it is he who discovers the "Captain"'s identity from a tattoo on his arm) and warns him to sobriety if he wishes to live longer. On Bones's subsequent death and the discovery of the treasure map, Livesey is soon in with Squire Trelawney's plans to recover Flint's hoard. He is much the cooler-headed of the two and would have kept the purpose of the Hispaniola's voyage secret if he had had his way.

When Jim Hawkins discovers the pirate's plot, it is to the doctor that he goes. Livesey keeps his head in the crisis and lets none of the crew see that he has just been given dreadful news. Thanks to his cool head, he, Captain Smollett, and the squire are able to plan their escape with the few men they can trust. The doctor himself narrates their subsequent flight from the ship and establishing their camp in the old stockade on the island.

Later, when Silver and the pirates attack, the doctor fights well (he is a battle-hardened veteran, having served at Fontenoy as a younger man) and, with Captain Smollett wounded, takes responsibility for the safety of the expedition. Acting on Jim's account of his earlier adventures, he goes to find Ben Gunn and succeeds in winning the castaway's loyalty, no doubt helped by the fortunate circumstance of having a small Parmesan cheese in his possession (a foodstuff Gunn has been pining for through several years of living on goat meat). He negotiates a truce with Silver by surrendering the treasure map which he (but not Silver) now knows to be useless, and during the consequent fight at the site of the plundered cache he arrives opportunely to orchestrate the rescue of Jim and, as it turns out, Silver.

Doctor Livesey, though at one point earning a merited rebuke from Captain Smollett for inattention to his post, has much the largest share in the credit for the expedition's success. He is intelligent, brave and cool-headed; qualities which win the day against the cunning and ruthlessness of his formidable adversary Silver. He can very well be considered the hero of the story.

Death: In the movie Treasure Island of the year 1999, doctor Livesey is killed by the pirates. He was trying with the others to follow the pirates that they would find the treasure.