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| Sparrow's backstory in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Complete Visual Guide indicates he was born on a pirate ship during a typhoon in the Indian Ocean, and that he was trained to fence by an Italian. On the website for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, it is explained that Sparrow once worked for the East India Trading Company and captained the Wicked Wench. When he refused to transport slaves, he was branded a pirate and his ship was ordered sunk by Lord Cutler Beckett, a company agent. Sparrow then bargained with Davy Jones to raise his ship, which he rechristened the Black Pearl. Sparrow's weapons are genuine 18th century pieces: his sword dates to the 1740s, while his pistol is from the 1760s. Both were made in London. |
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| Will is the only known child of the pirate, William "Bootstrap Bill" Turner. According to Jack Sparrow, he strongly resembles his father, both in appearance and ability. However, his father was absent during his youth in England, and Will grew up believing him to be a merchant seaman. After his mother died, Will, nine years, journeyed to the Caribbean to search for his father. His vessel was attacked and sunk by the Black Pearl, then under the command of Captain Hector Barbossa, and ironically, the same ship his father served on, while the Pearl was under the command of Captain Jack Sparrow. A short scene, set ten years later, follows the end credits. Elizabeth and her young son stand atop a cliff watching the horizon. As the sun sets The Flying Dutchman appears with the Green Flash, Captain Will Turner at the helm. The screen writer's have stated that since Elizabeth stayed faithful to Will, the curse of the Flying Dutchman is broken. Will can spend as many years as he wants on land but the DVD Question and Answer booklet states that Will is bound to the Dutchman forever and only gets one day every ten years ashor |
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Unlike most young women in her time, Elizabeth is independent and spirited. Throughout the films, she transforms from a modest lady to a true and courageous pirate princess. Elizabeth has always been fascinated by pirates, but she is often revolted by their aggressive and wild nature, especially when she initially met Captain Jack Sparrow, and he ensured his escape from Port Royal at her expense. Even after becoming a pirate, she retains her sense of propriety, as well as her loyalty and compassion for loved ones (namely William Turner, and Jack Sparrow). |
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| In Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Barbossa is captain of the pirate ship the Black Pearl, although he was originally the ship's first mate under Captain Jack Sparrow. Little is known about Hector Barbossa before he joins the Black Pearl. His name indicates a possible Portuguese and/or Spanish ancestry though he speaks with a West Country accent. Hector Barbossa's Jolly Roger, which was originally the flag of pirate Calico Jack.He uses the same flag as the notorious pirate John "Calico Jack" Rackham. |
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According to the Essential Guide to Pirates of the Caribbean, Norrington is feared among pirates for his leadership skills and his swordsman abilities. And according to the audio commentary from the first Pirates of the Caribbean DVD featuring the scriptwriters, Norrington's swordsmanship is equaled only by Hector Barbossa and surpassed only by Will Turner. Norrington's sword is used as a recurring plot device throughout the films, and was said to have a "bit of destiny" about it by screenplay writer Terry Rossio. It was forged by Will Turner, who then gives it to Governor Weatherby Swann in the opening scenes of Black Pearl, for presentation to Norrington for his promotion to Commodore. At the end of the first film, Norrington uses the sword to express his feelings about Elizabeth and Will, despite him being in love with Elizabeth as well. He remarks to Will that, "This is a beautiful sword. I expect the man who made it to show the same care and devotion in every aspect of his life." |
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| Davy Jones is the captain of the Flying Dutchman (a feared ghost ship featured in nautical lore by the same name), and roams the seas in search of souls to serve upon his vessel for a century. He was previously the lover of Calypso, a "heathen goddess". Jones is the legend behind the fictitious Dead Man's Chest, a major aspect of the the second film. Davy Jones was born in Scotland; nothing is known about his youth. He fell in love with Calypso, the "heathen god[ess]" of the sea who gave him the charge of ferrying souls which died at sea to the "other side". Calypso gave Davy Jones the Flying Dutchman to accomplish this task. Why Calypso gave him this charge is unknown. She swore that after ten years she would meet him and they would spend one day together before he returned to his duties. He kept to his charge for ten years, knowing he would see his love again. Calypso however, after those ten years, failed to show up because of her capricious nature (which had drawn Jones to her in the first place). Enraged and heart-broken, Jones turned the Pirate Brethren against her, saying that if she was removed from the world, they would be able to claim the seas for themselves. They assembled in the First Brethren Court and Jones taught them how to imprison her unto her human bonds (Tia Dalma); the Court agreed with him to imprison her forever. |
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| Cutler Beckett has English origins; nothing is known of the character's childhood though he must have been born in a family of England's high society. In sometime, Beckett took employment in Great Britain's East India Trading Co. (an in-film fictitious company). Thirteen years prior to the events of Dead Man's Chest, Beckett provided Jack Sparrow (who was under the employ of the E.I.T.C.) with the Wicked Wench as so to transport "a certain cargo" to Port Royal for the Company. On voyage, Sparrow discovered the cargo to be slaves and set them free in Africa. When Beckett received news of Sparrow's doing he became enraged. Beckett ordered the Wicked Wench sunk and branded Sparrow a pirate. The character of Beckett claims in Dead Man's Chest that Sparrow also left a mark on him. It is unknown what this mark is, and Beckett never revealed its nature; when asked by William Turner about the mark left on him by Sparrow, he changes the subject. |
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| William Turner Sr. was an Irish seaman who left his wife and son, William Jr., in England to seek his fortune in the Caribbean. Through unknown circumstances, he became a pirate, although young Will grew up believing him to be a "respectable merchant seaman." He was once heard to remark that he would be lying if he said pirating was not what he had wanted to do. |
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| His last name is likely based on Charles Gibbs, a 19-century American pirate. He is also deeply superstitious and makes frequent references to various causes of "bad luck". Like having women on the ship. |
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| Little is known about Tia Dalma's past before the release of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, except for an association with Jack Sparrow at some point prior to his recruitment of Hector Barbossa in Tortuga. It is also known that she was Davy Jones' love, and she was also the one who made him turn into a monster. Before the Brethren Court confined her to a human body, she was the nymph (goddess), Calypso. Jack confessed to having "known" her at a time when they had been "inseparable" — whereas Tia Dalma had provided him with his strange compass: a mysterious device that pointed to what the user wants most. When Calypso was captured, the pirates had tamed the sea, but also became less hardy, as regretted by Barbossa. In the Jack Sparrow prequel books, Tia Dalma is said to have transformed a girl named Constance Magilore into a cat. It is also revealed that Jack has known her since he was a teenager. |
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| According to Pirates of the Caribbean: The Visual Guide, prior to serving as cannoneers aboard the Black Pearl, Ragetti and Pintel spent a year as naval sailors, press-ganged into service for the British Royal Navy before deserting to escape the bad food and abusive treatment. |