The primary conflict in Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island is a simple one: Who will get to the buried treasure first? We never fully understand why Billy Bones never attempts to return for the loot himself, but it could have been because he was wary of being followed by his former mates. After Jim Hawkins and his mom find the map, Squire Trelawney agrees to finance the voyage and cut Jim in on the treasure. After the squire's loose lips spread the word around Bristol about the voyage for treasure, Long John Silver becomes the main adversary for the squire's men. Silver and the majority of the crew mutiny and, after several battles with the loyal crew, they head for the treasure. Unbeknownst to them all, Ben Gunn has been marooned there, and he has already found the treasure. Eventually, Ben teams up with Squire Trelawney's men; Silver's men turn on him; the squire's group returns to the ship with Gunn and the treasure--and Silver; and the remaining pirates are left behind. Gunn receives a small share; Silver steals a small amount before disappearing; and Trelawney, Dr. Livesey, and Jim return to England--rich men all.
There are three types of conflicts in the novel that are all important. They are man vs. man, man vs. nature, and man vs. himself. These are all conflicts that Hawkins has. An example of man vs. man is Hawkins against Billy Bones. Man vs. nature is seen when Hawkins must navigate the strong currents of the island's narrow harbors. Hawkins also has some internal conflicts where he struggles with the choices he has to make. For example, Hawkins decides to abandon his crew. I'm not sure that one of these conflicts is more important than the others since they take place throughout the book and provide the challenges that Hawkins must face. For more detailed information, go to the link below.
What are the conflicts in Treasure Island?
As in most great adventure novels, conflicts are many, and Treasure Island is no exception. There are many conflicts between the characters involved: Young Jim Hawkins must not only get over his fear of the pirates that surround him, but he must also decide whether Long John Silver can be trusted. Jim has a big decision to make when he decides to "desert" his companions in order to return and gain control of the ship. The doctor is forced to make a decision between his hate for the pirates and his medical obligations to treat his injured and wounded enemies. Later, the doctor agrees with the others when it comes time to strand the pirates on the island, but his humane nature determines that he must also leave them provisions in order to survive. Silver himself has to decide between remaining with his pirate comrades or quickly change sides to join the others when they find that the treasure has been removed. The captain and loyal crew must then decide whether to trust Silver when they allow him to join them against the other...
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pirates.
Other conflicts include man against the natural elements, especially when Jim has to maneuver Ben Gunn's little boat before taking on the bigger challenge of handling the Hispaniola by himself.
What is the man vs. man conflict and solution in the book Treasure Island?
There are multiple man versus man conflicts throughout Treasure Island:
- 'The Good Guys' versus the mutinous pirates--This is one of the most central man versus man conflicts in the novel, featuring the noble and well-meaning characters like Captain Smollett, Dr. Livesey, Trelawney, Jim Hawkins. They must match wits against Long John Silver and his wily pirates at treasure hand.
- Long John versus his own pirates--The pirates turn against Long John at the stockade and give him the 'black spot,' the pirates way of showing no confidence in his leadership. Silver, ever crafty, is able to use the circumstantial fact that they drew the spot on a Bible page to redirect their attention. The pirates turn on Silver again at the dig site when they find the empty treasure boxes.
- Jim Hawkins versus Israel Hands-- In one of the most tense moments in the novel, Jim must escape from the murderous Israel aboard the Hispaniola. Originally, Jim planned on sailing the Hispaniola to the beach for Captain Smollett, but Hands waylays him on the ship. Jim threatens to shoot him from atop the mast, and Hands throws his knife, wounding Jim. This is a true man versus man conflict in the novel, in which Jim must fight Hands for his life.
What is the minor conflict in Treasure Island?
Whether one could call it a minor conflict or not, I'd like to suggest that there's a constant tension between Long John Silver and his pirate crew. They say there's no honor among thieves, and that's certainly the case here. Silver's crew appear permanently on the brink of mutiny, and the captain is always having to maintain order among his shipmates. Long John Silver is a wonderfully complex character, and although he can often be pretty brutal at times, he's no sadist; he prefers persuasion to physical violence whenever possible. We see this in relation to Tom. Silver doesn't want to kill him, but he has no choice when the others kill Alan. The pirate captain must maintain control of his crew, even if it means resorting to brutal methods.
As an unregenerate pirate, Silver wants to get his hands on the treasure as much as anyone. But there's a certain honesty about him which sets him apart from the rest of his scurvy crew. Silver's men lack his intelligence and vision, as well as his overwhelming charisma. Yet, as the only thing that keeps them together is a desire for loot, they don't see the bigger picture, as it were, thinking they could always do a better job than their captain. So there's a constant simmering conflict between Long John Silver and his men, one that always threatens to culminate in the captain being forced to walk the plank.
What is the minor conflict in Treasure Island?
All good books have various conflicts - both major and minor. It is interesting that you want information on a minor conflict. Let me give you two of them.
First, the main character, Jim Hawkins, is young. In the first few chapters he is a boy of twelve. He is easily frightened and at one point even runs to his mother. However, as the book progresses, he matures and becomes a young man. He bravely faces Silver and on a few occasions risks his own life. Therefore, one of the conflicts is internal. Will Jim be able to be a man with courage or remain a boy. In the end, he emerges as a mature young man.
Another conflict is when Silver and Jim come to the treasure site; they realize that it is not there. The reader is in a state of confusion. What makes matters worse is that the men with Silver are furious and they want to mutiny or even worse kill Silver and Jim. The question of where the treasure is is resolved as the reader finds out that Ben took the treasure and moved it.