"The problem is not the problem, the problem is your attitude about the problem."

When we got asked to do a presentation on pirates, a lot of us were completely lost as to what we could possibly write so much about. However, just like Jack Sparrow had said, "The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem." Once we, as students who had a million things on our minds, finally sat down and focused on the topic at hand, all of the ideas started flowing. As I watched my classmates present, I quickly realized how different our mindsets are. My thoughts immediately took me to modern pirates, where as one classmate in particular thought about the character Captain Hook and another thought of the legendary Blackbeard. While everyone's presentations were very different, a few things were also similar that worked amongst us all. Confidence while presenting is key in any presentation. If you do not have a confidence while presenting your information, you lose everyone's engagement. Fortunately the majority of my classmates were confident in their work. However, some students clearly put more effort into their actual presentation than others and that can also make a huge impact on how it is delivered. Another thing that could have been improved was the clarity of exactly what the research was about. A research paper needed to be arguable and some presentations did not explain that. I think my presentation was not only informative, but also engaging because of the fact that my research was over things happening currently. It could have been a little more decorative and eye catching than it was, but I was confident in my research and the information I presented.

Aaarrrgggghhhh!

My research paper in English was over the success of modern pirates and how they are more successful now than during the Golden Age. When I first started out, I just wanted to compare the two. The more I researched, the more I got really interested in how modern pirates have been thriving under the radar. There is little to nothing stopping pirates today, and even if a pirate gets caught they have all the resources possible to get away. It was fascinating knowing that everything that has made the world thrive, has also created an easy pathway for pirates to succeed. From the new technology and weapons available to the government and even global expansion: all of these have contributed to a pirates success. I would not really change anything about my topic, because to me it is the most relevant to us today, but I would have probably tried to branch out a little more with my supporting topics.



 

"Life's pretty good, and why wouldn't it be? I'm a pirate, after all."

For my research paper, I have decided to ultimately compare a pirate during the Golden Age and a pirate today and who had easier success. Throughout the semester, pirates have seemed like just ghosts of the past or a scary story you only hear about, but would never experience today. However, pirates are still real and piracy is still going on today. That news fascinated me for many reasons. Mainly because I have always related pirates as movie characters such as Captain Jack Sparrow. The fact that there are actual pirates in our very seas today is unnerving. After how cruel some of the pirates we have learned about from the Golden Age, I imagine pirates today would be just as gruesome and heartless. After the research thus far into my topic, I have found that in most cases today's world actually set an easier stage for pirates to be successful. Back then, there was so many new lands that there was no real government to oversee all the piracy, yet somehow majority of pirates eventually were caught or defeated. Today, there is a lot of new technology that makes it easier for a pirate to avoid detection and find wealth. Also, throughout the years there have been may more resources and wealth discovered than before. There is also more advanced weaponry available to pirates to not only be able to attack, but be able to readily defend themselves if they were detected. Some of the issues I may come up with throughout my research are the lack of pirate activity reported in today's world. I found that the reason not all cases are reported is because a lot of ship owners would rather take their loss than have an increase in their insurance. With that being said, limited resources over my specific topic will make it harder to actually find the facts. However, it will make it to where I have to branch out in my thought process and look into other resources to support my stance.

The infamous Blackbeard

Blackbeard is one of the most well known pirates to date. Like most pirates, he started as a sailor on a privateer ship, and then turned towards the life of piracy. One of his first known ship's that he had taken over himself was one he renamed as Queen Anne's Revenge. He then sailed off and committed numerous acts of piracy. With his new ship, he sailed off to Bequia where he took over a French ship and a few joined him willingly while others were forced to join his crew. His next adventure lead him to numerous places along the Lesser Antilles, but when he ended up in Charleston, SC things were a bit more interesting. He blockaded the port to Charleston for a week and ransacked any ships that tried to pass. One of which was the Crowley and those occupants were held prisoner for a ransom of medicine for Blackbeard's crew. Once the medicine was received the prisoners were released, while Blackbeard continued on his way to his next stop. His final stop was in North Carolina, 6 months after he grounded Queen Anne's Revenge and lessened his crew. He ran into an armed contingent lead by Maynard and lost the battle. The loss ended with his head on the blowsprit on Maynard's ship.


What was really interesting was that through all of my research, I never found anything to suggest that Blackbeard was a cruel man. Yes, he was feared and overthrew every ship that crossed his path. Yes, he was fearless and got what he wanted. However, there were no real stories about any gruesome acts of torture to any prisoners. He actually let a lot of the prisoners go once he received the ransom for them. This being said, it does not sound like he was a bad captain to work under. If I were apart of his crew, I think I would definitely have been the surgeon. He seemed to make sure he got what the surgeon would need to aid his crew and for that reason, I would have been thrilled to take on that job. I would want for nothing when it came to working for Blackbeard. When there was a need or a want for anything, he managed to get everything. He was not the most famous, or the most gruesome pirate, but his legend set a lot of what we see in movies in motion. He was one of the few pirates that are the inspiration for a lot of movies, games, and amusement rides today.  Turns out, the devil and himself were not the only ones who knew where to find his treasure. His ship was found and on that ship were some remaining gold's and jewels hidden amongst the cannon's. After Blackbeard had thought he took all of his plunder, it was found that some must have been hidden from him.

Shiver Me Timbers!!

Pirates are known for cruel and unusual punishments, but just how cruel were they? In numerous stories told in Under The Black Flag, pirates were ruthless. Just one scenario to name, Edward North had reported an attack on his ship by pirates. They violently beat them, but singled out one seaman and tied him hand and foot to the bowsprit. They then burned his eyes with matches and put a muzzle of a loaded gun in his mouth to get him to tell him where all their money was. Not only did pirates torture the men on ships that they raided, but also had very extreme punishments for their own. For example, if a boy or woman was found onboard, the pirate who brought them on would face death. Also, if a pirate deserted their ship or quarters during battle, the punishment was death or marooning. Marooning was essentially leaving them alone on a deserted island with no means of escape. I believe that a lot of their means for business and even their punishments are too harsh. They could easily have quickly killed the men that they were invading, instead they chose to torture these men and make them suffer. The punishments were also very extreme. I completely understand that if you break any laws, pirate ship or not, you need to face the consequences. Death, however, is the ultimate punishment. I do not understand their need to be so cruel. To win and be victorious, that is an understandable goal. The means they accomplish this could be a lot more humane. Instead they choose to do the absolute worst to others.

Home is Where The Anchor Drops

The craziest thing happened one day. I got taken back in time and landed right in the middle of a pirate ship dressed from head to toe like a man. To my amazement I was quickly befriended, if you could even call it friendly, by one of the crew members. He took me underneath where I was sure I was going to become a prisoner and I am not entirely sure how it happened, but he was really a she. We instantly clicked. She was rough around the edges and had no feminine qualities to her. I began to ask her why she acted like a man, but I learned quickly that questioning her decisions was not the best decision. She was offended that I would question her life choices, but continued to open up about how life was for her. Women did not have rights at that time, which she assumed I would already understand her situation given I was supposed to be in the same boat, literally. She did not want to be married off to an older man that her father found fit for her, so she took off to sea. In order to get away with being a crew member, she had to dress and act like a man. She had to fight and prove her strength, but most importantly, she had to keep her true gender a secret. If she were caught, she would face death unless she married, but with her deceit chances were more likely the former. As we tried to have this secretive talk, a lot of chaos broke out above on the deck. The moment she pulled out her sword I knew something was wrong. We ran up to the top, and somehow it was like I was invisible. It was like a dream. I was able to stay hidden entirely. I watched in horror and fascination as full out war broke out between my new pirate friend and the intruders. She fought with the strength, determination, and skill as any of the men on board. Finally, the last intruder fell dead on the ground. Victory for my pirate friend!! As her and her crew mates celebrated, I got brought back to reality. Thinking back to my experience, I am amazed at how she could live the life as a pirate, but more amazed at how she has been able to live as a man without detection. There was not a lot of privacy on that ship, but in a way she gained my respect. She lived the life less travelled, and never let any obstacle get her down. She made her own life, and her own home out at sea.

Fact or Fiction?

Buccaneers and Pirates is a tale about pirates told by Frank R. Stockman. Where a lot of what he has written about is undoubtably true, other parts are questionable. The way he words a lot of his stories makes what he says seem factual even if it seems to be a bit more fantasy like or even dramatized, for lack of a better word. In the beginning alone, Stockman painted a picture of a cute baby boy born to a farmer in Wales. However, according to Data and Wales and even Under the Black flag, it is told to us that little was known about his parents, but he insists he was a gentleman's son and apparently came from 6 generations of Morgan's. Stockman also says he was determined to study piracy, but "The Way of Pirates" clearly states "a pirate way of life was not in his interest." A few more important details that border on the line of fact or fiction deals with the voyages themselves. The majority of what is told Stockman is confirmed in not only online sources, but also Under The Black Flag by David Cordingly. Even though the major details and timelines are indeed facts, Stockman has a way about telling stories that makes you wonder if everything said is truth or exaggerated for the purpose of capturing the attention of his audience. For instance, he tells the story about how the frenchmen did not like the englishmen so they refused to aid him. Therefore he tricked the frenchmen onto his ship and imprisoned them. Throughout the dinner, gunpowder caught fire and only a few survived the explosion (Stockman, pg. 150-152). My other sources do confirm the explosion, however the exact trick on the frenchmen and the reason for the cause of the gunpowder catching fire has not been confirmed through my research. It is hard to tell whether every little detail is truly what happened in Henry Morgan's life.


Sources Consulted:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Morgan

http://www.thewayofthepirates.com/famous-buccaneers/henry-morgan/

http://www.data-wales.co.uk/morgan.htm

Cordingly, David.  Under The Black Flag. New York: Random House Trades Paperbacks, 2006. Print.

Stockman, Frank. Buccaneers and Pirates. New York: Dover Publications, Inc, 2007. Print.