Talk:Black Spot (Treasure Island)

Inaccuracy
Referring to the Black Spot, the page currently claims "In Treasure Island, Billy Bones is so frightened by it he suffers a stroke and dies." This is not true. Billy Bones may have died from a stroke, but it is far from clear that it was due to fear. I think it more likely it was due to alcohol, considering Livesly warned as much. I think this phrase should be reworded. Dicdoc (talk) 13:09, 7 April 2008 (UTC)


 * The current page (Jan 2023) says Pew killed Bones. This is wrong, as stated above Bones dies of a stroke, as a result of rum or fear is unclear (probably both). Wolstan Dixie (talk) 12:01, 19 January 2023 (UTC)

The article currently describes this as "a piece of paper or card, with a circular black spot in the middle", but the description in chapter 4 implies that it is rather a small round piece of paper which is entirely black on one side. Myopic Bookworm (talk) 15:34, 15 February 2010 (UTC)
 * I have provided a description based on chap. 29 where even the size, like a crown piece, and source of the black pigment are given.--Felix Folio Secundus (talk) 18:48, 19 July 2010 (UTC)

Remove reference?
The following reference, I believe, is not related nor in any way a reference to the black spot literary device:
 * 1967. In Logan's Run, those who reach a certain age are executed when their lifeclock, a colored crystal embedded in their hands, turns black.

In the novel, Logan's Run everyone wore a life clock in the palm of their hand; a crystal palm flower that changed color based on the time of life (and role in society). Unlike a black spot, it is not bestowed on/given to a person to "pronounce a verdict of guilt or judgment." Candidate for removal? --Geekers 20:41, 4 September 2006 (UTC)

Ace of spades
An anon added this:
 * it is thought that instead of black spots on paper, the ace of spades in playing cards was historically used instead.

This needs to be sourced. It assumes that black spots in reality existed - I've never seen evidence for this. But if someone can provide a source, that would be great. -- Stbalbach 13:22, 7 May 2007 (UTC)


 * I managed to find some refs about the ace of spades. Its reputation as death card goes all the way from pirates to gangsters to the Vietnam war.  •  Maurog   •  15:14, 9 July 2008 (UTC)


 * Your references 5 and 6 do not actually have any sources for their claim of pirates using a Black Spot, and are basically quoting each other verbatim. I don't have access to the Doug Lennox boook (reference 4), but it seems to be another "trivia collection" like reference 5.
 * Considering that I have never heard of pirates "showing an Ace of Spades to a person condemned as traitor or informer" in any of dozens of scholarly works on piracy (as opposed to glossy "popular history" ones (not that they mention it either!)) I really have to ask what your references' sources are for this claim. I agree with Stbalbach that as far as I am aware, there's no evidence for this. Idontcareanymore (talk) 13:24, 28 December 2010 (UTC)
 * Agreed. None of the sighted References can give propper proof. It is very likely that Stevensons fiction is the actual and true origin. The Myth of Origin should at least be named as such until proven otherwise. 87.153.60.62 (talk) 18:49, 6 April 2011 (UTC)

External links modified
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The line about "Hark, a Vagrant" seems to be incomplete. 2604:3D08:267C:5300:3CF1:F13B:DA01:346 (talk) 11:05, 10 December 2021 (UTC)