Davy Jones, a Legendary Pirate

AHOY there! T’is be Cap’n Leslii — yer resident interpreter o’ all things anime n’ manga. An’ while today’s post ain’t strictly about anime nor manga, it be ONE PIECE that set the sails for this here article! So, avast ye and lend me yer ears. Or, WALK THA PLANK AN’ BE OFF TO DAVY JONES’ LOCKERRR–!! ..Savvy?

Renowned is the name Davy Jones, being one of the most well known figures in pirating history. For hundreds of years, it has carried a certain weight and presence, frightening seamen and pirates alike. And, of course, one cannot utter the name without conjuring the thought of Davy Jones Locker or The Flying Dutchman, even. Especially in today’s modern society thanks to its further popularization spurred on by franchises such as Pirates of the Caribbean and Spongebob Squarepants, who familiarized modern day viewers with the nautical legend. Even more recently, in the immensely popular pirating manga, One Piece, has the name reappeared in the story after 20 years, sparking new debates and theories and reigniting old ones that were thought to be forgotten and lost to time.

Though, contrary to what many believe, Davy Jones was not an actual pirate like the infamous Blackbeard or Anne Bonney. Davy Jones was, rather, a nautical superstition turned folklore story that mysteriously came about. And whether he took the form of a devil, a green ghostly spector, or an undying tentacle-y god of the sea, it matters not, because the name alone was enough to strike fear in the hearts of men.

The Known History of Davy Jones

As Davy Jones was not a real person, it’s hard to say when or how exactly the name found its way onto the turbulent seas. Like a silent mist it appeared, leaving modern day researchers scratching their heads in effort to figure out precisely how the spectral pirate took root. This uncertainty naturally produced theories about the legends origins –

One such being that Davy Jones is an evil or ghostly apparition of the biblical figure Jonah. Others suggest that the legend was once a pub owning kidnapper who abducted patrons and sailors, selling them into slavery before eventually becoming a pirate himself, or simply, he was just an incompetent sailor. Though, arguably the most well known theory – especially today thanks to the aforementioned franchises – is that Davy Jones is the name of a devil, or rather the embodiment of the sea itself, representing the final resting place for sailors and pirates alike. So, while the exact origins are unknown, historians have managed to find mentions of the folklore legend as far back as the 1750s.

For example, the satirical novel “The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle” mentions both the name and describes it as a malevolent spirit. The slang dictionary, “The Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue”, written in 1785 but not published until 1811, featured in its list of words the name as well, even using “David Jones” and giving a similar description as the aforementioned novel. And, in 1791, the term “Safe in Davy Jones Locker” was used in the foreign affairs segment of the newspaper Cheshire Chronicle, and from then on, to be within Davy Jones Locker was to be lost at sea. Naturally, there are more traces of Davy Jones found throughout history but for times sake, I’ll leave it there.

Davy Jones in Pop Culture

As mentioned before, it’s thanks to modern television that Davy Jones holds a spot in the ever expanding web of pop culture, as we, of course, don’t have pirates today – at least in the same sense as 200 years ago. Though the depictions of the nautical legend are quite different, aspects of the representations are the same.

In Pirates of the Caribbean : Dead Man’s Chest, Davy Jones is eventually portrayed as a tragic villain once introduced. Cursed and bound to the sea for all of eternity, his monstrously fishy appearance visually represents the toll of this fate. This version of the myth reimagines him as not only a supernatural force to be feared, but a showing of the range of human emotions, such as love and, especially, vengeance.

Meanwhile, in Spongebob, the legend is handled in a much more comedic way. He’s a ghostly, temperamental sailor and rather than going by the usual moniker, he instead goes by The Flying Dutchman, named after the iconic ghost ship that in some stories is thought to be Davy Jones’ own ship. And while on paper, The Flying Dutchman wouldn’t be considered the Davy Jones, he fulfils the role of the nautical legend quite well. Proving to be anything but a friendly ghost, The Flying Dutchman is the devil of the sea, often scaring people and stealing their souls for fun.

As for the Davy Jones of One Piece, not much is known of him still, though the implications of what is carries weight and fuels theories that have been building for many years. As Nico Robin puts it in the Long Ring Long Land arc, Davy Jones is “a pirate from long ago who was cursed by the devil to live on the depths of the sea floor” and without giving too much away of recent events in the manga, you can see just how much impact and significance the name holds.

Symbolism of Davy Jones

Another part of what makes the legend so timeless lies in his symbolism. The ocean has always been an enigma to humanity; no matter how much we’ve progressed, no matter how many people have explored the 7 seas, there is still so much unknown about its depths. Being such an unfathomable force of nature, with secrets upon secrets, it’s only natural that humans would both revere and fear it, creating stories and myths in hopes of explaining or understanding it. And because of this, Davy Jones serves as the personification of the fascination humans have with the ocean, embodying not only the mysteries it holds, but also serving as a reminder of our own mortality.

Closing Remarks

Ultimately, Davy Jones demonstrates the enduring power folklore has to adapt with time. From a sailor’s superstition to a notable pop culture figure, the story of Davy Jones has shifted with each generation, reflecting our evolving understanding of the sea, death and the supernatural. 

But that’s, unfortunately, all the time I have to chat about this nautical legend. Hopefully, still, you were able to learn something new about this legendary pirate!