Comments | idol_reflection: This is Not Your Father's Pirate (including AWE)

veronica_rich in idol_reflection

This is Not Your Father's Pirate (including AWE)

Mar 16, 2007 01:32

Title: Far From a Simpleton: Will Turner
Author: veronica_rich
Character: Will Turner
Fandom: Pirates of the Caribbean
Spoilers: All three movies
Author's Note: It's all metalkatt's fault - she convinced me four years ago to like Will, and the rest flowed from there. She betaed this essay, and some of the points are things we’ve cussed and discussed over and over and ( Read more... )

Comments 39

solitaryraven March 17 2007, 04:57:58 UTC

That was wonderful. Will's been my favorite since the beginning because I like seeing the growth and depth of his character. You described him so well throughout this so thanks for such a good read. I also like how you mentioned that people who pass will off as wooden and inconsequential are losing an important part of the movie because I agree. So many people would like to see more movies with just Jack (heh), but the fact is that it wouldn't work. Jack works because he's placed in contrast with characters like Will. Take away that dynamic and you lose not only an important part of the story but also an important part of Jack.

veronica_rich March 17 2007, 05:12:36 UTC

Take away that dynamic and you lose not only an important part of the story but also an important part of Jack.

Agreed. We should be new best friends. :-D

It took me a little while to get "into" Will, but the longer time passes, the more I like him. That's the proof of a really good character, to me.

solitaryraven March 19 2007, 02:26:21 UTC

I added your community. Okay if I add you to my friends list? My list seems to be significantly lacking where the PotC fandom is concerned. I never have anyone to gush over new pictures and stuff with.

veronica_rich March 19 2007, 02:32:22 UTC

Sure, go ahead. If you want discussion, be sure to join potc_discussion and arrrrr, too - they gush a lot. *G*

What is your particular preference for the characters' fates (including Will), if I can ask?

Thread 5

the_dala March 19 2007, 03:44:33 UTC

::waves Will Turner Defense League banner::

veronica_rich March 19 2007, 04:50:46 UTC

I'm not a charter member, but I jumped on as quick as I could!

ladylavinia March 19 2007, 04:17:18 UTC

I have never seen Will Turner as some extreme version of a do-gooder at the beginning of "Curse of the Black Pearl". Just a young man, who is a bit inexperienced in life. Are all introverted characters automatically pigeon-holed as do-gooders ( ... )

veronica_rich March 19 2007, 04:40:42 UTC

I don't see being good as being an undesirable thing ... and Will IS good. I believe I pointed out what drives him is his desire to protect the people he loves, most notably Elizabeth and his father.

But he isn't like the other characters of POTC, and I won't pretend he is - if he's out for himself at all, it dovetails nicely with being out for the safety of those he loves, whereas Jack, Elizabeth, James, Barbossa, et. al. each have definite things they want for themselves that do not extend to doing something good for someone else. Will's not perfect, but compared to these other characters of the series, he comes off damn close to it in DMC. (Which is where I get pissed off with DMC, since I didn't feel that way in CotBP.)

I think the problem may be that we've heard Will's goodness denigrated for so long we've started believing there's something wrong with it. There's not. He's a good and interesting character, and there are few enough of those these days in our entertainment.

ladylavinia March 22 2007, 05:05:03 UTC

I believe I pointed out what drives him is his desire to protect the people he loves, most notably Elizabeth and his father.

There is nothing wrong in wanting to protect those that you love or care for. But it is selfish. It's a kind of selfishness that one would not disapprove of.

veronica_rich March 22 2007, 05:31:20 UTC

I figure it's a given that everything we do in life is rooted in selfish motive - it's all in the degrees. On the ratio-scale of doing something for oneself versus doing it for someone else's primary happiness, I believe Will probably has the lowest/highest of any character in this franchise. Maybe the more critical fans would like him better if he tipped that balance from one end to the other regularly (not all of them would, because you couldn't please some people if you hanged them with a gold rope, but some.)

bimo March 22 2007, 19:00:49 UTC

Hi there :-)

I just wanted to let you know that I found your essay on Will a highly enjoyable read. Insightful and very well-balanced.

Deep in my heart I may be a (borderline) navy boy fan girl, but I've always thought Will Turner was a valuable and interesting character in his own right. One of the nicest compliments someone paid me on one of my stories was that Will came across as perceptive, intelligent, caring and decent, just not as "educated" as some of the other characters.

Lots of thanks for writing this :-)

veronica_rich March 25 2007, 03:48:55 UTC

I'd say of all the main characters, Will is the least formally educated ... which is another part of why I love him. He doesn't let the differences stand in the way of standing up for himself or asserting his POV. And he doesn't always resort to force to do it - I loved how he took the keys in DMC from Davy - sneaking and even with a little smile, obviously proud of himself.

Thanks!