Pieces of Eight! Pieces of Eight!
Justawench posted a question about Jack's Piece of Eight as explained in the AWE DVD extras. This got me thinking how bothersome the Pieces of Eight are. Below is a list of my personal niggles. I'd appreciate any thoughts or additions.
1. Are they the same 9 items used by an earlier set of Pirate Lords to bind Calypso? That seems to be the whole point of them and the reason it's so important to get Jack's one back from the Locker (Barbossa says Jack neglected to pass it on before he died, suggesting that if a new Pirate Lord had Jack's dingle, they could leave Jack in the Locker). But the DVD extra says different. See justawench's question for more.
2. Does a pirate who is made a Lord get given a Piece of Eight as part of the process, or is acquiring a Piece of Eight how they become Pirate Lords? I prefer the latter because that's how it seems to work for Elizabeth and because I love the idea that Jack became a Pirate Lord by accident. Although it does seem a pretty stupid way to run things...
3. Assuming that having a Piece of Eight makes you a Pirate Lord, is some kind of consent/legacy/gift required? This might seem like nitpicking, but it really matters for a story I'm writing and I think it has some interesting implications for a couple of scenes.
If consent is not required, why aren't pirates always stealing them off each other? Why do they need to bring Jack back alive rather than just grab his Piece of Eight? Why doesn't Barbossa snatch Sao Feng's necklace? Why is it so important to get all the Pirate Lords to drop their Pieces of Junk into the bowl? It really only makes sense if they have to be somehow given rather than taken.
However, what about the "first to the finish" moment where Barbossa appears to steal Jack's Piece of Eight. Jack doesn't look too happy about it, so no consent there - or is there? The only reason Barbossa has a clear shot at the Piece is because Jack's just taken his hat off and bowed to Elizabeth. And Jack doesn't seem to try to stop Barbossa or grab his dingle back before the monkey gets it. Perhaps the annoyance is playacted for Davy and Beckett, but actually Jack knows what Barbossa is up to and is going along with it... (There's certainly a lot going on between Jack'n'Barbs here, but what is it?)
Then there's the moment Barbossa snatches Elizabeth's necklace. Again, she certainly doesn't consent, but nor does she do much about it. Maybe it's enough. (Calypso might be bending the rules a bit at this point too.)
Help!
and 2 more that I don't care about, just to stir things up...
4. With Calypso released and the Pieces of Eight burned, what happens to the Brethren Court and Pirate Lords?
5. Is there any connection at all between the coin in the hanging/singing scene, the ringing coin Barbossa shows Sao Feng, the coins in Beckett's office and the actual Pieces of Eight? Or anything else in the movie?
1. Are they the same 9 items used by an earlier set of Pirate Lords to bind Calypso? That seems to be the whole point of them and the reason it's so important to get Jack's one back from the Locker (Barbossa says Jack neglected to pass it on before he died, suggesting that if a new Pirate Lord had Jack's dingle, they could leave Jack in the Locker). But the DVD extra says different. See justawench's question for more.
2. Does a pirate who is made a Lord get given a Piece of Eight as part of the process, or is acquiring a Piece of Eight how they become Pirate Lords? I prefer the latter because that's how it seems to work for Elizabeth and because I love the idea that Jack became a Pirate Lord by accident. Although it does seem a pretty stupid way to run things...
3. Assuming that having a Piece of Eight makes you a Pirate Lord, is some kind of consent/legacy/gift required? This might seem like nitpicking, but it really matters for a story I'm writing and I think it has some interesting implications for a couple of scenes.
If consent is not required, why aren't pirates always stealing them off each other? Why do they need to bring Jack back alive rather than just grab his Piece of Eight? Why doesn't Barbossa snatch Sao Feng's necklace? Why is it so important to get all the Pirate Lords to drop their Pieces of Junk into the bowl? It really only makes sense if they have to be somehow given rather than taken.
However, what about the "first to the finish" moment where Barbossa appears to steal Jack's Piece of Eight. Jack doesn't look too happy about it, so no consent there - or is there? The only reason Barbossa has a clear shot at the Piece is because Jack's just taken his hat off and bowed to Elizabeth. And Jack doesn't seem to try to stop Barbossa or grab his dingle back before the monkey gets it. Perhaps the annoyance is playacted for Davy and Beckett, but actually Jack knows what Barbossa is up to and is going along with it... (There's certainly a lot going on between Jack'n'Barbs here, but what is it?)
Then there's the moment Barbossa snatches Elizabeth's necklace. Again, she certainly doesn't consent, but nor does she do much about it. Maybe it's enough. (Calypso might be bending the rules a bit at this point too.)
Help!
and 2 more that I don't care about, just to stir things up...
4. With Calypso released and the Pieces of Eight burned, what happens to the Brethren Court and Pirate Lords?
5. Is there any connection at all between the coin in the hanging/singing scene, the ringing coin Barbossa shows Sao Feng, the coins in Beckett's office and the actual Pieces of Eight? Or anything else in the movie?