J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan
Captain James "Jas" Hook is the main antagonist of Peter Pan, and Peter's sworn enemy.
Quick Answers
What is Captain Hook's relationship with his mother?
What is Captain Hook's relationship with his father?
Does Captain Hook have any children?
What is Captain Hook's full name?
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History[]
Little is known of Hook's early life or his origins. His real name was never revealed; all that; was known was that; he was a "man; who's real name, if revealed, would set the country in a blaze". He was born in England and attended Eton College as well Balliol College; during his youth.
During the early 20th Century, he met and fought against Peter Pan for unknown reasons and in the sword fight, Pan cut off Hook's hand, then fed it to a gigantic crocodile. He then replaced his hand; with an iron hook and hence; his present name was born.
Physical appearance[]
Hook is described as having long, curled black hair, wearing a long red coat, and having his hook as his right hand. His eyes are said to turn red when he is about to plunge his hook into his victim, and his blood is of "an unusual color" frightening even Hook himself.
Hook is described as "cadaverous" and "blackavised", with "eyes which were of the blue of the forget-me-not" ("save when he was plunging his hook into you, at which time two red spots appeared in them and lit them up horribly") and long dark curls resembling "black candles".
He is also described as cunning because his dark beauty is know for drawing in mermaids.
Barrie also stated in "Captain Hook at Eton" that he was, "in a word, the handsomest man I have ever seen, though, at the same time, perhaps slightly disgusting"
Personality[]
He does not hate all of the Lost Boys. The fact that Peter will not grow up - and is thus not affected by time whereas Hook is chased for it - fuels Hook's wrath for him. It also bothers Hook that Peter does not fear him and causes the other lost boys to not fear him.
Hook is hot-tempered and treats his crew like dogs. He is sinister, yet polite and always exhibits elegant diction, and signs of his good breeding, which draws Wendy Darling to him. Hook is not an entirely un-heroic character and does strive to act nobly throughout his ferocious acts.
Hook is a talented fencer and he is noted to be a man of "indomitable courage", which was also his nickname in college.
Hook is often rendered powerless in the face of the question of good form. He fears the sight of his own blood, which is of a strange color. He fears the crocodile as well.
Hook cannot break out from the inner struggle he’s placed on himself. He is at odds with the conventions of blue-blooded, civilized society, and the life he leads as a Pirate. While he seeks to carry out his treacherous acts with civility and nobility - and succeeds, he is not without fairness or consideration—he is forever critiquing himself as to whether he has upheld his code. Hook also feels isolated, a mismatch who is above the dogged crew around him, one who must set an example for them.
Relationships[]
In many adaptions it is established that James Hook had a complicated relationship with his parents. Often in many adaptions he keeps a picture or portrait of his mother in his captain's cabin, which is shown being featured in The Adventures of Peter Pan and Peter Pan & the Pirates. In the latter James shows concern about being reunited with his late mother and what she'll think of him. In Peter and Wendy James recounts to his crew of his childhood in Eton, but when one of the crew suggests that his parents were unloving James becomes incensed bellowing his parents especially his mother loved him. In Come Away James Hook here called Captain James or CJ has a complex relationship with his father who seems to be going senile and thus only recognizes his older brother as his son, yet despite this James still tries to care for and look after his father despite being embarrassed by his father's antics. It's strongly implied that having grown up in his elder sibling's shadow he feels he was never good enough in his father's eyes. As for his older brother he shows a mixture of resentment and jealousy to downright contempt towards his brother Jack yet displays signs of regret and is somewhat moved for the loss of his favorite nephew David Littleton. Yet despite this he demonstrates his loyalty to his underworld bosses by dealing out a fitting punishment to Jack in order to settle his gambling debts, this leads down the path to making an enemy out of his surviving nephew who ends becoming Peter Pan. In Peter Pan & the Pirates James has a deceased older brother Captain Jasper Patch who lost an eye to James and thanks in part to Pan, John and Slightly returns from the grave to avenge himself on his brother and crew with his ghost ship leading to a temporary truce between Pan and Hook to combat Jasper in the episode The Rake. In some book adaptions Captain Hook is revealed to have a daughter who goes in search of her father eventually following him to Neverland, in other versions Hook has a son seeking to get even on Pan. In the adult novel Petra Pan Captain Jasmine Hook is revealed to be the older sister to Petra Pan and blames her younger sister and her fairy Tinker for abandoning her to a life of slavery.
Portrayals in Other Media[]
- Main article: Captain Hook/Character adaptations
Trivia[]
- J.M. Barrie himself revealed Captain Hook went to Eton College.[citation needed]
- Captain James Hook's name is one letter off from British explorer Captain James Cook
- Though the character's full name wasn't revealed in the novel Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom, it was confirmed by the author A. C. Crispin that "James" is indeed Captain Hook from J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan. Crispin figured that since Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl had a couple Disney "in" jokes (such as the comment about "a little mermaid"), that she'd include the mention of "James" as a joke.[1]
Gallery[]
Illustrations[]
External links[]
- Captain Hook at Neverpedia
Captain Hook on Wikipedia
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Notes and references[]
| J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan | |
|---|---|
| Main characters | Peter Pan • Captain Hook • Tinker Bell • Wendy Darling • Tiger Lily • John Darling • Michael Darling • Mr. Smee |
| Other characters | Mrs. Darling • Mr. Darling • Nibs • Curly • Tootles • Slightly • The Twins • Great Big Little Panther • Jane |
| Groups | Lost Boys • Pirates • Mermaids • Fairies • Natives |
| Other | The Jolly Roger • Neverland • Fairy dust |
| Books | Peter and Wendy • Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens • The Little White Bird • When Wendy Grew Up - An Afterthought • Peter Pan in Scarlet |
| Works in various media | Books • Films • Television • Comics • Plays • Music |