- "You know of Davy Jones, yes? A man of the sea. A great sailor...until, he ran afoul of that which vex all men. [...] A woman. He fell in love."
"No, no, no, no, I heard it was the sea he fell in love with."
"Same story, different versions. And all are true." - ―Tia Dalma and Joshamee Gibbs
The Story of Davy Jones and Calypso told of the myth and legend surrounding the tale of the sailor Davy Jones and the goddess Calypso. It also told of Calypso's imprisonment in human form by the Brethren Court.
History[]
In the days of myth and legend, the beautiful Calypso, daughter of Atlas, ruled the wine-dark seas, and all sailors everywhere both loved and feared her.
But because she too had mortal blood, Calypso fell in love with a young sailor, named Davy Jones. And she rewarded that love by giving Davy Jones the sacred task of collecting all the poor souls who died at sea, and ferrying them to the worlds beyond.
Now, because of that love, Davy Jones agreed to set foot on dry land once every ten years. And if this love was true to him, his task would be complete, and a new Captain of the Dutchman would be found.
But whenever Davy Jones came ashore, Calypso was nowhere to be found, for the seas are fickle and unpredictable, as was the powerful goddess who ruled that domain.
So, when the men of the sea - the Pirate Brethren - convened a great Conclave, Davy Jones plotted with them to tear the rule of the seas away from Calypso. With his help, the Brethren tricked the goddess and imprisoned her into the body of a mortal woman.
Soon Davy Jones' grief and guilt at what he had done became so great, he ripped his own heart - a heart that had betrayed him - right out of his chest, and locked it away. He then returned to the seven seas; only now sailors everywhere would fear him to the death, for Davy Jones had turned fierce and cruel, with an insatiable taste for all things brutal.
But then an ambitious mortal, who himself wished to rule the seas, came into possession of the hidden beating heart of Davy Jones. And this mortal knew that he could use that heart to make Davy Jones do his bidding.
Soon an ancient and horrible creature of the darkest deep - known as the Kraken - appeared upon those seas. And this terrible beast brought the master of the Flying Dutchman ever more souls onto his cursed ship, dead sailors forever impressed into servitude.
Now those Pirate Lords grew ever more fearful. But when they convened again, they only argued and fought among themselves, so afraid were they of Calypso's anger at their treachery.
But one of the brethren did not wait for agreement. Tricked by the goddess herself, he took all the tokens of their betrayal, the powerful items that had imprisoned Calypso...and he then undid the spell that bound her to mortal flesh. Now the goddess was free - and her wrath indeed became horrible to behold, and even worse to experience.
The enraged goddess Calypso gathered the waters of the ocean around herself in a giant whirlpool - a massive maelstrom - and a battle raged at the center of it. And it was in that very battle that Davy Jones' heart was pierced and he died, finally free for all eternity.
With his death, Davy Jones was welcomed back into the dark embrace of the seas; for Calypso in her own way still loved him. And his ship, the Flying Dutchman, received a new captain, and all was as it was meant to be.[1]
Behind the scenes[]
- "...and the song 'Hoist the Colors,' sung at the beginning and Keira sings it and it's referenced in a couple of ways, every one of the verses tells the story of Davy Jones and Calypso. It starts with 'the king and his men stole the queen from her bed'..."
- ―Ted Elliott
- The name "Story of Davy Jones and Calypso" came from the At World's End video game.[1] It was also referred to as such in an interview with screenwriters Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio.[2]
- Unlike the At World's End video game, some details regarding parts of this story was not shown in the film. Chief among them, neither the fate of Davy Jones and Calypso, nor the belief that the task aboard the Flying Dutchman would be complete if there was a "love that was true", was revealed.
- Writer Terry Rossio posted on Wordplay forums that after ten years Will Turner was able to leave the Flying Dutchman, as Elizabeth had remained faithful to him. He also stated that this was why Jones could not escape, as Calypso had abandoned him.[3][4] However, a leaflet inside the At World's End DVD said that Will was bound to the Flying Dutchman for all eternity.[5] The fifth film in the series, Dead Men Tell No Tales, written by Jeff Nathanson, confirmed that Will was cursed to sail the seas as captain of the Dutchman forever. Rossio later said he was not involved in the decision to disregard his explanation.[6]
Appearances[]
- Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (Indirect mention only)
- Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
- Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (video game) (First appearance) (PS3 version)
- Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (junior novelization)
- Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End: The Movie Storybook
- Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (Penguin Readers)
Sources[]
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (video game)
- ↑ Box Office Mojo: Interview: Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio on 'At World's End'
- ↑ Wordplay Forums: Pretty close ..., posted by Terry Rossio (May 23, 2007)
- ↑ Terry Rossio's opinion on Will's final fate (May 31, 2008)
- ↑ Pirates Secrets Revealed: Top questions moviegoers had about Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
- ↑ 2020 Interview with Terry Rossio
