- “Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Aye, tales there be a plenty in this cursed place...”
- ―Davy Jones[src]
Davy Jones is a figure from nautical folklore, who appears as a major recurring antagonist in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
History[]
Origins[]
Davy Jones was an avid sailor who fell in-love with the sea-goddess, Calypso. In an act of devotion to Calypso, Davy Jones agreed to become captain of The Flying Dutchman, a ghostly vessel made to ferry the souls of those who die at sea between the land of the living and the dead. The cost of this role was that Davy Jones could only step foot on land for one day every ten years, a day which he and Calypso planned to spend together in mortal form. However, when that one day came, Calypso did not show up and left Davy Jones heartbroken.
In his wrath, Davy Jones taught the pirates of the Brethren Court how to bind her in the human form of Vodun priestess Tia Dalma. To save himself from the pain of having been betrayed by and betraying the woman he loves, he carved out his immortal, still beating heart and placed it within an iron chest which he hid away. Left heartless, Davy Jones abandoned his duties as ferryman to the drowned and instead used his powers to make faustian bargains and enslave sailors, corrupting his purpose and so himself and crew to make them all resemble deep sea monstrosities.
Davy Jones also acquired a great treasure known as the, "Sunken Treasure", a horde of gold from across the oceans stored along the ocean's floor off the coast of the Spanish colony, "Treasure Cove". Through unknown means, Davy Jones also became the master of the Kraken which he would set loose on his debtors to drag them to the depths of Davy Jones' Locker. Over the years, sailors and pirates would use Davy Jones' name as short-hand for a watery grave.
Pirates of the Caribbean[]
During the golden age of piracy, Davy Jones' sunken-treasure became sought after by Captain Jack Sparrow. Sparrow made a base out of Treasure Cove's Voodoo Alley and Fort Snobbish, before recruiting guests to assist him in travelling to the sea's depths from the Caves of Misfortune. Sparrow used his recruits to distract Davy Jones and Jones' first-mate Maccus while Sparrow stole the treasure. Davy Jones and Sparrow engaged in combat before Jack managed to escape by trapping Jones on a sinking ship while making off with some of the gold. Following this, Davy Jones cursed his gold so that it all turned to kelp before Jack could use it.
At some point around the 1720s/1730s, Calypso was freed and released back into her godly form. Davy Jones was presumably killed around this incident, having his heart stabbed and replaced with that of William Turner who would have become the Dutchman's next captain.
Ghost[]
Following his demise, Davy Jones would make various appearances as a ghost. Jones' spirit was notably seen on the cursed isle of Isla Tesoro, making comments on the island's cursed treasure. Jones' ghost was also present on Jackson Island in the Mississippi where the Dead Man's Chest was stored in a grotto, and where there was a shipwreck seemingly created by his lost pet, the Kraken.
Appearances[]
Adventure Isle (Disneyland Paris)[]
There is an underground area called, "Davy Jones' Locker" containing pirate treasure and skeletons.
Barbossa's Bounty[]
A portrait of Davy Jones is hung-up in this restaurant.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad[]
One of the mines which the trains pass through is called, "Dave V. Jones Mine".
Captain Jack's[]
There is a wanted poster for Jones in the decor.[1]
The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow[]
Jones was main-antagonist of this attraction.
Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island[]
Within the Dead Man's Grotto of Jackson Island is the Dead Man's Chest. When guests touch it, Davy Jones will be heard laughing as the heart beats inside. Another part of the island is a shipwreck implied to be made by the Kraken, resembling the cursed areas of the Flying Dutchman and where spirits can be heard.
Pirates of the Caribbean[]
Davy Jones is mentioned by various characters in the attraction, including Redd, Captain X, Barbossa, and Blackbeard. A popular effect was installed in 2006, making Davy Jones appear on a waterfall which boats passed through like a gateway, though this was removed in the American parks in favour of a close-up mirror illusion in Disneyland and no replacement in the Magic Kingdom; while remaining in Disneyland Paris. Davy Jones' voice can be heard towards the end of the attraction.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure[]
Davy Jones is the main-antagonist of this attraction, with Jack Sparrow attempting to steal his sunken treasure. Davy Jones' wanted poster and empty Dead Man's Chest containing his heart appear in the queue.[2]
Trader Sam's[]
One of Davy Jones and Calypso's lockets appears in Trader Sam's possession within Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar. Davy Jones' Locker is also mentioned in the description for the Shipwreck on the Rocks drink.
Trivia[]
- The folklore version of the Flying Dutchman appears in a portrait in the Haunted Mansion, being turned into a ghost-ship as lightning strikes. Davy Jones' version of The Flying Dutchman is featured in a portrait in Phantom Manor, being set aflame.
Gallery[]
