In the novel, Captain Jonsen is eventually hanged for his crimes. Three of the most damning choices Captain Jonsen makes that lead him to this ultimate destiny are as follows:
1) Propositioning Emily, which leads to a negative influence on Margaret.
In a drunken state one evening, Captain Jonsen makes sexual overtures to Emily. Frightened by his mysterious attentions, Emily responds by biting down hard on the captain's thumb. Although the incident is a difficult introduction...
In the novel, Captain Jonsen is eventually hanged for his crimes. Three of the most damning choices Captain Jonsen makes that lead him to this ultimate destiny are as follows:
1) Propositioning Emily, which leads to a negative influence on Margaret.
In a drunken state one evening, Captain Jonsen makes sexual overtures to Emily. Frightened by his mysterious attentions, Emily responds by biting down hard on the captain's thumb. Although the incident is a difficult introduction to adult sexuality for Emily, Margaret appears to be the one most negatively affected. Immediately after the incident, Margaret begins to follow the pirates around, especially Otto. She then moves into the captain's cabin. The implication is that Margaret is now sexually involved with one or more of the pirates. This new development documents the beginning of Margaret's descent into madness. Captain Jonsen's behavior is responsible for both Emily and Margaret's developing psychosis and emotional trauma.
2) Leaving Emily in his cabin with the Dutch captain.
After Emily's leg injury, Captain Jonsen lets her sleep in his bunk in the cabin. However, the cabin is also the place he imprisons the Dutch captain of a steamer the pirates have commandeered. While everyone (the rest of the children and the pirates) boards the Dutch steamer to watch a fight between a lion and a tiger, Emily is left alone to watch the Dutch captain.
Presently, the Dutch captain tries to break free from his bonds. Desperate to escape from what she believes is a dangerous situation, Emily reaches for a knife and frantically stabs the Dutch captain. She wounds him terribly, and he eventually dies from his injuries. Margaret, who happens to come upon the aftermath of the stabbing incident, is blamed for the Dutch captain's murder. She is shunned by the pirates based on their ill-conceived code of honor and is eventually thrown overboard. Margaret survives and rejoins the children.
However, these new developments continue to erode Margaret's sanity. Meanwhile, Emily copes by telling herself stories and singing strange, tuneless songs. The other children also begin exhibiting wildly uncharacteristic behaviors.
3) Championing the falsehood that he and his pirates are the children's saviors and, with Otto's help, manipulating the children into corroborating this false story.
This is probably the worst of Captain Jonsen actions. In the end, it is Emily's hysterical, almost incoherent testimony in court that seals Captain Jonsen's fate. He is sentenced to be hanged for his physical and emotional abuse of the children.
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