| Hector Barbossa | |
|---|---|
| Pirates of the Caribbean character | |
 Geoffrey Rush as Hector Barbossa [a] | |
| First appearance | Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) |
| Portrayed by | Geoffrey Rush |
| Voiced by | Brian George Richard McGonagle |
| In-universe information | |
| Occupation | PirateCaptain Pirate Lord of the Caspian Sea Formerly: First Mate Privateer |
| Family | Carina Smyth (daughter) |
| Nationality | West English |
CaptainHector Barbossa is a fictional character of thePirates of the Caribbean franchise, depicted byGeoffrey Rush and appearing in all five films in the series. Barbossa debuted inThe Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) as the captain of theBlack Pearl and a cursedundeadskeleton, where he dies at the end of the film. However, the character is revealed to have been resurrected byTia Dalma by the end ofDead Man's Chest, and has since appeared in ananti-heroic role.
Captain Barbossa was also one of the ninePirate Lords inAt World's End (2007), aprivateer in service toKing George II and theBritish Navy while also seeking revenge againstBlackbeard inOn Stranger Tides (2011), as well as a rich rogue and influential leader of a prosperous pirate empire and fleet inDead Men Tell No Tales (2017).
Throughout the series, Barbossa has been conceptualized as a "darktrickster" and the evil counterpart ofCaptain Jack Sparrow.[1] InThe Curse of the Black Pearl, it was revealed he was once the first mate of Jack, before he eventually betrayed him and led a mutiny to take the Black Pearl, becoming Jack's sworn enemy. However, sinceAt World's End, he and Jack have let go of their grudge and became allies.
Ever since his appearance, Barbossa has received a highly positive reception by critics, with praise towards Rush's performance and his interesting rivalry and friendship with Jack.
Originally, Rush was second choice for the role behindRobert De Niro, who turned it down as he expected the film to flop like previouspirate films did;[2] he regretted this decision later, and accepted the role of Captain Shakespeare in the movieStardust.[3] While in the first film, Barbossa was conceptualized as a villain, as a "dark trickster" and evil counterpart to Jack Sparrow,[4] Rush felt that he was playing the unsung hero of the film, who only dreamed about lifting the curse and living as a rich rogue with his prized pirate bride.[5]Johnny Depp proposed the character's first name "Hector" on set of the first film, although it is never mentioned in the film, but rather only in theDVD commentary.[6] WritersTed Elliott andTerry Rossio originally thought it was fan-made when they saw it on the Internet, and decided to use it nonetheless.[7][8] Actor Geoffrey Rush has expressed fondness with the potential and development of his character, who evolved throughout the series and ventured into different terrains every film, which kept him challenged as an actor: while he was only a classical evil villain in the first film, he turned into a pirate politician, hosting a "G 20 summit of pirate lords", and in the fourth films has turned legitimate and works for the king.[9] As for the fifth installment, Rush has referred to Barbossa as a "corporate pirate" who has amassed immense influence and wealth for his fleet and brags of his showcased riches, although it is revealed in the fifth film that part of the reason Barbossa turned to piracy was the difficult feelings he had to live with after giving up his daughter for adoption.[10] Also, he commented on the selfless sacrifice Barbossa makes to save his daughter, referring to it as a nice and final conclusion to the character's journey of redemption. Due to this, Rush stated that he cannot see himself portraying the character in a potential sequel again, with the exception of a short cameo as a ghost "annoying Jack Sparrow with his wisdom."[11] Barbossa's name is based on Ottoman admiralHayreddin Barbarossa.[12]
Information concerning Barbossa's childhood and youth stem from actorGeoffrey Rush, who devised a backstory for the character in order to portray him more convincingly. According to Rush, Barbossa was born to an impoverishedPortuguese noblewoman by an unknown father and hailed fromLisbon inPortugal[citation needed], thoughJack Sparrow surmises aCornish origin based upon hisaccent inThe Price of Freedom.[13] Longing to escape a life of poverty, he ran away from home aged 13 to pursue life as a sailor. At first, Barbossa wanted to be an honest sailor with themerchant marine, but seeing the grandeur of the captains' cabins on the ships on which he served, he realized that a man from his station could never afford a lifestyle like that whilst remaining an honest sailor, choosing a life of piracy instead.[14]
Nothing is known about his early exploits as a pirate prior toThe Price of Freedom. In the novel, Barbossa, in his early 40s, is the captain of the pirateschoonerCobra. After plundering a French ivorybarque, his ship is attacked and sunk by a crew of rogue pirates, and he is narrowly saved from drowning by his crew membersPintel and Ragetti. After managing to reachTortuga, thethen-Pirate Lord of the Caribbean brings them toShipwreck Cove to report the incident to an assembly of pirates.[15] A few months later, Jack Sparrow finds out that the attacker is Barbossa's old friend Boris Palachnik, the Pirate Lord of the Caspian Sea. The attackers are brought before a pirate court that summonsDavy Jones, who confirms Palachnik's guilt. Visiting Palachnik in prison, Barbossa is unknowingly granted the title of Pirate Lord of the Caspian Sea, as Palachnik gives him his Piece of Eight and his ship. However, before Barbossa can claim his new vessel, the rogue pirates break out of prison and escape on his ship. After that, he is intent to joinCaptain Teague's hunting party and has his Piece of Eight carved into awooden eye for his crew mate Ragetti.[16]
At some point, after Jack Sparrow attains theBlack Pearl, Hector Barbossa joins him as hisfirst mate. The original backstory was that Jack recruited Barbossa and his cronies, including Pintel and Ragetti, prior to the voyage to Isla de Muerta.[4] However, Hector Barbossa was first mate in the quest for the Shadow Gold in theLegends of the Brethren Court book series, whereTia Dalma tasks them with securing seven vials of shadow gold to stop the evilShadow Lord from gaining total control over the seas by destroying the Brethren Court with his Shadow Army. Over the course of the novels, they are able to collect all vials shattered across the world by allying with or fighting against the other Pirate Lords. They are able to defeat the Shadow Lord with the combined efforts of all Pirate Lords, after which Jack wants to sail for Tortuga to recruit a new crew. Barbossa offers him to handle that in his stead, implying that he recruited men with the intent tomutiny against his captain.[17]
Ten years before the events ofThe Curse of the Black Pearl, Barbossa was first mate aboard theBlack Pearl prior to the mutiny against Jack Sparrow, having recruited a crew at Tortuga, notablyPintel and Ragetti. Sparrow told Barbossa and the rest of the crew about the curse, though nobody believed thisghost story. Captain and crew agreed to equal shares of the treasure, but devious first mate Barbossa persuaded Jack that equal shares included knowing the treasure's location. Jack complied, and soon after Barbossa led a mutiny and marooned Jack on an island with nothing but a pistol containing one shot. Jack hates Barbossa for having violated the code. Barbossa's crew finds the treasure, take every bit of the gold, including Barbossa's monkey Jack, though at that point had no name. Then as they go out partying, carousing, they discover that they were cursed. Barbossa's crew learned how to undo the curse, most likely by going back to read the Aztec writing on the chest, by learning that they needed to put all the gold back. Bootstrap Bill had been feeling guilty because of what they did to Jack and sent one piece of the gold to Will in England, he never wanted the pirates to be able to lift the curse. Barbossa got ticked off and strapped Bootstrap Bill to a cannon, and dropped him into the crushing depths of Davy Jones' Locker. However, they find out that all the pirates had to get all the gold back and add their blood to the chest.[4]
Captain Hector Barbossa, now only known as Barbossa, first appears inThe Curse of the Black Pearl (2003).[18]
Ten years before the events ofThe Curse of the Black Pearl, Barbossa led a mutiny against Jack Sparrow and marooned him on an uncharted island. Arriving at the treasure ofIsla de Muerta, 882 identical pieces ofAztecgold, they claim it and spend it all. They realize too late that the gold was cursed, dooming the crew to become undead skeletons. Shortly after the mutiny, Barbossa hasBootstrap Bill Turner thrown overboard, attaching a cannon to his foot. The crew spend the next years retrieving the Aztec gold and amassing treasure, unable to find the last piece of gold, as Bootstrap Bill had sent it to his sonWill Turner. Eight years prior to the events of the film, Barbossa sailed theBlack Pearl at the crossing of England, where Will metElizabeth Swann, who took Will's medallion.[4]
WhenElizabeth Swann falls into the sea wearing Will's medallion, it alerts the cursed pirates to its location. Barbossa hasPort Royal attacked and Elizabeth captured, who poses as "Elizabeth Turner". Mistaking her for Bootstrap Bill's child, he takes her to the Isla de Muerta to use her blood in a ritual to break the curse, which fails. Will reveals himself as Bootstrap's son and offers Barbossa his blood in exchange for Elizabeth's safety. Barbossa has Elizabeth and Jack marooned on exactly the same uncharted island where he marooned Jack years earlier. Before Barbossa can perform the ritual, Jack Sparrow arrives to the island on board aRoyal Navy ship and confronts Barbossa. A fight ensues between Barbossa and Jack. As Will breaks the curse, Barbossa is shot to death by his old captain.[18]
InDead Man's Chest, Captain Barbossa's undead monkey "Jack" appeared aboard theBlack Pearl before Jack Sparrow gave the monkey to thevoodoo mysticTia Dalma as payment. While the crew of theBlack Pearl visits Tia Dalma's shack, Sparrow's crew sees Barbossa's corpse lying there, with only his boots visible. However, the closing scene of the film shows that Tia Dalma brought Barbossa back from the dead, with the resurrected captain biting an apple.[19] It is later revealed inAt World's End that Tia Dalma is actually thesea goddessCalypso in human form, Barbossa was a Pirate Lord of the Brethren Court, and they both struck a bargain. In return for his resurrection, Barbossa agreed to summon a meeting of the Brethren so they could release the goddess from her human bonds. However, because Jack Sparrow was also a Pirate Lord, they had to go rescue him atDavy Jones' Locker,[20] where Sparrow was taken byDavy Jones' leviathan, theKraken.[19]
At World's End begins with Barbossa joining forces with Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann, and theBlack Pearl crew in their attempt to rescue Jack from the Locker and rally the nine Pirate Lords of the Brethren Court against Lord Cutler Beckett of theEast India Trading Company. As Barbossa negotiates with Pirate Lord Sao Feng, who possesses thenavigational charts that serve as a map to the Locker, they are interrupted by an ambush by the EITC soldiers. Having acquired Sao Feng's map, as well as a ship and crew, Barbossa helps the crew find Jack, who first calls him "Hector" upon their reunion. After a series of betrayals and alliances, they reach Shipwreck Cove, where Barbossa convenes the meeting of the Pirate Lords. Barbossa proposes to free Calypso, which leads to a fight between the parties, and Elizabeth Swann is elected the new Pirate King. As negotiations fail and war is declared, Barbossa frees Calypso with the nine Pieces of Eight. The wrathful sea goddess creates amaelstrom, in which theBlack Pearl battles theFlying Dutchman, and Barbossa officiated the marriage of Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann in the fight as captain. Barbossa witnessed Will becoming the new captain of theDutchman upon Davy Jones's death and East India Trading Company's defeat and retreat from the Brethren Court's victory in battle. Later, Hector Barbossa steals theBlack Pearl from Jack Sparrow once again and sails away, planning to use Sao Feng's map to find theFountain of Youth. However, Jack has stolen the map from him in anticipation.[20]
Sometime after these events Hector Barbossa fathersCarina Smyth and leaves her in an orphanage after her mother's death.[21] Barbossa also lost theBlack Pearl toEdward "Blackbeard" Teach, who attacked the ship without warning and used the power embedded in the Sword of Triton to turn the ship against his crew. This attack forced Barbossa to escape with his life by cutting off his right leg viaself-dismemberment. Unbeknownst to Barbossa, who believed theBlack Pearl was sunk,[b] Blackbeard magicked thePearl into aship in a bottle along with a collection of conquered ships.[23]
InOn Stranger Tides, set over a decade and seven years after the third filmAt World's End, it is revealed that Hector Barbossa had become aprivateer in service toKing George II. However, having yet to reveal the details on losing theBlack Pearl and his right leg, Barbossa does not reveal his true agenda forrevenge against Blackbeard as a goal since the very night it happened. When first asked by Jack Sparrow, Barbossa only stated that theBlack Pearl was lost and sunk. Barbossa excelled so much at his new station that King George personally tasked him with finding the Fountain of Youth, as captain of HMSProvidence. By this point, Barbossa gained much information and learned at least the basics on Blackbeard. Barbossa knows the name of Blackbeard's shipQueen Anne's Revenge, his obsession to find the Fountain of Youth, and even the importance of Blackbeard's Sword of Triton. Barbossa specifically knew Blackbeard's sword had the power to rule the winds of the ocean, as well as everything associated with the wind, including the ships at sea, their rigging, sails, etc. and that its powers were diminished away from the ship. To replace his missing right leg, Barbossa also started wearing a wooden peg leg with a hidden rum supply. After Jack Sparrow's capture and escape from King George, Barbossa forcesJoshamee Gibbs, now in possession of the map, into assisting him on his quest. When they arrive at White Cap Bay, theProvidence is attacked by mermaids. Making their way through the jungle, Barbossa reaches the ship ofPonce de Leon in search for the two chalices required for the ritual, where he meets Jack Sparrow. The two decide to team up to retrieve the missing chalices from the Spanish camp, where they get captured, and later escape with the chalices. Before retrieving the chalices, Barbossa reveals to Sparrow his true agenda: revenge against Blackbeard for the attack on theBlack Pearl, which Barbossa truly believes to be sunk.[b] Reaching the Fountain, Barbossa uses a sword poisoned using the innards of "poisonous toads and engages Blackbeard in a duel, eventually mortally wounding him. Hector Barbossa claims Blackbeard's ship, crew, and sword as payment for his lost leg and returns to a life of piracy. The crew look on in wonder as Barbossa used Blackbeard's sword to unfurl the sails and fill them with wind, causing theQueen Anne's Revenge to sail forward at full speed and ordered to make way for Tortuga.[23]
InDead Men Tell No Tales, set over 20 years afterAt World's End and about one year afterOn Stranger Tides, Captain Hector Barbossa settled into a growing and prosperous pirate empire, taking possession of theQueen Anne's Revenge as a result of defeating Captain Blackbeard and unaware of the magically shrunkBlack Pearl in a bottle.[b] Barbossa has achieved great success as a pirate and rules the Caribbean with afleet of 10 ships, even having acquired a new golden peg leg. However, after three of his ships are sunk by theSilent Mary, theghostly ship of theundead pirate hunter CapitánArmando Salazar, whom Jack Sparrow had unintentionally unleashed, Barbossa confronts Salazar and offers to lead him to Jack Sparrow. When Jack escapes to an island, the ghosts discover they cannot step on land, leading an enraged Salazar starts slaughtering Barbossa's crew. Although Barbossa was able to persuade Salazar to send him to fetch Sparrow, he truly intended to double-cross Salazar and enters another uneasy alliance with Sparrow to find theTrident of Poseidon. By this point, Barbossa knows of the current state of theBlack Pearl as a ship in a bottle. Barbossa helps Sparrow release theBlack Pearl from its imprisonment, restoring the ship to its former glory, before taking over as captain and attempts to outrun Salazar. Upon seeing Carina's diary, Hector realizes she is his daughter. However, Hector chooses not to tell Carina of her true parentage in order to allow her to keep her idealized picture of her father, whom she imagines to be anastronomer. When they reach the island where the Trident of Poseidon is located, a fight between theBlack Pearl and theSilent Mary ensues, which later continues on the bottom of the ocean. Barbossa has himself lowered down with the ship's anchor to rescue Jack, Henry, and Carina. When Carina falls, Barbossa catches her, revealing a tattoo of the star constellationCarina, after which Carina realizes he is her father. Barbossa sacrifices his life to protect Carina from an approaching Salazar. Following these events, Carina takes up the last name Barbossa.[21]
According to actor, Geoffrey Rush, he may not appear in any futurePirates of the Caribbean films.[24] However, other interviews imply otherwise, as producer Jerry Bruckheimer said they can bring characters back, and Rush himself didn't seem completely opposed to returning to the series because he said,"[Barbossa] could come back likeHamlet's father, as a ghost. Just to annoy Jack."[25]
And speaking of names, again not sure if this has appeared elsewhere, but reading online, fans started to refer to Barbossa as "Hector". Apparently Johnny and Geoffrey were goofing around and came up with Hector as Barbossa's first name, and it was caught on one of the DVD features. All we knew was that suddenly seemed to be his name, the fans had decided, so we made a point of writing it into AT WORLD'S END. We ran the idea past Johnny and Geoffrey, and they loved it.
Terry Rossio: I definitely feel that Barbossa's first name kind of came about through the Internet. I don't know if it was Johnny [Depp] who dubbed Barbossa's first name Hector but somehow it wound up on the Internet and everyone started calling him Hector. We went ahead and put it in. Ted Elliott: I think in one of the behind-the-scenes [home entertainment features], Geoffrey [Rush] and Johnny [Depp] were joking about Barbossa's first name and Johnny came up with Hector. He became Hector Barbossa.
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