Jack Sparrow’s compass is one of the most important items in thePirates of the Caribbeanfranchise. The compass is understood to be one of Jack’s most prized possessions from the very beginning ofPirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. However,Jack is nothing if not a reckless pirate, and this leads the compass to be held by many characters throughout thePirates of the Caribbeanfranchise, including Elizabeth Swann, Will Turner, and Cutler Beckett. In total, the compass is held by 12 people throughoutall fivePirates of the Caribbeanmovies.
Jack Sparrow’s compass appears to be broken at first, since the needle never points north, but it is eventually revealed that it actually possesses a rather fantastical power, one that makes it a highly-coveted treasure. In fact, its abilities offer insight into many different characters' mindsetsthroughout thePirates of the Caribbeanseries. However, as the compass gets passed from character to character in everyPirates of the Caribbeanmovie, understanding exactly how the compass works gets much more complex and confusing than it should be.
Jack’s Compass Is Supposed To Point To The Thing The Holder Wants Most In The World
Jack Sparrow Follows The Compass In The Curse Of The Black Pearl
The main rule for how Jack Sparrow’s compass works, the fact that it is supposed to lead the holder to the thing they want most in the world, is not explored a lot in thefirstPirates of the Caribbeanmovie. The compass does not play a huge role in the events ofThe Curse of the Black Pearl, especially when compared to how it is utilized in the second and thirdPiratesfilms. However, the compass is still used by Jack Sparrow inThe Curse of the Black Pearland is always a point of curiosity for the characters he’s traveling with.
The compass is much more mysterious in the firstPirates of the Caribbeanmovie.
While Will Turner travels with Jack in pursuit of Captain Barbossa and the other cursed pirates who kidnapped Elizabeth, he asks Jack why he keeps using the compass if it doesn’t work. As mentioned, the compass doesn’t point north and appears to be broken, but throughout the movie, it always manages to lead its holder to their desired destination. It adds a layer of mystery to the device, but one that’s ultimately insignificant to the film itself, as it’s simply a tool that the characters use to accomplish their goal.
The compass becomes a much bigger plot device in the second and thirdPiratesfilms,Dead Man’s ChestandAt World’s End. In the secondPirates of the Caribbeanmovie, Jack wanted to use the compass to find the titular Dead Man’s Chest, which was rumored to contain the heart of Davy Jones. However,he struggles with the compass throughout this movie since he doesn’t know what he truly wants. This is a creative way for the writers of thePirates of the Caribbeanmovies to examine the mindset and psyche of Jack Sparrow.
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In contrast, Lord Cutler Beckett, a senior officer in the East India Trading Company, knows exactly what he wants:to get rid of all piracy in the world. Therefore, inPirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Beckett also wanted to use the power of the compass to find the heart of Davy Jones. Since legend stated that whoever obtained Davy Jones' heart would control the Flying Dutchmen, its crew, the Kraken beast, and basically the entire ocean, this was the perfect opportunity for him to achieve his goal of getting rid of all pirates.
Beckett enlists Will to retrieve the compass from Jack, in exchange for freedom for him and Elizabeth. This wild goose chase for the compass, and in extent, for the heart of Davy Jones, leads many to hold the compass throughout the course ofDead Man’s ChestandAt World’s End. When Jack, Will, Elizabeth, and other characters hold the compass, new information is revealed about their characters, which makes thePirates of the Caribbeanseries that much more interesting. For example,when Elizabeth holds the compass, it points at Jack. While it is joked that she’s in love with Jack, Elizabeth really just wants to do something selfish, a trait which is easily associated with Jack.
The fifth and most recent film in the franchise,Dead Men Tell No Talesretconned the compass' origins, as well as other aspects of the compass. Prior toDead Men Tell No Tales,it was always believed that Jack bartered with Tia Dalma for the compass. Since Dalma is actually the goddess Calypso bound in human form, her having a supernatural compass makes sense.
However, in a flashback at the start ofDead Men Tell No Tales,Jack is given the compass by a dying Captain Morgan, whom he worked for as a teenager. This new plot point understandably confused many fans of the franchise. Explaining this plot thread is easy enough, though, since it’s possible that Jack simply let Captain Morgan hold onto the compass after obtaining it from Dalma.
A down on his luck Jack traded his compass for a bottle of rum inDead Men Tell No Tales…
However, after a down on his luck Jack traded his compass for a bottle of rum inDead Men Tell No Tales, the undead ghost Salazar, one of the most fearsomevillains in thePirates of the Caribbeanfranchise, was freed from the Devil’s Triangle and was able to seek revenge against Jack. This plot point added another layer to the compass that makes the object even more complicated, and continues to confuse fans ofPirates of the Caribbeanto this day.
Pirates of the Caribbean
A series of fantasy swashbuckler films produced by Disney, featuring the adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow. Known for its supernatural elements, high-seas action, and iconic characters, the franchise has become a cultural phenomenon and was loosely based on the Disney theme park ride of the same name.
