# Ben Gunn — Treasure Island character guide

> Ben Gunn in Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Ben, Benjamin Gunn, Gunn

**First appearance:** 0020-xv-the-man-of-the-island

## Who they are

A marooned ex-pirate, half-starved and half-cunning, who trades his secrets only for a gentleman's word of honor.

## Relationships

### [Long John Silver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/characters/long_john_silver)

_rivalry_

Ben Gunn, a marooned former pirate, fears and resents Silver for abandoning him on the island.

### [Long John Silver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/characters/long_john_silver)

_rivalry_

Ben Gunn, a marooned former pirate, fears and resents Silver for abandoning him on the island.

### [Long John Silver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/characters/long_john_silver)

_rivalry_

Ben Gunn, a marooned former pirate, fears and resents Silver for abandoning him on the island.

## In the story

### [Part III: My Shore Adventure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/chapters/part-iii-my-shore-adventure)

A marooned sailor who has been alone on the island for three years and seeks passage home.

### [The Man of the Island](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/chapters/xv-the-man-of-the-island)

Marooned for three years, Ben Gunn reveals his knowledge of Flint's treasure and his desire for Christian diet and a passage home. He agrees to help Jim's party.

### [Narrative Resumed by Jim Hawkins—The Garrison in the Stockade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/chapters/xix-narrative-resumed-by-jim-hawkins-the-garrison-in-the-stockade)

Meets Jim in the woods, gives instructions for future contact, and reveals his knowledge of the island and Flint's stockade.

### [Part V: My Sea Adventure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/chapters/part-v-my-sea-adventure)

The marooned sailor who has been living on the island and whose earlier actions influence Jim's adventure.

### [The Ebb-Tide Runs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/chapters/xxiii-the-ebb-tide-runs)

Mentioned as having admitted the coracle was 'queer to handle till you knew her way.'

### [Pieces of Eight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/chapters/xxvii-pieces-of-eight)

Jim recalls encountering Ben Gunn earlier and sees a fire he assumes is Ben's cooking fire.

### [Part VI: Captain Silver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/chapters/part-vi-captain-silver)

Ben Gunn reveals that he had already moved the treasure from the pit, leading to the pirates' downfall.

### [The Treasure-Hunt—The Voice Among the Trees](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/chapters/xxxii-the-treasure-hunt-the-voice-among-the-trees)

Implied to be the source of the mysterious voice, though not physically present; his name restores the pirates' courage.

### [The Fall of a Chieftain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-fall-of-a-chieftain)

Ben Gunn is revealed as the one who found and moved the treasure to his cave. He participates in the ambush and is embarrassed by Silver's acknowledgment.

### [And Last](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/chapters/xxxiv-and-last)

Gleeful at abandoning the pirates, later confesses to helping Silver escape, and ends up as a lodge keeper in England.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/characters/ben_gunn
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/treasure_island_se/characters