Our Flag Means Death - Edward Teach / Blackbeard & Masculinity
Max
So this post was supposed to be a review of my rewatch of season one, but it turned into a short character analysis of Edward Teach, aka Blackbeard, because I didn’t realize how complex of a character he was during my initial watch of this season over a year ago.
The Duality
Max
Blackbeard is a fascinating character. On the outside, he appears to be a badass. Dressed in black leather, with tattoos, and long hair, he seems like a vicious killer who fears nothing. But he's not. He has only killed one person in his life: his father.
An Old Friend
Max
But during Episode Seven, Blackbeard becomes different around his friend Calico Jack. They drink and act like assholes, and the alcohol washes away all of the traits Stede loves about Ed. He needs to prove his manhood and masculinity to the old friend because he fears the friend will see through his tough persona and assume he has gone soft.
A Bittersweet Ending
Max
At the end of season one, when Blackbeard believes he was abandoned by Stede right after they finally admitted their feelings for each other and kissed, he starts to express his feelings of rejection healthily. He cries, dresses differently, and isolates himself. All was going well (?) until Izzy hands essentially questioned his manhood.
Max
He tells him that he is being Ed and not Blackbeard. His boyfriend is gone, and now he has gone soft. What happened to the man he was so proud to work for? The man that everyone fears? He was wrapped in silk, encouraging the sharing of feelings, staring out the window, and mourning the "loss" of Stede.
Blackbeard snaps. He claims that he is still a ruthless and bloodthirsty pirate, and to prove it, he cuts off one of Izzy's toes and feeds it to him 🤮. And Izzy is weirdly into it......
He then proceeds to rid the ship of anything that reminds him of Stede and trades in the silk for his signature leather.
But he keeps the lighthouse painting.
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