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Karla Delgado

Dr. Martinez

ENGL 1301. 116

05 December 2023

Pirates View on Masculinity and Feminity

History has a lot of hidden portraits with all its background and famous characters. When

the past inspires present-day producers, they tend to change the stories from these infamous

historical characters. The article “ ‘The Sea Will Make a Man of Him?’ Hypervirility,

Effeminacy, and the Figure of the Queer Pirate in the Popular Imagination from the Early

Eighteenth-Century to Hollywood.” is a perfect portrayal of how producers change the story of

pirates and how they are portrayed; this is seen as the author uses ethos and logos to show the

differences and how their actions are seen more effiminated than manly. This article will show

the different views on how pirates used to be seen back then, while the image of pirates is seen in

today’s movie perspective. Although the journal brings many stories, the focus will be on

specific historical symbols and an effect that presents hypervirility and effeminacy.

Pirates back in the eighteen hundreds used to be seen as manly leaking of testosterone;

this is because back then, they had a saying, “Take them to sea to make him a man.” (Karremann

2). The article raises many questions regarding whether taking them to sea was effective since

many of the men taken are seen as manly. Still, to the contrary, the actions and vestments of the

said pirates make them seem more woman-like. The author of this article will explain with the

help of diaries and stories about pirates in the past and compare their manly actions that pass a

“threshold effect,” making them unmanly (Karremann 5). Throughout this journal, the

explanation of pirates and how they are viewed.

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The Journal uses ethos to show reliable information because they use authentic

accreditation as the people are credible, and their backgrounds share their certifications in

specific themes. The author uses ethos as a form of diaries and historical tales to show the

readers how the symbol of pirates used to have extent personalities that created mixed-gender

questionaries. Throughout the journal, the author expresses that since the stories are historical,

we cannot know precisely how pirates lived back then, but they try to recover most evidence

(Karremann 3). Moreover, the author uses the different characters of pirates to show how they

show the figure changes perspective to femininity; for example, Capitan Teach Black-beard have

primary roles as they both show different areas of masculinity to femininity (Karremann 6). The

explanation above shows that the author uses ethos clearly as the authors are credible since they

wrote their lives in journals while also leaving proof that they expressed themselves; this creates

credibility for the audience. Moreover, one thing to notice about Blackbeard is his extravagant

beard, which creates his whole masculine personality; this is seen and compared to a military

wig, although the author brings the example of the “threshold” that is created to an extent as the

wig or bear that can become the opposite and be seen as effeminate.

Likewise, the author uses Logos to explain the differences between the symbols of

pirates; it is usually used as data and examples that make the audience believe that their samples

are credible, and they use it for their advantage. The author uses logos effectively by applying

the pivotal term “threshold effect” to their argument, which helps the audience better understand

the author's main argument of the symbol of pirates by crossing gender roles. This term is

significant since it is from research that the author will use; logos here is visible because the

author uses credible research to explain their claims. For instance, Karremann uses this term to

explain how pirates pass a point of becoming the author explains, “By taking the insignia of a
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traditional male gender identity to excess, the hypervirile pirate crosses a threshold of manliness

and becomes visible as effeminate.” (5). This evidence shows how this is more of a trend that

pirates become more feminine as they try to become more masculine and backfires to show more

of their counterparts. The use of logos here is significant since it creates an idea of how the

author uses research to explain the difference between how pirates show both sides and make a

diverse image.

On the other hand, pathos is about expressing feelings; authors can use this technique to

create ideologies and feelings to try to convince their audience. This journal does not use pathos

since the authors do not want to show an opinion about how the sexualities of pirates can make a

different view on their specific sexuality. The author states, “I would like to keep the question of

the pirate’s sexuality unresolved and focus rather on the microstructures of this continuum of

gender styles, in our case, the ways the pirate's fenders can oscillate between hypervirility and

effeminacy.” (6) Since we do not get enough evidence of the pirates back then, their view on this

can affect how they are seen; this can be pivotal since the author uses ethos and logos more

professionally. Using these types of credibility makes the journal more liable.

The article opens many options on how pirates are seen as breaking roles, and the author

brings many examples to show the conversion between masculine and feminine and how they are

seen in the movies today. The author uses ethos to create a conscience by using their credentials

and backgrounds, for example, Capitan Tech and how he is viewed with his extravagant features.

The author also uses logos as they explain that the “threshold effect” is essential. It describes

how pirates show their diversity by passing an extent. The use of logos was not present in this

journal, as the author found it inappropriate. The author did an excellent job of maintaining and

convincing the audience that the view on the pirates creates a mindset about their lives. In
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conclusion, this article shows good examples of how the world can be seen and how gender roles

can be challenged.
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Works Cited

Karremann, Isabel. “ ‘The Sea Will Make a Man of Him?’ Hypervirility, Effeminacy, and

the Figure of the Queer Pirate in the Popular Imagination from the Early Eighteenth-

Century to Hollywood.” Gender Forum, no. 32, 2011. ProQuest,

https://go.openathens.net/redirector/tamiu.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-

journals/sea-will-make-man-him-hypervirility-effeminacy/docview/887257327/se-2.

Accessed 27 October 2023.