‘Stede is Fearless’
This comment made by Rhys Darby at the con just won’t leave me.
It was something he stated quite emphatically, but then didn’t get the time to follow up properly. It was in response to an audience question about when Stede realises the man in his closet is actually Blackbeard, he isn’t afraid. I think that question is easy to answer because all Stede can ever see is Ed. But Rhys’ response was about the wider characterisation of Stede ‘…you have to remember, Stede is fearless’. It affected me so much I blogged in real-time.
So, Rhys played Stede with that in mind. And it’s an odd thing because Stede is often very, very afraid. Quaking-in-his-boots, crying-his-eyes-out afraid. But being ‘fearless’ isn’t the absence of fear. It’s living your life, your truth, in spite of it.
Here is my non-exhaustive ‘Stede is Fearless’ list:
Stede is fearless when he leaves his dead marriage (despite the circumstances in which he does so)
Stede is fearless when he decides to captain a pirate crew and ship without any previous experience of the ocean
Stede is fearless when he believes he can change the culture of piracy to one of kindness
Stede is fearless when he announces himself ‘The Gentleman Pirate’
Stede is fearless when he meets Ed which is why he cannot see ‘Blackbeard’
Stede is fearless when he learns history’s greatest pirate was going to murder him, and then offers the hand of friendship
Stede is fearless when he duels Izzy - I mean what the actual fuck was Stede thinking here?
Stede is fearless when he takes history’s most brilliant tactician on a treasure hunt with a fake map
Stede is fearless when he stands apart from everyone in his disdain of Calico Jack, and is proven right
Stede is fearless when he takes care of the crew’s emotions over his own broken heart when Ed leaves with CJ
Stede is fearless when he takes responsibility for Nigel’s murder
Stede is fearless when he tells Ed he doesn’t have to sign the Act of Grace to save him
Stede is fearless when he repeatedly asks Ed what the plan is for escape
And yes, Stede is fearless when he realises he cannot go through with the China plan, and returns home to face what he believes is the horror of who he is
He is fearless (eventually) in putting to rights the mess he left behind in Bridgetown
…in returning to find Ed even though he has doubts about his own adequacy
…in rescuing the crew from the Red Flag as Ed lies dead
…in loving Ed back to life
…in following Ed in his banishment
…in finding a way back with the crew for Ed
…in offering Izzy an olive branch and validation
…in respecting Ed’s autonomy in their relationship
…in dealing with Ned Low himself to protect Ed and the crew
…in taking the initiative in consummating his and Ed’s relationship
…in standing up to Zheng
…in offering unconditional love when Ed returns
Is he clumsy, sometimes wrong or misguided? Definitely. Part of Stede’s beauty is his messiness.
But Stede is terrified throughout most of his actions, and bloody does it anyway.
Because Stede is fearless.
