Character Profiles: James Norrington

“This is a beautiful sword. I would expect the man who made it to show the same care and devotion in every aspect of his life.”

For this week’s episode, I’m returning back to the Pirates franchise to highlight an important but often underrated character. Though Jack will always take my number one spot, James sits pretty high on the list.

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James Norrington is a complicated man. Fiercely loyal and dedicated to serving his country, his patriotism is admirable. His dedication is unmatched, and to say his determination is unrelenting is an understatement. No one takes his job more seriously. He has immense pride in his service, working his way up the ladder to Commodore and eventually even making the rank of Admiral.

Despite his unyielding loyalty to the country he loves, if there's one thing he desires more, it's the love of his life, Elizabeth Swann. He's a gentleman, of course, full and proper protocol all the way. But, unbeknownst to him, it's too late for Elizabeth. She already has her sights on another man. She yearns for adventure, someone to help her escape this restrictive life. And, unfortunately for Norrington, he is just another part of that life.

When she is kidnapped by pirates, he does what a military man of his standing does best, tries to formulate the best plan for her rescue. But, much to his chagrin, Will isn't about to wait for a response, enlisting the notorious pirate Jack Sparrow, the thorn in Norrington's side, to help. Soon, they have stolen commandeered his blessed ship on their own mission to rescue Elizabeth. For Norrington, Jack isn't just an adversary, though I’d argue he's more of an annoyance, he represents the scourge of society. Pirates are a menace, a nuisance, something he will fight hard to eradicate.

In the end, however, being the proper gentleman he is, he gracefully concedes to Elizabeth's wish to marry Will, despite what it does to his own heart, and disappears from the scene.

The downward spiral this creates is only apparent when he resurfaces. Ship lost, his career demolished, his heart shattered, he’s unrecognizable. Drunk and in tatters, it's obvious he's trying to drown his sorrows any way he can, landing him in a place he never imagined. And he really gives it a shot for a while, desperately wanting to be a part of her world.

But when it’s clear she still won’t see him, his heart scorned, he decides enough is enough. He could suffer it for her, but without her love, he didn’t want any part of it anymore. So he takes his out, buckling to the demands of his duty.

And things seem to turn around for a while. Sure, working for the crown again isn’t what it used to be, and the new boss is a bit psychotic, but he’s an Admiral. For the first time in a long while he feels fulfilled, restored to his rightful purpose.

That is until she comes back into his life. When he caves once again to management’s wishes, it costs Elizabeth her father’s life. And when he meets her again, he’s beside himself with guilt and grief. It’s her that resurrects his true honor, still seeing the good in him, the noble gentleman she always knew him to be. And it’s this plea he can’t bear. It’s this plea that brings him round to doing what’s right.

Suddenly he realizes that he still loves her and even if he can’t have her in the way he desires, she is still worthy of his protection and support. It’s this selfless choice that costs him his life. But he dies the man he always wanted to be, and it’s this act that endears him to Elizabeth in a way he never could before. Something she will treasure for the rest of her life.

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