work, many of the pirate tales, as in other fictional works, derive fromactual occurrences. While Conrads crew is toasting spirts and carousing about, he remainscomposed. Neer for his lip the purplng cup they fill, That goblet passes him untasted still . . .But while he shuns the grosser joys of sense, His mind seems nourished by that abstinence(Byron 152). Conrad does not overindulge and does not become unruly. Conrad does not kill unnecessarily and when forced to kill, it is in defense. Conrad does not ravage women. He ismarried but loves only one. Jean Lafitte is a factual example of civility. Lafitte was a pirate masked in gentlemansclothing. It is said, Lafitte hobb-knobbed with high society. The majority of the descriptions ofLafitte portray him as well dressed, well mannered and well spoken, as a gentleman should be. Lafitte was also a patriot playing a significant role in the Battle of New Orleans, in which hereceived honors. Democracy/Justice among the pirates is another unlikely topic to ponder when thinking ofpirates. How can outlaws be democratic or just? The pirates bluntly disregarded the law whenraiding and plundering. However, within the pirate community, was a democratic structure. Thecommunity had its own way of government and enforcing justice. Life amongst the pirates in the17th and 18th centuries was more democratic than those of most countries. EsquemelingsBuccaneers of America, gives an account of pirate democracy. Each ship had a code they livedby. The crew aboard a pirate vessel selected their captains by casting votes. Although the captainis an elected position, the captain of the vessel was in complete control and was to be obeyed andrespected. However, if a captain loses the favor of his crew, mutiny occurs and he is voted out.The replacement captain is then voted in usually coming from within crew. The quartermaster isthe chief authority save in battle. He acts as ships magistrate f...
