to turn soft

[ladorada]

When somebody 'turns soft', does it mean he lost his mind?

I encountered this expression in Treasure Island by R.L.Stevenson, at the end of chapter 28. Here is the fragment:

...I'm on squire's side now. I know you've got that ship safe somewheres. How you done it, I don't know, but safe it is. I guess Hands and O'Brien turned soft. I never much believed in neither of them...

[Quizmonster]

One meaning of 'turn soft' is 'become peaceful' or 'become unwilling to use violence'. The idea here is that the two characters, Hands and O'Brien - unexpectedly, perhaps - did not put up any opposition to the taking of the ship.

[Clanad]

In this context, it has more to do with the courage (actually, the lack of it) of Hands and O'Brien. Long John Silver is striking a bargain with Hawkins after the other pirates have gone to the Forecastle for debate... Silver says "..."Aye, by gum, I do!" he answered. "Ship gone, neck gone --that's the size of it. Once I looked into that bay, Jim Hawkins, and seen no schooner--well, I'm tough, but I gave out. As for that lot and their council, mark me, they're outright fools and cowards. I'll save your life--if so be as I can--from them. But, see here, Jim--tit for tat--you save Long John from swinging."

Then he recounts the loss of the schooner (Hispaniola) that he believes Jim has hidden away. Silver believes it was lost because Hands, O'Brien and others didn't defend it.

Curiously, in the next chapter we see Long John dressing down the others after receiving a black spot and asking what they had made the death signifying black spot of "... "Well, you've about fixed it now, among you," continued Silver. "You'll all swing now, I reckon. What soft- headed lubber had a Bible?"

In this context, he does infer simple mindedness or lunacy...

[Clanad]

Aha! We meet yet again in the midst of similar yet concurrent postings, Q...

When do the epicurious sojurns to La France' begin?

[Quizmonster]

May 22nd sees our first Fast-Cat sailing, C. Can't wait!

[crokepark]

Robert Louis Stevenson. Treasure Island

I have found 7 summaries for you to look at, via the link below.

These links will give you a summary of the book, character analysis, plot and much more, so that you will be able to answer literary questions.

http://thebestnotes.com/booknotes/Treasure_Isl and/Treasure_Island01.html

http://www.freebooknotes.com/book.php3?id=415

http://www.antistudy.com/search.php?title=trea sure+island

During his lonely adventurous pursuit on the island, Jim gets a first hand glimpse of death and danger. He also meets the only human inhabitant of Treasure Island, Ben Gunn, an Englishman marooned by his fellow sailors three years ago. The narrative is continued by the doctor at this stage, Jim being stranded on the island with Ben Gunn gives completeness to the overall plot. He writes about the stockade, their abandoning of the ship after filling the stockade with necessary provisions by making several trips on a boat from the Hispaniola to land and later on abandoning the same boat after their first attack. More�..

http://www.pinkmonkey.com/booknotes/monkeynote s/pmTreasure06.asp

Good luck.

Kevin, Liverpool, England.