Weatherby Swann
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Name: | Weatherby Swann |
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| Job: | Governor |
| Portrayed by: | Jonathan Pryce |
Governor Weatherby Swann is the fictional governor of the Caribbean town of Port Royal in Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean movies: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), Dead Man's Chest (2006), and At World's End. Swann is the father of the movies' heroine Elizabeth Swann, played by Keira Knightley. In contrast to his strong-willed daughter, he is something of a milquetoast. Both Elizabeth and the Governor sailed from England to the Caribbean eight years before, along with then Lieutenant James Norrington, presumably when Swann assumed the governor's post. Swann is a doting father, and he wishes for his daughter to accept Commodore Norrington's marriage proposal. However, he eventually comes to accept that she truly loves Will Turner. According to the Pirates of the Caribbean Visual Guide, Elizabeth's mother died when Elizabeth was a young child. Governor Weatherby Swann is portrayed by actor Jonathan Pryce.
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[edit] Fictional Biography
[edit] Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Weatherby Swann is the father of Elizabeth Swann. He is seen only in a few scenes, but remains a prominent character. He first appears on the Dauntless on the crossing to Port Royal from England. After a boy (Will Turner) is spotted in the water, he tells Elizabeth to watch over him. Eight years later, he is present when Captain Norrington is promoted to Commodore. After Norrington proposes to Elizabeth, Weatherby asks him if he received an answer, but only minutes after the Black Pearl attacks Port Royal. When Elizabeth has been kidnapped, the morning after he is with Norrington, Lieutenant Gillette, and other officers, the two marines, Murtogg and Mullroy, discussing plans for saving her. Weatherby does not appear in another scene until Elizabeth is rescued from an island. When they are about to leave, Elizabeth says she wants to save Will, but Weatherby protests until she says she will marry Norrington. When the intended ambush of Barbossa's crew on the Isla del Muerta go awry, and the pirates board the Dauntless Weatherby hides in the captain's cabin. As the battle rages on outside, Koehler, one of the cursed pirates spots Weatherby, and the Governor battles with the pirate's severed hand. Once the curse is lifted, Weatherby comes out from his hiding spot, and cheers with the rest of the marines. He appears last at the hanging of Jack Sparrow, where it is revealed that he granted clemency to Will Turner for his prior actions (commandeering a ship of His Majesty's Navy and engaging in piracy), and he accepts his daughter's decision to marry Will Turner.
[edit] Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Like the first film, he is seen in the first scene. This time, Elizabeth and Will are arrested for helping Jack Sparrow escape. It is thought that he and Cutler Beckett have met before, as he is surprised to see him again. When Will is hired by Beckett to find Sparrow's compass, he frees Elizabeth from her cell. He tells her she must flee to England, or be hanged. He tells her to stay put while he talks to the captain. The captain is actually murdered by Mr. Mercer who is working for Cutler Beckett. Weatherby is then arrested. He is only in one more scene after this, in which he is brought before Beckett. Here he is told Elizabeth and Norrington have been seen in Tortuga.
[edit] Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
In the leaked script for the third film, it is said that Weatherby will be killed. In the script, his role is limited. The writers, however, have claimed that this version is "very different" from the final script.
[edit] Traits
Weatherby, presumably raised in England, firmly believes that English tradition, customs, and ideals should be upheld by its citizens, regardless of their place in the British Empire. Weatherby comments about the propriety of English women when his daughter, Elizabeth Swann, mentions to Will Turner that she dreamed about him the night before. As a sign of his office, he wears a large periwig, in contrast to the smaller, more fashionable wigs worn by other characters. The larger the wig, the higher and more important was the wearer's professional rank. Hence the term, "a big wig."
Weatherby is deeply devoted to his daughter, risking his position as colonial governor in order to help her escape from captivity in the second film. Later, when his daughter's safety is threatened, he unhappily agrees to help the East India Trading Company in the hopes that she will be protected. His love for Elizabeth is therefore more important to him than his social standing or his sense of honor and duty.
He does not consider Will Turner a suitable match for his daughter, but he has apparently consented to the marriage and formed a cordial relationship with his future son-in-law. Nonetheless, Weatherby's actions in the second film make it clear that he would willingly sacrifice Will to ensure Elizabeth's well-being.
[edit] Trivia
- According to the Pirates 1 DVD commentary, in earlier drafts of the script, Swann was a relatively minor character and did not accompany Commodore Norrington in the search for Elizabeth. The character's role was expanded when it was realized there were no principal characters present during the final battle between the Royal Navy crewman and the pirates aboard H.M.S. Dauntless.
