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It was not worth feeling what small, fleeting joy life brings. And so, him carve out him heart, lock it away in a chest, and hide the chest from the world. The key...he keeps with him at all times.
Tia Dalma[src]

The Dead Man's Chest is a mysterious chest that holds the heart of Davy Jones, captain of the ghostly Flying Dutchman. It played a prominent role in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and its sequel, At World's End. Among other appearances, the chest appears in Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island.

Thirteen years after his bargain with Davy Jones, Captain Jack Sparrow searches for the key to the fabled Dead Man's Chest to use as leverage to satisfy his debt to Jones. Meanwhile, Lord Cutler Beckett sets his sights on retrieving the Chest, knowing that whoever controls the heart of Davy Jones has the power to control the Seven Seas. However, it was also learned that if whoever stabs Jones' heart, their heart must take their place. After the heart of Davy Jones was stabbed by Will Turner, Turner became the new captain of the Flying Dutchman, having his heart carved out and placed within the chest, which Will gave the chest to Elizabeth Swann for safe-keeping.

Appearances[]

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest[]

Thirteen years after his bargain with Davy Jones, Captain Jack Sparrow was given the Black Spot by Bootstrap Bill Turner, thereby marking him for the Kraken to hunt unless Jack repays his debt. To elude Jones' wrath, Sparrow sought out the Dead Man's Chest, which contains the the still-beating heart of Davy Jones, in order to save himself from a life of servitude to Jones. With Will Turner press-ganged into Davy Jones' crew aboard the Flying Dutchman, Jack managed to convince Elizabeth Swann to use his compass to find the chest of Davy Jones in order to save Will. To convince Elizabeth, Jack said that whoever has the chest has the leverage to command Jones to do whatever he or she wants.

Dmc

Jack opening the Dead Man's Chest.

Charting a course to Isla Cruces, Jack and Elizabeth were able to find the Dead Man's Chest, while Will Turner stole the key from Davy Jones from aboard the Flying Dutchman. However, a three-way sword fight broke out between Jack, Will, and Norrington to pursue their own goals: Will wanted to kill Jones, so his father Bootstrap is freed; Jack, however, wanted it to force Jones to call off the Kraken; James Norrington, now a rum-pot deckhand, wanted to present the chest to Lord Cutler Beckett, who also sought the chest. Fighting off both Turner and Norrington in the duel for the key, Jack Sparrow eventually opened the chest and stole the heart. The pirates Pintel and Ragetti made off with the chest during the battle, though Sparrow stored the heart in a jar of dirt. While Davy Jones' crew battled Jack's crew for the chest, Norrington found the heart along with Jack's Letters of Marque and took both items for himself before absconding with the chest to draw Jones' crew away from Elizabeth. However, deep in the jungle, Norrington gave up the chest to the barnacled crew and fled.

The crew of the Flying Dutchman returned the Dead Man's Chest and gave it to their captain Davy Jones. Upon witnessing the Black Pearl dragged to the depths, Jones opened the chest only to find that his heart was missing. Meanwhile, Norrington presented the heart to Lord Beckett in an attempt to regain his life as a British officer. According to legend, whoever possesses the Dead Man's Chest gains control of Davy Jones, and Beckett intended to use this awesome power to destroy every last Pirate of the Caribbean once and for all.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End[]

According to legend, whoever controls the heart of Davy Jones, controls the sea. Lord Cutler Beckett of the East India Company had gained control of the terrifying ghost ship, the Flying Dutchman, and its malevolent, vengeful Captain, Davy Jones. The Dutchman now roams the seven seas, unstoppable, destroying pirate ships without mercy, under the command of Admiral Norrington. Upon seeing the aftermath of the massacre of pirate ships led by the Flying Dutchman, Beckett had the Dead Man's Chest transferred aboard the Dutchman in order to ensure that the ship did as directed by the Company. The chest would be kept in the captain's quarters, where it was guarded by EITC soldiers.

Elizabeth Swann's father, Governor Weatherby Swann, learned of the secrets of the Dead Man's Chest. While Jack's crew were trying to escape Davy Jones' Locker, they met with Governor Swann, who revealed that if you stab the heart, yours must take its place and that you will sail the seas for eternity. Swann was killed by Beckett for having learned this information. Later, Bootstrap Bill Turner conveyed the same message to Elizabeth when she was imprisoned aboard the Dutchman, as a way to avoid having his son Will Turner to complete his mission to save him, saying he who slays Davy Jones must take his place as captain, forever. Both warnings were given with the line "The Dutchman must have a captain".

Chest reclaimed

Davy Jones holding the chest.

After Bootstrap Bill killed Admiral Norrington, Jones and his crew tried to retrieve the chest, but Mercer summarily retained control aboard the Dutchman. The chest would then be guarded by Mullroy and Murtogg, who were armed with two large cannons that they aimed at the chest. During the titanic battle between the Black Pearl and the Flying Dutchman, Mercer was killed by Jones, who then took the key as he made his way to the chest, though by this point Jack Sparrow had already stolen the chest out from Mullroy and Murtogg. On the rigging of the Flying Dutchman, Jack Sparrow and Davy Jones dueled for the chest. Jones claimed the chest until Jack shot it from his hand, landing it on deck. Will Turner took the chest as he boarded the Dutchman, but lost it when Bootstrap Bill attacked him. By the end of the battle, Jack opened the chest and was about to stab the heart, thereby achieving immortality.

Unfortunately, at the moment of Sparrow's triumph, Jones fatally stabbed Will, forcing Jack to choose between gaining immortality or saving Will. Jack then gave up immortality and helped Will stab Jones' heart. After Jones' death, Bootstrap Bill and other Dutchman crewmen gathered around to cut out Will's heart. As the new captain of the Flying Dutchman, Will Turner must carry out the duty to ferry souls to the next world. Before leaving, Will gave the chest (and his heart) to the newly-wed Elizabeth Turner for safe keeping.

Video games[]

LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game[]

The Dead Man's Chest appears in the game.

Kingdom Hearts III[]

The chest plays a special role in the game, in that it has a certain connection to the "black box" being sought after by Luxord of Organization XIII.

Disney Parks[]

Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island[]

Deep within "Dead Man's Grotto", the Dead Man's Chest can be found. Upon touching the chest, lighting will change, and Davy Jones' disembodied voice will utter words of warning, and guests will be able to feel the heartbeat of Jones' heart from within the chest. Skeletons litter the pits of the cave, implying danger to those who continue to press onward.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure[]

In this Treasure Cove attraction, the Dead Man's Chest can be found within the queue on a shelf in Jack Sparrow's quarters.

Song Lyrics[]

Fifteen men on the Dead Man's Chest!
Yo ho ho, and a bottle of rum!
Drink and the Devil has done the rest!
Yo ho ho, and a bottle of rum!
But one of her crew alive
What put to the sea with twenty five
Yo ho ho, and a bottle of rum! 

Trivia[]

  • The Dead Man's Chest takes its name from a pirate shanty from Robert Louis Stevenson's 1883 novel Treasure Island where it was used to mirror the titular Flint's gold, being a treasure which pirates killed one another to keep secret.

Gallery[]

External links[]

PotCWiki-wordmark This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from the Pirates of the Caribbean Wiki. The list of authors can be seen in the page revision history (view authors). As with Disney Wiki, the text of PotC Wiki is available under the CC-by-SA Free Documentation License.


v - e - d
Pirates-of-the-caribbean-collection-logo
Media
Films: The Curse of the Black Pearl (video/soundtrack) • Dead Man's Chest (video/soundtrack) • At World's End (video/soundtrack) • On Stranger Tides (video/soundtrack) • Dead Men Tell No Tales (video/soundtrack)

Short Films: Tales of the Code: Wedlocked
Books: Jack Sparrow prequel novelsPirates of the Caribbean: Legends of the Brethren CourtPirates of the Caribbean: The Price of FreedomPirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides: The Visual GuidePirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (Ultimate Sticker Book)
Video Games: Pirates of the CaribbeanThe Legend of Jack SparrowPirates of the Caribbean OnlineDisney UniverseKingdom Hearts IIPirates of the Caribbean Multiplayer MobileLEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video GamePirates of the Caribbean: At World's EndPirates of the Caribbean (pinball)Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black PearlPirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's ChestPirates of the Caribbean: Master of the SeasDisney InfinityPirates of the Caribbean: Tides of WarDisney Heroes: Battle ModeKingdom Hearts IIIDisney Sorcerer's ArenaSea of Thieves: A Pirate's LifeDisney Speedstorm

Disney Parks
New Orleans SquareTreasure CovePiratelandPirate TakeoverA Pirate's Adventure: Treasures of the Seven SeasEl Teatro FandangoJungle River Cruise: Pirate Takeover!Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer IslandPirates of the CaribbeanPirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken TreasureShipwreck ShoreSiren's RevengeThe Legend of Captain Jack SparrowPirates of the Caribbean: Battle for Buccaneer GoldBilge Rat Bill's Explorer Canoes

Entertainment: Captain Jack Sparrow's Pirate TutorialEye of the Storm: Captain Jack's Stunt SpectacularFantasmic!Pirates Summer Battle "Get Wet!"
Restaurants: Blue Bayou RestaurantPintel & Ragetti's Grub to GrabThe Snackin’ KrakenTortuga TavernTortuga Treats
Shops: Doubloon MarketJolly GypsyPirates LeaguePirate Treasure
Fireworks: Celebrate the MagicDisney EnchantmentDisney Movie MagicFantasy in the SkyHappily Ever AfterIgnite the Dream: A Nighttime Spectacular of Magic and LightMagic, Music and MayhemThe Magic, the Memories and YouRemember... Dreams Come TrueWorld of Color
Halloween: Mickey's Boo-to-You Halloween ParadePirates of the Caribbean Ghost TrailThe Nightmare Experiment

Characters
The Curse of the Black Pearl: Jack SparrowHector BarbossaJoshamee GibbsWill TurnerElizabeth SwannJames NorringtonGovernor Weatherby SwannPintel and RagettiJack the MonkeyCottonMartyMurtogg and MullroyTheodore GrovesAnamariaCotton's ParrotGilletteGiselleScarlettBo'sunJacobyKoehlerTwiggMallotGrappleWeatherbyExecutioner of Port Royal

Dead Man's Chest: Davy JonesCutler BeckettIan MercerTia DalmaKrakenBootstrap Bill TurnerMaccusClankerPenrodAnglerRatlinKolenikoHadrasPalificoOgilveyCrashWyvernGreenbeardJimmy LegsLeechBellamyPrison RavensPelegostos Tribe
At World's End: Sao FengTai HuangLian and ParkStengEduardo VillanuevaSri SumbhajeeCapitaine ChevalleAmmand the CorsairJocardMistress ChingCaptain TeagueMoreyGreitzerDavy Jones' Locker Crabs
On Stranger Tides: AngelicaBlackbeardPhilip SwiftSyrenaGarhengSalamanScrumDerrickEzekielGunnerQuartermasterCookMarinaMermaidsTamaraSpaniardKing FerdinandKing George IIJohn CarteretHenry PelhamRedcoats
Dead Men Tell No Tales: Captain SalazarLesaroHenry TurnerCarina SmythUncle JackScarfieldShansaMayor DixGhost SharksGhost Seagulls
Tales of the Code: MungardMarquis d'Avis
Attraction: ReddAuctioneerPirate CaptainCaptain XPrison DogTinySeedy PrisonersHook Hand PirateSkeleton HelmsmanBarker BirdBeacon JoeThe Pooped PirateOld BillShy AlbertCarlosFortune RedCaptain GoreJean LafitteTom SawyerCarlos' WifeSkeleton PillagerSkeleton Pirate CaptainTreasure SkeletonPirate RobberTreasure OctopusHungry PirateScalawagCooteThurlBillie HowTaliban PiratePirate AssistantSword Skeleton PirateHook Hand Skeleton Pirate
Video Games: Black BartyJolly Roger
Books: MontezumaJames the MysteriousArabella SmithSilver

Organizations
Crew of the Black PearlCursed CrewCrew of the Flying DutchmanEast India Trading CompanyBrethren CourtSpaniard's crewBlackbeard's Zombie OfficersCrew of the Silent MaryCrew of the Wicked Wench
Locations
Isla TesoroDead Man's CoveBlue Bayou LagoonPort Royal, JamaicaFort CharlesTortugaRumrunner's IsleIsla de MuertaPelegostosIsla CrucesPantano RiverSingaporeSao Feng's BathhouseDavy Jones' LockerShipwreck CoveLondon, EnglandSpainWhitecap BayFountain of YouthSaint MartinPoseidon's Tomb
Ships/Boats
Wicked WenchBlack PearlFlying DutchmanQueen Anne's RevengeHMS InterceptorHMS DauntlessHMS EndeavorJolly MonSilent MaryThe Sailing Ship Columbia
Objects
Jack Sparrow's hatJack Sparrow's swordJack Sparrow's compassCursed TreasureTreasure of CortésElizabeth Swann's gold medallionRagetti's wooden eyeJar of DirtDavy Jones' pipe organKey to the Dead Man's ChestDead Man's ChestMao Kun MapPirata CodexJack Sparrow's Pirate BeadsSword of TritonJack Sparrow Voodoo DollChalices of CartagenaDark MagicVoodooDavy Jones and Calypso's LocketsTrident of Poseidon
Music
"Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)" • Theme park soundtrackSoundtrack Treasures CollectionPirates of the Caribbean and Other VillainsSwashbuckling Sea Songs1966 soundtrackThe Medallion CallsHe's a PiratePirates RemixedHoist the ColoursMy Jolly Sailor Bold
See Also
Pirates of the Caribbean Trading Card GameLiar's DicePirates of the ScareibbeanSwashbucklersCalypso's Maelstrom


v - e - d
Kingdom Hearts utilized logo
Games
Kingdom Hearts (HD I.5 ReMIX/Soundtrack/Soundtrack Complete/HD I.5 ReMIX Soundtrack) • Chain of MemoriesKingdom Hearts II (HD II.5 ReMIX/HD II.8 Final Chapter Prologue/Soundtrack/HD II.5 ReMIX Soundtrack ) • 358/2 DaysBirth by Sleep (Soundtrack) • codedDream Drop Distance (Soundtrack) • χ [chi]Unchained χ/Union χ [cross]Kingdom Hearts IIIDark RoadMelody of MemoryMissing-LinkKingdom Hearts IV
Other media
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween PartyAgrabah (Kingdom Hearts pilot)
Incorporated Films and Shorts
Aladdin/The Return of JafarAlice in WonderlandBeauty and the BeastBig Hero 6CinderellaFantasiaFrozenHerculesThe Hunchback of Notre DameLilo & StitchThe Lion KingThe Little MermaidMickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three MusketeersMonsters, Inc.MulanThe Nightmare Before ChristmasPeter PanPinocchioPirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl/Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's EndSleeping BeautySnow White and the Seven DwarfsSteamboat WillieTangledTarzanToy StoryTron/Tron: LegacyWinnie the PoohWreck-It Ralph
Characters
Main Characters: SoraRikuKairiKing MickeyDonald DuckGoofyRoxasAxel/LeaNaminéXionAquaTerraVentus

Villains: XehanortAnsemXemnasMaleficentPeteVanitasXigbar/BraigXaldinVexenLexaeusZexionSaïx/IsaDemyxLuxordMarluxiaLarxeneTerra-XehanortYoung XehanortXehanort's Guardian
Other Characters: Jiminy CricketAnsem the Wise/DiZYen SidMaster EraqusDilanEvenAeleusIenzoLingering WillHaynerPenceOletteKairi's GrandmaRiku ReplicaJiminy's JournalForetellersMaster of MastersLuxuEphemerSkuldChirithyStrelitziaLauriamYozoraVorHermod
Original Monsters: HeartlessNobodiesUnversedDream Eater
Disney Characters introduced in Kingdom Hearts: Queen MinnieDaisy DuckPlutoChip and DaleHuey, Dewey, and LouieMagic BroomsAliceWhite RabbitDoorknobCheshire CatQueen of HeartsCard SoldiersTarzanJane PorterClaytonTerkKerchakKalaSaborHerculesPhiloctetesHadesCerberusRock TitanIce TitanAladdinAbuJasmineGenieCarpetJafarIagoPeddlerCave of WondersPinocchioGeppettoMonstroCleoArielFlounderSebastianUrsulaKing TritonFlotsam and JetsamGlutJack SkellingtonZeroSallyOogie BoogieLock, Shock, and BarrelDr. FinkelsteinMayor of Halloween TownPeter PanTinker BellCaptain HookMr. SmeeWendyCrocodileMerlinWinnie the PoohTiggerPigletEeyoreRabbitOwlRooBeesBeastBelleSnow WhiteCinderellaFairy GodmotherAuroraPongoPerditaDalmatian PuppiesSimbaMushuDumboBambiChernabog
Disney Characters introduced in Kingdom Hearts II: Flora, Fauna, and MerryweatherMaleficent's RavenScrooge McDuckMulanLi ShangShan YuHayabusaYao, Ling, and Chien PoThe EmperorLumiereCogsworthMrs PottsChipWardrobePegasusMegaraPain and PanicHydraHorace HorsecollarClarabelle CowClara CluckJack SparrowElizabeth SwannWill TurnerCaptain BarbossaBo'sunJacobyTwiggCursed CrewPrince EricAttinaAndrinaSanta ClausSkeletal ReindeerTimonPumbaaNalaRafikiScarShenzi, Banzai, and EdMufasaKiaraPridelandersHyenasTronMaster Control ProgramCommander SarkKangaGopherStitchChicken Little
Disney Characters introduced in Birth by Sleep: Prince PhillipMaleficent's GoonsDocGrumpyHappySleepyBashfulSneezyDopeyThe PrinceEvil QueenMagic MirrorPrince CharmingJaqLady TremaineAnastasiaDrizellaLuciferGrand DukeGrand CouncilwomanCaptain GantuJumbaExperiment 221Lost Boys
Disney Characters introduced in Dream Drop Distance: QuasimodoEsmeraldaPhoebusJudge Claude FrolloVictor, Hugo, and LaverneKevin FlynnSam FlynnQuorraCLUBlack GuardsBlue FairyBeagle BoysChernabog's MinionsJulius
Disney Characters introduced in Kingdom Hearts χ: Mad HatterMarch HareRazoulRoyal GuardsMauriceGaston
Disney Characters introduced in Kingdom Hearts Union χ: SultanSamsonVanellope von SchweetzFix-It Felix Jr.Sergeant CalhounKing CandySour BillCy-BugsHero's Duty Troops
Disney Characters introduced in Kingdom Hearts III: ZeusApolloAthenaHermesLava TitanTornado TitanLittle ChefWoodyBuzz LightyearRexHammSargeGreen Army MenLittle Green MenRapunzelFlynn RiderPascalMaximusMother GothelSulleyMike WazowskiBooRandall BoggsChild Detection AgencyTrailer FolkElsaAnnaKristoffOlafSvenMarshmallowHansMr. GibbsTia DalmaDavy JonesKrakenCutler BeckettDavy Jones' Locker CrabsBaymaxHiro HamadaGo Go TomagoHoney LemonFredWasabiLumpyWreck-It Ralph
Disney Characters introduced in Kingdom Hearts Dark Road: Tweedledee and Tweedledum
Disney Characters introduced in the manga: CaterpillarChi-Fu
Square Enix Characters: LeonCloudMoogleOthers

Elements
Plot Elements: Kingdom HeartsHeartKeyblade WarDark Seeker SagaMore

Game Elements: Gameplay in Kingdom HeartsMagic

Objects
Sea-salt ice creamWayfinderDoor to DarknessKeybladeX-bladeMorePixar BallA113Pizza Planet Truck
Locations
Original Worlds: Destiny IslandsTraverse TownRadiant Garden/Hollow BastionDisney Castle/Disney Town/Timeless RiverDive to the HeartEnd of the WorldRealm of DarknessTwilight Town/Mysterious TowerThe World That Never WasCastle That Never WasLand of Departure/Castle OblivionKeyblade GraveyardDaybreak Town/Scala ad Caelum

Disney Worlds: WonderlandDeep JungleOlympus Coliseum/Underworld/OlympusAgrabahAtlanticaHalloween Town/Christmas TownNeverlandHundred Acre WoodThe Land of DragonsBeast's CastlePort Royal/The CaribbeanPride LandsSpace ParanoidsDwarf WoodlandsCastle of DreamsDeep SpaceLa Cité des ClochesThe GridPrankster's ParadiseCountry of the MusketeersToy BoxKingdom of CoronaMonstropolisArendelleSan FransokyoGame Central Station/Niceland/Cy-Bug Sector/Candy Kingdom

Organizations/Groups
Organization XIIIPrincesses of HeartDisney Villains Council
Songs
"Dearly Beloved" • "Simple and Clean" • "Sanctuary" • Face My FearsDon't Think TwiceMickey Mouse Club MarchSwim This WayPart of Your WorldUnder the SeaUrsula's RevengeA New Day is DawningDestatiThis is HalloweenHe's a PirateBeauty and the BeastBibbidi-Bobbidi-BooIt's a Small WorldNight on Bald MountainWinnie the PoohThe Sorcerer's ApprenticeThe Pastoral SymphonyNutcracker SuiteYou've Got a Friend in MeHealing IncantationPut That Thing Back Where It Came From or So Help MeLet It GoDo You Want to Build a SnowmanYo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)A Whole New WorldCircle of Life
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