There are good points here. Let me take a few, most of which I agree with:
He doesn't try to claim Elizabeth (in fact, even at the end of CotBP, she still is the one to claim him)
Here, I disagree. He's the one who tells Elizabeth that he loves her - in front of her father and her fiance, no less (and anyone in the crowd who cares to be listening). Then he's busy standing up for Jack - Elizabeth goes to him before he has a chance to say anything further to her. (You may be referring to the cave scene where Will misses the opportune moment, in which case I can only blame his youthful stupidity. *G*) I liked this balance - he misses an opportunity, but recognizes when the next one presents itself.
And as for "claim," isn't that a bit archaic and chauvinistic? "Me Og. You woman. MINE." Poor kid, he can't win for losing. ;-)
he doesn't object or seem to mind that Mr. Brown takes credit for his artistry
I don't think he *could* claim credit for it. He's still an apprentice, presumably indentured - if it got back to his master he was taking the credit (even if it was due him), he might suffer some sort of consequences. And Will doesn't have anywhere to go, unless he leaves Port Royal. Also, I think he does mind he's not getting the credit - look at his face when he goes to answer the Governor, the hesitation (presumably as he considers whether he ought to correct the notion, perhaps?). It's the same thing when Brown takes credit for capturing Jack.
which is why Jack is the man he is
I agree. It's also what makes Jack more compelling, that you don't know if his next move is going to be to save himself or to save someone else. Part of me wishes that in AWE Will would indicate to Elizabeth and Bill that they're on their own because he's too busy not being eaten by a big squid or sliced-n-diced by all the King's men. But ... then there's the part that likes that Will probably wouldn't do that. There needs to be more of a balance than we've seen so far, I guess.
I don't think it occurs to her that he is not like her
What I want to know is, what exactly is it about Will that she likes, anyway? Is it just that it's "forbidden" for her to have him? Is that what we're supposed to get from her possibly switching to Team Jack? Is it that Will was the most exciting thing in Port Royal, and now that she's seen a wider world, he's no longer that attractive to her? I don't know.
But Will gives all he has, and asks for nothing in return
Here, I have to speculate: Just because we haven't seen him do so doesn't mean he hasn't asked for anything. Then again, you may be right. He really does have so much potential to be a realistic cross between a good man and a selfish asshole - I just wish he'd hurry up and find it, already.
no subject
He doesn't try to claim Elizabeth (in fact, even at the end of CotBP, she still is the one to claim him)
Here, I disagree. He's the one who tells Elizabeth that he loves her - in front of her father and her fiance, no less (and anyone in the crowd who cares to be listening). Then he's busy standing up for Jack - Elizabeth goes to him before he has a chance to say anything further to her. (You may be referring to the cave scene where Will misses the opportune moment, in which case I can only blame his youthful stupidity. *G*) I liked this balance - he misses an opportunity, but recognizes when the next one presents itself.
And as for "claim," isn't that a bit archaic and chauvinistic? "Me Og. You woman. MINE." Poor kid, he can't win for losing. ;-)
he doesn't object or seem to mind that Mr. Brown takes credit for his artistry
I don't think he *could* claim credit for it. He's still an apprentice, presumably indentured - if it got back to his master he was taking the credit (even if it was due him), he might suffer some sort of consequences. And Will doesn't have anywhere to go, unless he leaves Port Royal. Also, I think he does mind he's not getting the credit - look at his face when he goes to answer the Governor, the hesitation (presumably as he considers whether he ought to correct the notion, perhaps?). It's the same thing when Brown takes credit for capturing Jack.
which is why Jack is the man he is
I agree. It's also what makes Jack more compelling, that you don't know if his next move is going to be to save himself or to save someone else. Part of me wishes that in AWE Will would indicate to Elizabeth and Bill that they're on their own because he's too busy not being eaten by a big squid or sliced-n-diced by all the King's men. But ... then there's the part that likes that Will probably wouldn't do that. There needs to be more of a balance than we've seen so far, I guess.
I don't think it occurs to her that he is not like her
What I want to know is, what exactly is it about Will that she likes, anyway? Is it just that it's "forbidden" for her to have him? Is that what we're supposed to get from her possibly switching to Team Jack? Is it that Will was the most exciting thing in Port Royal, and now that she's seen a wider world, he's no longer that attractive to her? I don't know.
But Will gives all he has, and asks for nothing in return
Here, I have to speculate: Just because we haven't seen him do so doesn't mean he hasn't asked for anything. Then again, you may be right. He really does have so much potential to be a realistic cross between a good man and a selfish asshole - I just wish he'd hurry up and find it, already.