'Stevenson presents Silver as wholly amoral and unlikeable'. How far do you agree with this statement?

The writer’s depiction of Silver as a foil to the novel’s thematic backdrop of duty and honour prevents the reader from being able to see him as possessing any sense of morality. Jim compares Silver to a ‘chameleon’ in the later stages of ‘Treasure Island’ as he begins to find himself ‘revolted by the constant changes’ in the pirate’s countenance that are bred by their proximity to the treasure, and the increasing opportunity for treachery on Silver’s part. The simile deployed by Stevenson not only denigrates Silver from man to beast, but suggests his character is dictated by the shifting of the environment he inhabits; Silver is only honourable so long as it suits him. Stephenson positions Silver in opposition to the virtues of honour and duty paragoned by characters elsewhere in the text, such as Captain Smollet and Doctor Livesly. Livesly and Smollet are both bastions of morality and empire in the text. Stephen’s ‘Treasure Island’ was published in 1883 and the traits found lacking in Silver compose the backbone of ideals espoused within imperial morality. Thus, it may be argued that Silver is presented as wholly amoral because he is wholly in conflict with the concept of Empire, and therefore at odds with the very soul of the novel. Ironically, Silver proves himself to be an ineffective chameleon, as he is never able to successfully camouflage his roguish nature to fit the new world of empire he inhabits.