Before the films Davy Jones, a mortal Scottish pirate and a great sailor, fell in love with the sea goddess, Calypso. She entrusted him with
the task of ferrying the souls of those who died at sea to the next world. Calypso gave him the
Flying Dutchman to accomplish this task. She swore that after ten years, she would meet him and they would spend one day together before he returned to his duties. However, when Jones returned to shore after ten years, Calypso failed to appear. Believing Calypso had betrayed him, a heartbroken and enraged Davy Jones turned the
Pirate Brethren against her, saying that if she were removed from the world, they would be able to claim the seas for themselves. They assembled in the
First Brethren Court and Jones successfully taught them how to imprison her into her human form. Despite betraying her, Jones still loved Calypso, and in despair and guilt for what he had done, he carved out his own heart and placed it in the "Dead Man's Chest". The Chest was sealed and placed within a larger wooden chest, along with Jones' numerous love letters to Calypso and all other items having to do with her, except his matching musical locket. The chest was then buried on Isla Cruces. Jones kept the chest's key with him at all times, leaving the locket beside the
Dutchman's pipe organ. With Calypso gone, Jones abandoned his duties and returned to the Seven Seas. As a result of this, Jones gradually became monstrous, his physical appearance merging with various aquatic fauna. Sailors everywhere would fear him to the death, for Davy Jones had turned fierce and cruel, with an insatiable taste for all things brutal. Jones recruits dying sailors by promising them a reprieve from death in exchange for 100 years of service aboard the
Dutchman. During this time, he comes to command the
Kraken, a feared mythological sea monster. In the
book series about
Jack Sparrow's earlier adventures, Davy Jones shows interest in the Sword of Cortes, also sought by Jack. He is a minor character, but appears in the seventh book as Jack and his crew encounter the
Flying Dutchman. Jones also appears in the
prequel book about Jack's first years as a captain. He helps the Brethren Court to identify the traitor among them, who turns out to be Borya Palachnik, the Pirate Lord of the Caspian Sea. Before the events of the first film, Davy Jones approaches Sparrow with a deal: Jones will raise the
Black Pearl back from
Davy Jones' Locker, allowing Sparrow to be captain for 13 years if Sparrow agrees to serve on the
Dutchman for 100 years. This event, referenced in the films, also appears in the book series.
''Dead Man's Chest'' Davy Jones first appears in the second film, ''
Dead Man's Chest, in which he attempts to collect on his bargain with Jack Sparrow, sending Bootstrap Bill to threaten Jack and give him the black spot to attract the Kraken. Previously, Davy Jones had raised the Black Pearl'' from the sea for Sparrow, in exchange for Sparrow's soul after captaining the
Pearl for 13 years. Attempting to get out of the situation, Sparrow argues that he was the captain for only two years before
Hector Barbossa committed
mutiny. Jones rejects this explanation, explaining that despite the mutiny, Jack still stubbornly gave himself the title "Captain". Sparrow then attempts to escape the deal by providing
Will Turner as a substitute for himself. Jack falsely strikes a new deal with Jones; Jack will be spared servitude on the
Dutchman if he brings Jones one hundred souls to replace his own within the next three days (in reality he plans to recruit a new crew to help him find the Dead Man's Chest to save Will and break his debt). Jones accepts, removes the black spot from Jack's hand, and retains Will, keeping him as a "good faith payment." While on the
Dutchman, Will challenges Jones at a game of
liar's dice. They wager Will's soul for an eternity of service against the key to the Dead Man's Chest. Bootstrap Bill joins the game and purposefully loses to save Will. During the game, Will learns where Jones keeps the key, being his real purpose in the game. The next morning, Jones realizes the key is gone and summons the Kraken to destroy the ship carrying Turner, who actually survives. The
Dutchman then sails to Isla Cruces to stop Sparrow from getting the Chest. Arriving, Jones sends his crew to retrieve the Chest; they return to him with it. The
Dutchman then chases after the
Black Pearl, but is outrun. Jones summons the Kraken, which drags Jack Sparrow and the
Pearl to Davy Jones's Locker. He afterward opens the Chest only to find his heart missing; it having been taken by Jack Sparrow and subsequently stolen by James Norrington, who gives it to
Cutler Beckett, the chairman of the East India Trading Company.
''At World's End'' In the third film ''
At World's End, Jones is under the control of Beckett, under the threat of death. Beckett orders Jones to sink pirate ships, but is infuriated when Jones leaves no survivors; Beckett wants prisoners to interrogate about the Brethren Court. Beckett also orders Jones to kill the Kraken. Later, he orders Jones attack the Pirate Lord Sao Feng; Jones subsequently kills Sao and captures Elizabeth Swann, who had been named captain by Sao Feng upon his death. When James Norrington dies on board the Dutchman'' while helping Elizabeth escape, Jones claims Norrington's sword (originally crafted by Will Turner). Jones then attempts mutiny against the EITC. However, Ian Mercer successfully defends the Chest, forcing Jones to continue under Beckett's service. Beckett later summons Jones to his ship, the
Endeavour. Jones confronts
Will Turner and divulges his past with Calypso while learning of Jack Sparrow's escape from the Locker. The three men then arrive at
Shipwreck Cove. After Calypso is freed, Will reveals that Jones betrayed her. She escapes, refusing to aid either the pirates or Jones. Her fury creates a monstrous
maelstrom. The
Dutchman and the
Pearl enter it and battle. During the battle, Jones suffocates Mercer to death with his tentacles and retrieves the key to the Chest. Sparrow and Jones fight for control of the chest in the rigging of the
Dutchman. ==Characterization==