Traits
Unusual for a pirate, Sparrow is known for his altruistic nature and will risk himself to save others, most notably Will and Elizabeth. In Pirates 1, it's implied that Jack's benevolence is one reason his crew mutinied. When Jack suggests a nonviolent way to retrieve the Aztec medallion from the Interceptor, Barbossa exclaims, "Now, y'see Jack, that's exactly the attitude that lost you the Pearl. People are easier to search when they're dead." Sparrow is presented as an honourable, if self-serving, man who adheres to the "Pirates' Code." He also believes there are "good" pirates, which was his evaluation of "Bootstrap" Bill Turner. Jack also has character flaws. In a weak moment of cowardice, he deserts his ship and crew to save himself as it's being attacked by the Kraken. However, his intrinsic loyalty and heroism ultimately win out, and he returns in time to save his shipmates.
Jack considers himself a ladies' man, explaining that he has a "tremendous intuitive sense of the female creature." However, he is seemingly unable to commit to a long-term relationship, although Elizabeth Swann appears to be the first woman Jack is unable to forget. Interestingly, in the novelization of the second film, Jack tells Elizabeth that he likes marriage because it is, "like a wager to see who will fall out of love first." Jack is adept at sweeping ladies off their feet, but his conquests seem to have a sour memory of him. His former flames, Giselle and Scarlett, tend to slap him or anyone looking for him.
Jack apparently suffers from extremely bad breath, although this may just be from drinking alcohol. Commodore Norrington had to take a step back when Sparrow got a little too close, and Governor Swann nearly gagged when face-to-face with him. When Jack attempts to romantically approach Elizabeth during Dead Man's Chest, she notes their various differences, including "personal hygiene." However, she seems unaffected by his breath during later close encounters with him. Ironically, Sparrow tells Commodore Norrington that he smells funny (after he was thrown into a pig sty).
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It explains why sometimes people can stand up to his breath and sometimes people cant and he had just been drinking rum when he spoke to Liz about marriage and she recoils at his breath.