Trask's Cutlass

A curved steel blade wielded by Trask aboard the Annabelle to enforce his authority over prisoners. Directly involved in physical threats and attacks, its seizure by the Highlanders marks a pivotal shift in power dynamics.

4 appearances

Purpose

Threaten and attack prisoners to enforce compliance and prevent resistance

Significance

Drives tension in Trask's coercion of prisoners and fuels the climactic revolt, where Jamie's intervention shifts power from slaver to Highlanders, enabling Willy's command and the push toward France.

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

4 moments

S4E17 · The Highlanders Part 3

Trask Imprisons Highlanders in the Annabelle’s Hold

Trask’s cutlass is the physical embodiment of his authority, brandished as a threat to cow the prisoners into submission. He wields it implicitly ('Another word out of you and I'll be down here with my cutlass'), its curved blade glinting in the half-light of the hold. The weapon amplifies the power imbalance—Trask’s ability to enforce compliance with violence is absolute, and the prisoners’ fear of it is palpable. Its presence looms over the scene, a silent promise of retribution.

Before: Sheathed at Trask’s side, unused but ready to be drawn at a moment’s notice.

After: Still sheathed, but its threat hangs in the air as Willy reveals Trask’s betrayal, shifting the dynamic from physical coercion to psychological tension.

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S4E17 · The Highlanders Part 3

Willy reveals Trask’s betrayal and slave labor scheme

Trask’s cutlass is wielded as a tool of intimidation and control, brandished to cow Ben, Jamie, and Colin into submission. The curved blade looms as a constant threat, amplifying the power imbalance between Trask and the captives. Its presence underscores the violence and oppression that define the hold, serving as a physical manifestation of Trask’s authority and the brutality of the slave labor scheme.

Before: Sheathed at Trask’s side, ready to be drawn as a threat or weapon.

After: Still in Trask’s possession, but its threat is implicitly reinforced by the confrontation and the revelation of the slave labor scheme.

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S4E18 · The Highlanders Part 4

Jamie Overthrows Trask, Willy Claims Command

Trask’s cutlass, a curved steel blade, is wielded as a symbol of his authority and brutality. He raises it to threaten Ben, but Jamie’s intervention disrupts his attack. The cutlass becomes a focal point of the power struggle, its gleaming edge reflecting the high stakes of the revolt. Though it does not draw blood in this confrontation, its presence underscores the violence inherent in Trask’s rule and the Highlanders’ defiance. The weapon’s failure to subdue the prisoners marks the beginning of the end for Trask’s reign.

Before: Gripped in Trask’s hand, raised to strike Ben, a symbol of his unchecked authority.

After: Discarded or sheathed as Trask is overpowered, its threat neutralized by Jamie’s physical dominance.

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S4E18 · The Highlanders Part 4

Victory turns to urgent escape planning

Trask's cutlass, a symbol of his authority and the brutal enforcement of his will, is wielded against Ben in a final, desperate act of aggression. The weapon's curved blade represents the oppressive power of the slave trade, but its role in the event is ultimately one of futility. Jamie's intervention neutralizes Trask's threat, and the cutlass becomes a relic of the old order—one that is quickly rendered obsolete by the Highlanders' revolt. The cutlass's status before the event is in Trask's hand, raised in aggression, while its status after the event is uncertain, likely discarded or claimed by the Highlanders as a trophy of their victory.

Before: In Trask's hand, raised in aggression against Ben, a symbol of his authority and brutality.

After: Discarded or claimed by the Highlanders, its threat neutralized, now a relic of the defeated regime.

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