Like or Dislike.

I think Jim was initially afraid of him. Long John is an imposing figure and he is a ruthless pirate but at the same time has his own charm.  Throughout the novel, Long John Silver clearly possesses a dual personality (thus, many critics also view Long John Silver as a precursor to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde). At times, Silver shows extreme kindness and a paternal liking for the young narrator. At other times, however, Silver, although deformed like Pew, shows extreme brutality and cruelness in killing other sailors. It is not until much later in the novel that David really knows that he must fear Silver.