Elizabeth Swann cannot stay on the Flying Dutchman primarily because her mortal state would not allow her to survive the unique and perilous journeys undertaken by the ship. The crew of the Dutchman exists in a state between life and death, which is a necessary condition for enduring the ship's voyages.
The Nature of the Flying Dutchman's Crew
The Flying Dutchman is no ordinary pirate ship. Its crew, including figures like Will Turner's father, are not truly alive in the conventional sense. Instead, they exist in a supernatural limbo, suspended between the realms of the living and the dead. This unique state is intrinsically linked to their service aboard the ship.
- Existence Beyond Life and Death: The crewmen are bound to the ship and its duty, living a form of cursed immortality. This allows them to withstand the supernatural pressures and demands of their service.
- Supernatural Journeys: The Flying Dutchman navigates not just the physical seas, but also mystical realms and dangerous crossings that are fatal to mortals.
Elizabeth's Mortal Vulnerability
Unlike the spectral crew, Elizabeth Swann is a fully mortal human. Her physical form and vital essence are subject to the limitations of life, making her fundamentally incompatible with the demands of life aboard the Dutchman.
- Inability to Endure Journeys: The voyages of the Flying Dutchman are depicted as being too harsh and supernatural for a living person to survive. A mortal body would simply not be able to withstand the strain, conditions, or transitions required of the ship and its crew.
- Requirement for the 'Between' State: To join the crew means adopting their unique state of existence, a transformation Elizabeth is neither willing nor able to undergo, and which would fundamentally alter her being beyond recognition.
To illustrate the stark contrast, consider the fundamental differences:
| Aspect | Crew of the Flying Dutchman | Elizabeth Swann (Mortal) |
|---|---|---|
| State of Being | In a state between the living and the dead | Fully alive; mortal |
| Survival Capability | Can endure the ship's supernatural journeys | Cannot survive the ship's supernatural journeys |
| Compatibility | Harmonized with the ship's cursed nature | Fundamentally incompatible with the curse |
Therefore, for Elizabeth to stay on the Flying Dutchman would mean certain death, as her human body and spirit are not equipped for the existence required of its crew members.
