Robinson Crusoe

8/6 Robinson Crusoe - By Dan Defoe - An Analytical Essay


Unlike most teenagers in the 1700's and today, Robinson Crusoe yearned to sail the sea. His parents disapproved, but like most teens, them and now that didn't matter. Things such as that never change because people don't. Why? Because they are content, and, or complacent. And therefore unwilling to work at self-improvement. If we thought most of our words and deeds through beforehand, we probably would not do and say most of them. I find it incredible, amazing and annoying how effortlessly people say, do, and ask the stupidest things, without a single thought! But life is not easy for anyone, no matter what century. Why should he be different? He had a lot of trouble enduring all the violent storms at sea. It was very rough in the beginning. A captain told him that he should not sail because he was not a seafaring man.

Sea life was hard. But he was determined to persevere and succeed no matter what. And he did, proving the captain wrong. It took much more courage than most people have to continue on. He had to face one of man's greatest fears: the unknown! However he didn't let that stop him from sailing again. This is a good illustration of his natural, exceptional drive and intestinal fortitude. Not many people could have survived, much less overcome this, but he did.

Unfortunately, things continued to go wrong: he was captured by pirates and enslaved in Sallee for a few years. Luckily, he was a good fisherman and his master always took him on trips. One day he and another slave were fishing and he threw the guard overboard. Then he gave the other slave a choice: swear allegiance, or be thrown out too.

Soon after that he was rescued by a Portuguese ship. This was the beginning of the next chapter in his life. He was taken to Brazil where he settled down and bought a sugar plantation. As a businessman he wanted to make money. So he and some other planters set sail to Africa for slaves. Unfortunately, they encountered a horrendous storm and were shipwrecked. He was the only survivor.

He quickly realized that he had no food, or shelter. So he became a farmer and built shelter for protection from wild animals. But he was still alone and very lonely. "This is torture and equivalent to being imprisoned or beaten daily, especially if you are gregarious like me. I would go out of my mind if I were him". (Arthur) He dealt with it by talking to God and took the first step in his spiritual development. This was compounded by an illness that prompted some prophetic dreams and caused him to reevaluate his relationship with God.

To retain his sanity he kept a daily journal. As time passed he became a skilled craftsman and built many things such as a small boat to journey around the island. He was there about fifteen-years when one day he discovered a man's footprint. Naturally, he was afraid and was very cautious after that.

Sometime later, cannibals landed on the island. After freeing their victim, he named him Friday. Then he taught Friday English and religion, and converted him to Protestantism. Friday soon became his humble and devoted slave.

This is probably one of the many reasons that Robinson Crusoe's adventures were, and are still so popular. "A German critic called this novel a world book." [i] I cannot help but feel that this further justifies how Defoe created a real hero using an almost mystic power.

Many critics liked it and had some interesting comments on it. Among them was Sir Walter Scott. Around 1827, he wrote a very good essay on it. In it he said, "...on the whole...Robinson Crusoe is put to so many trials of ingenuity ...his solitude- is so... diversified, and the accounts of his thoughts and activities so detailed, that it embraces a far wider circle of investigation into human nature that could be derived from Selkirk... Perhaps Defoe knew Selkirk well enough to know that the solitude calmed his stormy passions and changed him from a wild seaman into a grave, sober and reflective man; but Crusoe's moral and religious awakening and actions are important passages." [ii]

The story has a lot of artistic value too. The most relevant aspects present human experiences such as survival techniques. This is illustrated by how he endured all his sea voyages and shipwrecks. And being- abandoned on the island alone for so many years. The story speaks to the reader in a modest, serious and religious manner. It illustrates how perseverance and faith in God helped him achieve his dreams, despite overwhelming odds.

Those are just some of the many elements in life that contribute to man's problems. Like it or not, we all have certain basic needs. Abraham Maslow, a psychologist, named them the order of hierarchy: a) breathing, b) eating, c) sleeping, d) excreting, e) love." [iii]

While some of them apply to the novel. Upon examining and comparing the character, a critic named W.C. Roscoe said,"...modern history, as we might expect tends to be too biographical in its character. While biography is far less content that it- used- to-be with stringing together the events of a man's life, and aims at searching for, examining and exhibiting man's whole nature. The same reasons that tended to make character a more universal subject of study have also tended to give it a form which has made newer and more exhaustive methods of treating it more necessary for its exhibition." [iv]

If examining his personality and life we see that he was no land lover and was-destined-to go-to sea. It did not matter that he lacked experience and was totally ignorant about what life would be like on a ship. But he had to go even though he would have been well provided for if he stayed at home.

In fact, in Chapter One: I Go To Sea, his father told him to seek out "the middle station in life." (p. 10) He did not realize that it is a place where "people have two meals a day and are the most frustrated because those who have one meal a day are complacent. And those who have three are content. When you have two you are so close, yet so far." (Tom) His dad felt that it was the best state in the world. He thought it was the best thing for his son because it offered happiness and shelter from many of life's hardships. Yet, as the story progressed, the latter seemed to have plagued him anyway: one disaster was followed by another.

But that is a part of nature and so is man. We are created from the Earth's dust like all things. It is a force containing life's most powerful elements. One of the things that makes- the story so good is the illustrations: Defoe shows Crusoe's ingenuity when he planted crops. Although it is a sixteenth century story that seemed to have been written only yesterday.

Humans are all part of the same family and this story shows the human nature that exists in us all. We are more alike than many people would ever admit. One reason is because we are like snowflakes: we are all made of the same stuff, come from nothing and return to it. And have the same basic instincts for survival.

It is safe to say that he must have figured this out since he spent most of his life struggling just to survive. He needed protection from wild animals, cannibals and the elements of nature. So he made shelter and searched for food, all very basic needs.

Many critics say he patronized people who were inferior, or obligated to him. Others felt he was very materialistic and an opportunist. He always seem to want more and made many business transactions through most of the novel. In Chapters Two and Three, he made a 260 pound profit in a short time by turning 40 pounds into 300. That must have been a lot of money then. This is illustrated in Chapter Four when still desiring wealth he sailed to Africa for slaves to work his plantation. It was reinforced in Chapter Six, I Furnished Myself with Many Things. The title said his outlook on what was important in life to him at the time.

He could also be seen as a manipulator: he always took advantage of people in difficult situations. One could also ask was he really religious; or did he only use God as a crutch or cosmic Santa Claus when he was in trouble? Most of the chapters illustrated his struggle for survival.

The story is artistic in its presentation of the character's actions, plot development and conclusion. People usually want to return home and he was no exception. He eventually returned home to England to find that he became a wealthy man. So he sold his plantation in Brazil and settled down for a while. His paternalistic qualities came through when he took care of his nephew for seven years. This probably helped him realize that a family helps make you happy; so he married and three children. But it was not long before the sea called to him. I suspect that Defoe was being somewhat autobiographical when writing this.

All in all, it is a long, imaginative, literary masterpiece that has been very successfully retold in various adaptations and translations for years. There were a few cartoon adaptations and three television series based on him. Two popular television series in the 1960's were Gilligan's Island: a situation- comedy about seven people stranded on a deserted island. The theme song said they are "... stranded on a desert island with no lights, another series about a family stranded on a deserted island and hoping to be rescued. I bet Defoe and Crusoe would be stunned to see the tale still being retold in so many variations.

Perhaps because the -story was easily understood, adventurous and a good educational experience. I learned a lot from the story and think it has considerable value. His perseverance and determination were very impressive! Probably because I worked to- earn two college-degrees after rupturing-a-disc at work, and losing my job. I learned that anyone can overcome adversity and hardship if they are willing to work hard. It really struck a nerve in me and I have begun searching my soul to see if we have anything else in common. I hope that it will help me grow as a person. It also taught me that I can -be strong and cope with adverse situations too.

The story's message/theme is life is not easy. But if you hold on to your dreams they can come true. That does not mean you have to go it alone. No man is an island and although many people do not care to admit it, people need people! Sharing your grief and joy with others enriches life. Hopefully it will help readers learn to cope with life and reevaluate theirs. To me life is a set of solutions to a matching set of problems.

Works Cited
1. The New Encyclopedia Britannica, l987, pp. 957-959. Lincoln, Nebraska.

2. World Literature Criticism, 1500 to the Present. A selection of major Authors from Gales Literacy Criticisms Series, Volume II, p. 868.

3. Psychology Today. Harper and Runon, 3rd edition. McMillan publishing. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1995.

4. McGowan, Cynthia. Cliffs Notes on Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, p. 19.

5. World Literature Criticism, 1500 to the Present. A selection of major Authors from Gales Literacy Criticisms Series, Volume II, p. 868.

Holstrom, Arthur. Personal Interview, 30 June 1998.
Karfunkel, Thomas. Personal Interview, 15 July 1996.