Defoe

Defoe (born in 1660) is considered the founder of the English novel; he wrote for the middle class. He worked in trade and politics. At age of 60, he published "The Life and Strange Adventures of Robinson Crusoe of York, Mariner", which was based partly on the memoirs of voyagers and castaways and which brought him fame.

The plot

It's the story of a man who is shipwrecked off a desert island where he spends the next 28 years before being rescued. The story is divided into three parts.

1. First Part: is told briefly about Crusoe's early life and about how he runs away from home to sea rather than accept the life of leisure his father promises him. He becomes a Brazilian tation owner. He, on a journey for procure African slaves to work for him (with other tation owners), is shipwrecked. Washed ashore on a desert island, he is the only survivor.

2. Second Part: this part is on the form of a journal in which Crusoe writes about life on the island; how he uses his strength and intelligence to overcome the difficulties of his situation and eventually become master of the island. In this part Robinson met the savage Friday; he resolves to convert to Christianity, teaching him the rudiments of his language and culture.

3. Third and Final Part: tells of their rescue and of Crusoe's return to England with Friday as his servant.

Stylistic features

"Robinson Crusoe" is written in the first person in the form of an autobiography. Defoe adds a preface which states "The editor believes this thing to be a just History of fact; neither is there any appearance of fiction in it"; we are led to believe that is the story of a real man, and that Defoe is merely the editor.

The style is very matter of fact, following the principles promoted by the Royal Society. The book is detailed verisimilitude, or resemblance to reality.

We are given little or no access to Crusoe's inner thoughts or feeling, he generally tells us only about his actions and about what physically happens to him. Occasionally he reflects on religious questions.

One of the themes of the book is the Puritan idea of man's redemption on earth.

Interpretations:

1. The religious allegory:

A puritan tract about man's redemption from sin; the man must save himself from original sin on Earth, regaining the paradise he has lost thought his labour and self-reliance.

The island is at first an "island of despair", but he gradually transforms it into a paradise of which he is master, through his virtues of intelligence and hard work. Crusoe doesn't ask God for salvation but relies only upon his own labours.

2. The economic allegory:

The book also function as an allegory of merchant capitalism: the mini-civilisation which Crusoe established on the island is similar to the society from which he comes. The island, in his opinion, is his property; he gives himself an arduous work routine; Friday is employed by him as a servant.

Crusoe embodies the values of the self-made man. He is like a businessman who, starting from nothing, slowly builds himself an empire.

3. The imperialist allegory:

The book is considered as an allegory of British imperialism because it attempts to demonstrate the white, Christian Crusoe's inherent superiority over the savage Friday, who must be civilised and converted to Christianity. Robinson sees it as his right to be lord and master of the island despite the fact that Friday was there before him.