Robinson Crusoe is
shipwrecked and lives for 28 years on an
uninhabited island on the coast of America. The author uses Crusoe’s
ordeal of living alone for such a long period of time not merely as an adventurous tale which it first seems to be, but also as a moral and religious devise to highlight the virtues of solitude and self-reliance. Crusoe being the sole survivor in a shipwreck, could have lost hope and sunk into despair; but this did not happen. His loneliness did not deter him from making an effort to assure himself of a life with basic necessities.
Crusoe keeps an account of himself through his day to day activities by writing his journal and marking his arrival with the date on the cross which he puts up. His arrival on the island makes him mindful of himself at all times. His experience on the island deepens his self-awareness, as he is compelled to withdraw from the external social world populated by human beings. He keeps a record of his daily activities like waiting inside while it rains, finding a few pieces of wood on the beach etc.
He meets a native of the island on a Friday and names him Friday. Crusoe stirs Friday to a new level of awareness. He teaches him English words and discusses religion with him. Friday helps Crusoe build a boat which can take him back to civilization. When the boat is ready and they are to sail the next morning, there is a heavy storm. The boat is washed away and they are stuck on the island again.
Repentance is born out of experience for Crusoe and it marks a new phase in his life. After repentance, he views the island more positively and complains less about his sad fate.
Robinson Crusoe is
shipwrecked and lives for 28 years on an
uninhabited island on the coast of America. The author uses Crusoe’s ordeal of living alone for such a long period of time not merely as an adventurous tale which it first seems to be, but also as a moral and religious devise to highlight the virtues of solitude and self-reliance. Crusoe being the sole survivor in a shipwreck, could have lost hope and sunk into despair; but this did not happen. His loneliness did not deter him from making an effort to assure himself of a life with basic necessities.
Crusoe keeps an account of himself through his day to day activities by writing his journal and marking his arrival with the date on the cross which he puts up. His arrival on the island makes him mindful of himself at all times. His experience on the island deepens his self-awareness, as he is compelled to withdraw from the external social world populated by human beings. He keeps a record of his daily activities like waiting inside while it rains, finding a few pieces of wood on the beach etc.
He meets a native of the island on a Friday and names him Friday. Crusoe stirs Friday to a new level of awareness. He teaches him English words and discusses religion with him. Friday helps Crusoe build a boat which can take him back to civilization. When the boat is ready and they are to sail the next morning, there is a heavy storm. The boat is washed away and they are stuck on the island again.
Repentance is born out of experience for Crusoe and it marks a new phase in his life. After repentance, he views the island more positively and complains less about his sad fate.