Novel Course

2nd year
Assignment 1
Noha Hesham

This extract is from the novel Robinson Crusoe written

by Daniel Defoe. It follows realism principles, as he himself is
considered the father of realism. This extract is from chapter
11, on the 4th of July according to the first person narration.
This is after he had finally awakened to his deliverance from
sickness. This extract reflects the realist-Puritan belief of
predestination, highlights a turning point in Crusoe’s spiritual
journey; in addition, the method of narration sheds light on his
journey towards maturity.

Since realism is also based on Puritan beliefs, this extract

shows the belief of predestination, that is found in almost all
novels with the realist-Puritan perspective. Predestination is a
realistic message illustrating that everyone was born a sinner,
and his/her salvation is predetermined by Providence. This
concept is depicted in Crusoe’s mistakes and disobedience from
the beginning till his realization of his sins and his request for
salvation, not from his situation on the island,but from his sins.
This emphasizes the fact that, Puritan literature relies on the
reader’s fear about God and hell to induce change in the
readers’ minds and souls. It is further shown in the verse he
reads,”He exalted a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance,
and to give remission.”

On one note, this excerpt demonstrates a noticeable

change in Crusoe’s spirituality. We see his spiritual
development, in him turning earnestly to Christianity, as he
finally realizes the error of his ways, and seems to permanently
and sincerely ask for redemption from his sins. Moreover, the
connection between him and God is a direct one. It adds a
sense of bending, as he feels he is being directed towards the
right path, and that he is becoming in alliance with God’s will.
He feels, while reading The Bible, as if the book is talking back
to him, promising him an individual salvation. Furthermore, the
coincidence, with the date of his birth being the same as the
one he got on the island in, foreshadows that his arrival on the
island is his rebirth in order to purify himself from his sins and
mistakes that brought him on the island to begin with. On
another note, we see Crusoe’s maturity, as he finally comes to
perceive the ship wreck no more as a punishment, but an act of
divine will and a sign of Providence being ultimately good. This
highlights the mature individual, and the change that has taken
place because of and since the events have transpired. Besides
that, the use of first person method reveals how the events of
the journey have led to personal growth. By directly addressing
the reader, using the first person point of view, the narrator
portrays Crusoe as one who is able to look with clarity, and to
make sense of what has happened. This is highly effective, as
we witness his internal spiritual awakening and mental
development.

All in all, this excerpt provides a substantial point on

Crusoe’s both spiritual and mental journeys. Moreover, it
provides an explicit depiction of one of Puritan literature’s most
prominent beliefs. In addition, Defoe’s use of the first person
narration adds a clearer perspective of Crusoe’s character and
its mental development. Lastly, this extract serves as a turning
point in Crusoe’s rational and spiritual growth.