Robinson Crusoe

Daniel Defoe
Key Facts about Robinson Crusoe
 When Written: Shortly before 1719
 Where Written: England
 When Published: 1719
 Literary Period: Robinson Crusoe is often regarded as one of the foundational novels of
literary realism.
 Genre: Novel, adventure story.
 Setting: England, Morocco, Brazil, an uninhabited island in the Caribbean, Portugal,
Spain, and France, in the mid-to-late 17th century.
 Climax: Robinson rescues the English captain, helps him recapture his ship, and finally
leaves his island.
 Antagonist: Robinson mostly struggles against the forces of nature (from storms to
earthquakes to wild wolves), which can themselves be regarded as instruments of fate and
God's providence.
 Perspective and Narrator: The character Robinson Crusoe is the first-person narrator of
Robinson Crusoe.
 Tense: Robinson Crusoe is written in the past tense.
 About the Title: Robinson Crusoe was originally published with a long title: The Life
and Strange Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe of York, Mariner: Written by
Himself. Although not all readers believed the story was true, the tale of the castaway's
adventures was captivating, as evidenced by the immediate popularity of the book. The
name Crusoe—which Robinson says in the opening chapter was corrupted when the
original family surname Kreutznaer was translated into English—might have been
selected by Defoe as a nod to his classmate Timothy Cruso, who wrote guidebooks. As
for the name Robinson, it soon came into use as the new name of a special genre,
featuring people shipwrecked on deserted islands: "Robinsonade."

Context
The Story of Scottish Sailor Alexander Selkirk
Robinson Crusoe reflects its author's interests and experiences. It was written in the midst of
ongoing English conflicts between Protestantism and Catholicism, and Robinson Crusoe's
religious journey addresses various aspects of these conflicts. His encounters with sailors of
different nationalities and natives of different continents are flavored with political intrigue
and Defoe's experiences in the trade.
However, the most direct influence and inspiration for Robinson Crusoe is the story of Scottish
sailor Alexander Selkirk. A shoemaker's son from the town of Fife, Selkirk ran away to sea as a
young man, just as Crusoe runs away from his family. However, unlike Crusoe, Selkirk also
reportedly engaged in a fistfight with his father and two brothers. He also left at least one alleged
wife behind in Scotland. He became a privateer, or legalized pirate, and spent several years
raiding Spanish ships off the Pacific coast of South America on behalf of the English
government. During a conflict with the captain of his ship in 1704 off the coast of Chile, Selkirk
demanded to be left on a nearby island. The captain obliged, and Selkirk stayed there for over
four years. When he returned to England in 1709, his story became well known.
The island Selkirk likely occupied is in the Juan Fernandez archipelago, roughly 400 miles off
the western coast of Chile. The second-largest island in the cluster is named Isla Alejandro
Selkirk (also known as Isla Más Afuera) for Selkirk. The largest island, known as Isla Más a
Tierra, is now sometimes called Isla Robinson Crusoe. However, Crusoe comes to understand
from Friday that his island is near the island of Trinidad, in the Caribbean Sea. Isla Robinson
Crusoe (and the location of Selkirk's island) is off the coast of Chile, in the South Pacific.
Lasting Literary Legacy
Better known by its abbreviated title Robinson Crusoe, Defoe's The Life and Adventures of
Robinson Crusoe enjoyed unprecedented popularity upon its publication in 1719. It went through
nine printings in its first year alone. The amazing success of the novel inspired Defoe to publish
two sequels in short order: The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, which appeared in 1719,
and Serious Reflections of Robinson Crusoe, which he published in 1720. Neither sequel sold as
well as the original, but Defoe's success as a novelist was already secure and enduring. Since its
first publication, Robinson Crusoe has been translated into more than 100 languages and adapted
in a number of ways—including children's books and graphic novels. It has remained in print
continuously since 1719. The novel is commonly regarded as one of the most influential books
of all time because of its thoughtful portrayal of a protagonist whom readers readily identify as
an ordinary man who is on an incredible adventure.
In the years since its publication, Robinson Crusoe inspired many other literary works. The first
was Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels in 1726. And the work's influence has been consistent,
with a noticeable impact on such popular novels as Johann David Wyss's The Swiss Family
Robinson (1812) and William Golding's Lord of the Flies (1954). South African novelist J.M.
Coetzee used Robinson Crusoe as a jumping-off point for his 1986 novel Foe, an exploration of
the powers of language and narrative. The novel has seen a number of film adaptations and
influenced numerous films and television series, including Lost (2004–10), Cast Away (2000),
and The Martian (2015). The classic television comedy Gilligan's Island (1964–67), the
continuing saga of seven hapless tourists stranded on an island near Hawaii, directly
mentions Robinson Crusoe in its theme song.
 Colonization and Racism
Some modern readers may be taken aback by the attitudes and language of Robinson Crusoe
about native culture. In many ways, Robinson Crusoe epitomizes English colonialism, the
practice of acquiring foreign lands, inhabiting the lands with settlers, and exploiting native
people and resources for the economic gain of England. The practice began in the late 16th
century and continued into the 20th century, affecting many regions of the world, including the
Americas, India, and Africa, among others. Robinson Crusoe's island becomes a microcosm of
the British Empire. Crusoe rules the area through a lens of cultural superiority as he brings to the
island and its people his language, a system of naming, habits, and religion in an attempt to
westernize the area. His use of terms such as savages and creatures also conveys this attitude of
superiority and works to dehumanize and subjugate the native people.

Characters

Character Description

Robinson Crusoe is a merchant, adventurer, and landowner who spends 28 years

Robinson Crusoe
shipwrecked on an island. Read More

Friday Friday is Robinson Crusoe's native companion and servant on the island. Read More

Robinson Crusoe's friend urges him to join the voyage to London, thereby setting Crusoe
Robinson Crusoe's friend
upon his life of adventure.

Robinson Crusoe's wife marries Crusoe after he returns from Brazil, and she bears three
Robinson Crusoe's wife
children.

The English captain helps Robinson Crusoe return from the island to England after
English captain
Crusoe helps him overthrow a mutiny on his ship.

Friday's father Friday's father is rescued from a group of cannibals by Friday and Robinson Crusoe.

The Moor, whose name is Ismael, is the man whom Robinson Crusoe tricks into helping
The Moor supply the long boat and whom Crusoe then pushes into the water as he and Xury escape
from slavery.
Mr. Crusoe Mr. Crusoe is Robinson Crusoe's father who warns him against wandering.

Mrs. Crusoe is Robinson Crusoe's mother who urges him to listen to his father and stay at
Mrs. Crusoe
home.

The pirate The pirate is a Moroccan sea captain who takes Robinson Crusoe into slavery.

The Portuguese captain rescues Robinson Crusoe and Xury after the two escape from
Portuguese captain
slavery in Morocco.

The Spaniard is a prisoner rescued from the natives by Robinson Crusoe, and together
The Spaniard
they make a plan to escape from the island.

Wells Wells is Robinson Crusoe's neighbor in Brazil who owns the nearby plantation.

The widow of a ship's captain, she manages Robinson Crusoe's money when he travels
The widow
and even after he is stranded on the island.

Xury Xury is a young slave boy who helps Robinson Crusoe escape captivity in Africa.

Quotes
1.
  Being the third son of the family and not bred to any trade, my head began to be filled very
early with rambling thoughts. 

Robinson Crusoe, Chapter 1
Appearing near the very beginning of the novel, this statement makes clear that Robinson
Crusoe's wanderlust starts when he is very young and appears to be inexorable.
2.
  In a word, as the sea was returned to its smoothness of surface ... my fears and apprehensions
of being swallowed up by the sea being forgotten, and the current of my former desires returned,
I entirely forgot the vows and promises that I made in my distress. 
Robinson Crusoe, Chapter 1
On his first voyage, Robinson Crusoe immediately regrets his decision as he becomes ill in rough
seas. He repents and promises to go home if he gets out of this mess. As is typical of so many
repentances, though, once the danger has passed, he continues on his chosen course.
3.
  The boy smiled in my face, and spoke so innocently that I could not distrust him, and swore to
be faithful to me, and go all over the world with me. 

Robinson Crusoe, Chapter 2
Xury, a slave boy Robinson Crusoe meets during his captivity in Morocco, helps Crusoe escape
and swears total allegiance to Crusoe. In spite of Xury's loyalty, Crusoe will later sell him to the
captain of the Portuguese ship who rescues the two of them.
4.
  The generous treatment the captain gave me I can never enough remember. 

Robinson Crusoe, Chapter 3
The Portuguese ship captain is kind to Robinson Crusoe and Xury, allowing them free passage
and helping Crusoe get settled in Brazil.
5.
  Upon the whole, here was an undoubted testimony that there was scarce any condition in the
world so miserable but there was something negative or something positive to be thankful for in
it. 

Robinson Crusoe, Chapter 4
Once he has landed on the island, Robinson Crusoe reflects on his new circumstances. He is
stranded, but he also salvages a number of useful items from the shipwreck and finds the island
reasonably plentiful in food. His observation that even the worst situation contains some reason
to give thanks speaks of a deeply rooted optimism in his character.
6.
  I rejected the voice of Providence, which had mercifully put me in a posture or station of life
wherein I might have been happy and easy; but I would neither see it myself nor learn to know
the blessing of it from my parents. 
Robinson Crusoe, Chapter 6
Believing God is punishing him for leaving his home and family, Robinson Crusoe laments his
state on the island and finally feels true regret and repentance for his past mistakes.
7.
  And now I saw how easy it was for the providence of God to make even the most miserable
condition of mankind worse. 

Robinson Crusoe, Chapter 10
On his first voyage after building a canoe for himself, Robinson Crusoe almost finds himself
washed away from the island in a strong current. As much as he has lamented being isolated on
the island, he now understands that his situation could be far worse.
8.
  I have been, in all my circumstances, a memento to those who are touched with the general
plague of mankind, whence, for aught I know, one half of their miseries flow: I mean that of not
being satisfied with the station wherein God and Nature hath placed them. 

Robinson Crusoe, Chapter 14
As he has done before, Robinson Crusoe acknowledges the cause of his miseries has been his
inability to settle in one place and be satisfied with his good fortune. More than that, though, he
acknowledges this may be a universal problem.
9.
  It is true I had been very unfortunate by sea, and this might be one of the reasons; but let no
man slight the strong impulses of his own thoughts in cases of such moment. 

Robinson Crusoe, Chapter 19
In deciding how to travel from Lisbon to London, Robinson Crusoe follows his instincts and opts
to go by land, which is fortunate because the ships he considered traveling on met with disaster.
He has learned not to ignore his instincts.
10.
  Any one would think that in this state of complicated good fortune I was past running any more
hazards—and so, indeed, I had been, if other circumstances had concurred; but I was inured to
a wandering life. 
Robinson Crusoe, Chapter 20
Even after all the disasters he has experienced, including 28 years marooned on an island,
Robinson Crusoe's wanderlust is not quenched.

Important Quotes Explained

Quote 1
“O drug!” said I aloud, “what art thou good for? Thou art not worth to me, no, not the taking
off of the ground; one of those knives is worth all this heap; I have no manner of use for thee;
e’en remain where thou art and go to the bottom as a creature whose life is not worth saving.”
However, upon second thoughts, I took it away. . . .
Crusoe’s contradictory relationship with money is seen in this affirmation in Chapter VI, when
he declares that the gold he discovers is worthless, only moments before hauling it away for
safekeeping. He does the same thing many years later, expressing scorn for the treasure on the
Spanish wreck, but then taking it to shore. The conflict between spiritual aims (scorning worldly
wealth) and material ambitions (hoarding gold) reflects the novel’s tension between the practical
and the religious. Moreover, Crusoe’s combination of disdain and desire for money is also
interesting because Crusoe is conscious of his conflicted feelings only in a limited way. He calls
money a drug and admits that he is addicted—but he is not interested in the way he fails to
practice what he preaches. We see how Defoe’s focus in the novel is primarily on the practical
rather than the psychological, despite the fascinating aspects of Crusoe’s mind. Crusoe’s mixed
feelings about the gold also reflect his nostalgia for human society, since he tells us that money
has no value in itself, unlike the useful knives to which he compares it. It has only a social worth,
and thus reminds us that Crusoe may still be a social creature despite his isolation.
Quote 2
My island was now peopled, and I thought myself very rich in subjects; and it was a merry
reflection, which I frequently made, how like a king I looked. First of all, the whole country was
my own mere property, Baso that I had an undoubted right of dominion. Secondly, my people
were perfectly subjected. I was absolute lord and lawgiver, they all owed their lives to me, and
were ready to lay down their lives, if there had been occasion of it, for me.
This passage, from Chapter XXV, shows us Crusoe’s astonishing ability throughout the novel to
claim possession of things. He sells his fellow slave Xury to the Portuguese captain even though
he has no claim of ownership over the boy. He seizes the contents of two wrecked ships and
takes Friday as his servant immediately after meeting him. Most remarkably, he views the island
itself as “my own mere property” over which he has “an undoubted right of dominion.” We may
wonder why he has no reason to at least doubt his right of dominion, but his faith in his property
rights seems absolute. Moreover, Crusoe’s conception of property determines his understanding
of politics. He jokes about his “merry reflection” of looking like a king, but it seems more than a
merry thought when he refers to “my people” being “perfectly subjected.” Kingship is like
ownership for Crusoe. He does not mention any duties or obligations toward his people. His
subjects are for him like his possessions: he imagines them grateful for being owned, expecting
nothing further from Crusoe. Of course, this view is only Crusoe’s presumption. It is hard to
believe that the Spaniard sincerely sees himself as “perfectly subjected” to Crusoe, even if
Crusoe does save his life. Nevertheless, Crusoe’s personal point of view dominates the novel and
shows us how deeply colonialism depended on a self-righteous, proprietary way of thinking.
Quote 3
I was born in the year 1632, in the city of York, of a good family, though not of that country, my
father being a foreigner of Bremen who settled first at Hull. He got a good estate by
merchandise and, leaving off his trade, lived afterward at York, from whence he had married my
mother whose relations were named Robinson, a very good family in that country, and from
whom I was called Robinson Kreutznaer; but by the usual corruption of words in England we
are called, nay, we call ourselves, and write our name “Crusoe,” and so my companions always
called me.
Crusoe’s opening words in Chapter I show us the fact-oriented, practical, and unsentimental
mind that will carry him through his ordeal. Crusoe introduces his parents objectively through
their nationalities, professions, and places of origin and residence. There is no hint of emotional
attachment either here or later, when Crusoe leaves his parents forever. In fact, there is no
expression of affection whatsoever. The passage also shows that leaving home may be a habit
that runs in the family: Crusoe’s father was an emigrant, just as Crusoe later becomes when he
succumbs to his “rambling” thoughts and leaves England. Crusoe’s originally foreign name is an
interesting symbol of his emigrant status, especially since it had to be changed to adapt to
English understanding. We see that Crusoe has long grasped the notion of adapting to one’s
environment, and that identities—or at least names—may change when people change places.
This name change foreshadows the theme of Crusoe’s changing identity on his island, when he
teaches Friday that his name is Master.
Quote 4
I might well say now indeed, that the latter end of Job was better than the beginning. It is
impossible to express here the flutterings of my very heart when I looked over these letters, and
especially when I found all my wealth about me; for as the Brazil ships come all in fleets, the
same ships which brought my letters brought my goods. . . .
Crusoe’s comparison of himself to the biblical character Job in Chapter XXIX, after his return to
England, reveals much about how he gives his ordeal religious meaning. In Crusoe’s mind, his
shipwreck and solitude are not random disastrous events but segments of an elaborate lesson in
Christian patience. Like Job, whose faith was tested by God through the loss of family and
wealth, Crusoe is deprived of his fortune while nevertheless retaining his faith in Providence.
This passage also showcases Crusoe’s characteristic neutral tone—the detached, deadpan style in
which he narrates even thrilling events. Although he reports that the emotional effects make his
heart flutter, he displays very little emotion in the passage, certainly not the joy expected of
someone who suddenly becomes wealthy. The biblical grandeur of the original Job is lost in
Crusoe’s ordinary and conversational opening, “I might very well say now.” We see how Crusoe
is far better suited to plodding and mundane everyday life than to dramatic sublimity. Even when
the events call for drama, Crusoe seems to do all he can to make them humdrum. This emphasis
on the ordinary was a new trend in English literature and is a major characteristic of the novel,
which Defoe helped invent.
Quote 5
But no sooner were my eyes open, but I saw my Poll sitting on top of the hedge; and immediately
knew that it was he that spoke to me; for just in such bemoaning language I had used to talk to
him, and teach him; and he learned it so perfectly that he would sit upon my finger and lay his
bill close to my face, and cry, “Poor Robin Crusoe! Where are you? Where have you been? How
come you here?” and such things as I had taught him.
When Crusoe returns from his nearly fatal canoe trip in Chapter XVI to find his parrot calling his
name, the scene expresses the pathos of having only a bird to welcome him home. Crusoe
domesticates the bird in an attempt to provide himself with a substitute family member, as we
learn later when he refers to his pets in Chapter XVII as his “family.” Poll’s friendly address to
his master foreshadows Friday’s role as conversation partner in Crusoe’s life. Crusoe’s solitude
may not be as satisfying as he lets on. Moreover, Poll’s words show a self-pitying side of Crusoe
that he never reveals in his narration. Teaching the bird to call him “poor” in a “bemoaning” tone
shows that he may feel more like complaining than he admits in his story and that his Christian
patience might be wearing thin. Poll’s greeting also has a spiritual significance: it comes right
after Crusoe’s near-death experience in the canoe, and it seems to come from a disembodied
speaker, since Crusoe imagines a person must be addressing him. It seems like a mystical
moment until the words are revealed not to be God’s, but Crusoe’s own words repeated by a
bird. Cut off from human communication, Crusoe seems cut off from divine communication too
—he can only speak to himself.