Unit V

Unit V

Fiction

Robinson Crusoe -Daniel Defoe

Plot construction of Robinson Crusoe

The plot structure of Robinson Crusoe is loosely constructed. It is episodic. It is not integrated. W.H.Hudson has observed about this novel, "No attempt was made towards the organization of the material into a systematic plot". The theme that runs throughout his words provides unity to them. It is the justification of the ways of God to men and the surety of eternal life. The novel 'Robinson Crusoe ' is also harmoniously bound by its theme.

The plot of 'Robinson Crusoe ' is the theme of the prodigal son. In the biblical parable we read that the son runs away with his share to a far-off country, spends it, starves , feels lone , returns to his father , repents for his sin and is forgiven by his father who asks his servant to kill a fatted calf so that they may eat and make merry. We have in 'Robinson Crusoe' sin , punishment, repentance and forgiveness. The father who forgives Robinson is God, the father of us all. Robinson commits several sins. He runs away without seeking the permission of his father and the blessing of God. In Brazil he commits the sin of satisfying the immoderate desire of rising faster than nature permits. On the island, in his venture of going around the island on the canoe, he runs away from imprisonment.

God first cautions him when his ship bound to London is tossed about by the waves of the sea. Robinson Crusoe promises to return home if God spares his life. But he commits the sin of breaking his promise and he is made slave. God the father does not kill him because he wants him to realize his sin and repent. He tortures him with loneliness. Robinson cries from the depth of his heart:

O that there had been but one or two , nay, or

but one soul saved out of this ship.

God the father melts. He offers him first a savage Friday and then Friday's father and a Spaniard. The fearful dream does not allow him to sleep. He has evil conscience.

Character of Robinson Crusoe

Robinson Crusoe is a restless wanderer. He is a portrait of Defoe himself. The novel is popular because of Robinson. He is a rich and complex character. He suffers from sea fever. We find the spirit of his wandering inclination in the following line.

All these miscarriages were procured by my apparent obstinate . adhering to my foolish inclination of wandering abroad.

His wandering thirst is not quenched even at the fag end of his life inspite of the horrifying dangers on the sea and the loneliness of the island.

Robinson expresses feeling of guilt and repentance for his wrong resolutions.

"I resolved not to think of going abroad anymore but to settle . at home according to my father's desire. But Alas! a few dats . wore it off "

He is a blend of spiritualism and materialism. On the one hand he prays to God and reads Bible and on the other hand he wishes for money. He become religious only in his later life.

The novel is full of his money- matters, and his worldliness. While sailing for Guinea for the first time, he collects 40 pounds from his relatives and earn 260 pounds in Brazil. He wants to become a planter because he has seen planters flourishing . When he sees cannibals enjoying a feast in human flesh, he wants to kill them. Therefore he is a partisan. He is a coward. He feels frightened to death during ship wreaks and storms. One of his chief virtues is his ingenuity.

Loneliness on the solitary island causes tears in his eyes. He knows that he is in the hands of cruel forces of nature. Robinson is an expert planner of strategy. He shows his ingenuity in planning release from slavery in Salley. He is able to protect and preserve himself because he doesn't loose the presence of his mind. It is evident in the encounter with the cannibals. He is religious too. When he is imprisoned in the lonely island for 28 years, he turns religious. He thanks God for saving his life. He reads the Bible regularly. He makes Friday religious. Robinson is generous. He helps the poor widow and gives her 100 pounds. He sends her one hundred pounds to comfort her in her poverty and promises to give her more. He helps his two sisters by sending them 100 pounds each. He praises his partner for his industry and helps him. He returns 872 moidores to be distributed among the poor and the monastery. His besetting sin is only a flaw. His sin us that he robbed his parents of their deep love.

Character of Friday

Friday is a cannibal. The name Friday is given to this cannibal by Robinson who rescues him from the bloody hands of his enemy cannibals. Robinson teaches him many things like speaking "Yes " no" " master", and pray to God to bless him". Soon Friday becomes a Christian and a devoted servant of Robinson. After the release from the imprisonment of the island, he accompanies his master, and passes the rest of his life with him. He is about 26 years. He has all the sweetness and softness of a European in his face. He possesses several qualities like swiftness, boldness, intelligence, affection, patriotism, simplicity and innocence.

Along with ingenuity, he possesses dexterity. Robinson praises this quality in the following line:

"Friday took his aim so much better than I that he killed . . . two of them and wounded three more."

He does not possess only the sense of humour, he is also the cause of humour. Robinson simply shoots a kid under a tree but Friday fears that he is hurt. When Robinson kills a parrot with the gun, Friday is so much afraid of the gun that he almost worships it. He does not touch it for several days . He shows his boldness in his encounter with rival cannibals, in the encounter with the seamen and then on the mountain in his encounter with the bear and the ferocious wolves. He can work hard. He beats the corn and swifts. He does all other things on the island. What is most remarkable for him is his love, which is affectionate for his father, patriotism for his country as service for his master.

He bears deep love for his country. When he sees his motherland from the hill, he becomes happy:

" o joy! says he, o glad! There are my country, there my nation.

He bears intense love for his father, when he sees his father, who was t be killed and eaten the rival cannibals, he feels happy. He runs wildly to bring water and food for him. Friday loves Robinson for saving his life. He expresses his gratitude to him. What we value most Friday is his simplicity. Above all he is innocent. When Robinson kills a kid, Friday rips up his waistcoat to feel if he is not wounded. Simple, honest and innocent are the qualities of Friday. He is open- hearted. There is no guile about him. Robinson says:

"He told me all he knew with the greatest openness imaginable."



Robinson Crusoe as a religious allegory.

Robinson Crusoe is a story of suspense, action and adventure. It is not only about the outward voyage over the sea. It is also an inner voyage like that of Bunyan's 'The Pilgrims Progress' in which the hero moves towards God. Robinson Crusoe is a religious allegory. It is an adventure in which Robinson explores himself and God. When Robinson finds himself a prisoner

Locked up with the eternal bars and blots of the ocean, is an . . . uninhabited wilderness.

He seeks God and converses with him. Robinson Crusoe is the puritan drama of the soul.

Robinson speaks of God's blessing when leaving for London. He resolves not to set his foot on the ship if it would please God to spare his life. When his life on the ship is in danger he prays, "Lord, be merciful to us." The captain and the crew are at their prayers. When the ship is stranded but somehow Robinson reaches the shore, he address to God in thankfulness:

Lord! how was it possible I could get on shore.

The novel has God on almost every page. Robinson finds himself alone on the desolate island. When he sees a foot print, he loses faith in the mercy of God. His fear banishes all his religious hope. When he sees the cannibals feasting upon the human flesh, he is filled with horror. He says, "Lord have mercy upon me".

When all goes well Robinson prays to God, praises Him and thanks Him but when he feels afflicted, he protests to God. He is thus, like Milton, a blend of Puritanism and Renaissance. Like a puritan, he wants to justify the ways of God, and assert eternal providence(God). As the novel is full of religious and spiritual ideas, mystery is expressed through prophecy, dreams and the mysterious footprint. There is the first prophecy of Robinson's father that if he takes the foolish step of going to sea, God will not bless him. This prophecy comes true. Robinson's own dream of fighting with the cannibals and saving the life of one savage who becomes his slave, comes true. We have in the novel God, providence, prophecy, dream and the footprint. These make the novel religious, mysterious and spiritual. Defoe had puritan learning from his childhood. He had religion in his blood. So Robinson Crusoe is considered as a religious allegory.