A Critical Review of Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe

MODERN NOVEL

A Critical Review of Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe

Name: Ayesha Azam

Student ID: BSEN012413010

Submitted to: Muhammad Adnan Gujjar

Department of English Language and Literature

University of Chenab, Gujrat, Pakistan

Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe is a famous eighteenth-century novel that artistically describes the struggles and experiences of a man named Robinson Crusoe, who belongs to a middle-class family in England. His father is a merchant who prefers a peaceful and comfortable life for his son. However, Crusoe loves travelling and adventure and wants to explore different places. The novel highlights his struggles, hard work, determination, and personal development. Its adventurous plot and realistic narration continue to attract readers.

Defoe clearly elaborates on the experiences of Robinson Crusoe, making the plot realistic and engaging. At the beginning of the novel, Crusoe goes to sea on a ship and faces the consequences of his decision. A terrible storm destroys the ship, and Crusoe becomes lonely because there is no one else with him. Eventually, he lands on an island where he appears to be the only human being. He faces many difficulties, including the problem of finding food and shelter. He collects useful supplies and equipment from the wrecked ship and gradually learns how to survive. He spends years on the island, starts farming, keeps animals, and builds a life through determination and hard work.

Another important part of Crusoe’s life is his experience of slavery. He spends almost two years as a slave after being captured by pirates. He becomes terrified and hopeless because of his situation. Xury, a young companion, helps him escape. Crusoe eventually reaches Brazil, where he works hard and becomes the owner of a plantation. Through his labour and enterprise, he becomes wealthy.

A further important aspect of the novel is Crusoe’s growing closeness to religion. As he is isolated on the island, he turns increasingly towards God. He reads the Bible and reflects on his life and actions. Although he initially feels threatened, confused, and lonely, his experiences gradually make him more confident, patient, and determined. His spiritual development becomes an important part of his transformation.

One of the most interesting parts of the novel is the friendship between Crusoe and Friday. After discovering a footprint on the island, Crusoe realizes that other people may visit the island. Later, he rescues a man from cannibals and names him Friday. Friday helps overcome Crusoe’s loneliness, and the two work and live together. Crusoe teaches Friday and gives him advice. Crusoe is presented as hardworking, while Friday is shown as intelligent and helpful. At the same time, their relationship reflects the colonial attitudes of the period, and Crusoe’s treatment of Friday as a subordinate has attracted critical discussion.

One important theme of the novel is individualism. Crusoe lives according to his own decisions and becomes increasingly independent. He solves many problems by himself and learns to fulfil his basic needs through hard work. In this sense, the novel presents an individual who relies on his own abilities and practical skills to survive difficult circumstances.

After spending a long period in different countries and on the island, Crusoe begins to remember his parents and siblings. He eventually decides to return to his homeland. With assistance, he travels to England by ship. When he arrives, he learns that his parents are no longer alive, although he has become wealthy through his experiences and enterprises.

Defoe’s writing style is simple, detailed, and realistic. He carefully describes Crusoe’s situations, whether he is experiencing fear, confusion, happiness, or loneliness. The use of first-person, autobiographical-style narration contributes to the realism of the novel and allows readers to experience Crusoe’s thoughts and experiences closely.

The novel also illustrates the relationship between human beings and nature. Crusoe gradually learns to live with and appreciate his natural surroundings. The island becomes the setting in which he observes trees, clouds, animals, and other elements of nature while adapting his life to his environment. However, the detailed narration can also make the novel lengthy for some readers. While some readers appreciate the detailed descriptions, others may find the extended narrative difficult to follow.

Robinson Crusoe became popular because of its adventure, travel, survival, and realistic presentation of human experience. Defoe skillfully narrates Crusoe’s circumstances and development. The novel is an important work of eighteenth-century English literature and is generally associated with the development of realism in the English novel. It also portrays Crusoe’s transformation from a disobedient and careless young man into someone who learns that wealth alone is not the most important thing in life.

After reading the novel, I appreciate Crusoe’s desire to travel and explore because his experiences teach him valuable lessons. He achieves wealth and independence, but he also experiences loss, loneliness, fear, and hardship. His adventures therefore become a source of learning and personal growth. Without leaving his familiar surroundings, he might never have gained these experiences and lessons.

In conclusion, Robinson Crusoe is an adventurous and influential novel of the eighteenth century. Daniel Defoe presents Crusoe’s sacrifices, hard work, learning, spirituality, and personal transformation through a detailed and realistic narrative. His life is full of challenges, but his patience and determination help him survive and develop. The novel continues to interest readers because it combines adventure with themes of individualism, survival, religion, nature, and personal growth.

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