Introduction
Robinson Crusoe is a novel by Daniel Dafoe. It is written in a narrative form and revolves around the life of the main character, Robinson Crusoe. Crusoe is passionate about traveling by sea. He defies his parents’ advice to study and became a lawyer. He sets on several voyages. Unfortunately, Defoe faces challenges that have a massive impact on his life. One such event is the shipwreck that occurred while he was on a journey to seek slaves. In general, the novel is a representation of the actual experiences of those who undertook these voyages. This paper discusses various aspects that are presented in the novel Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Dafoe. It specifically addresses the issue of Robinson’s ability to learn, the experiences of those who undertook voyages, and the role the religion played in Robinson’s life.
Robinson Crusoe is successful in his ventures as a sea traveler and also a merchant. This success can be partly attributed to his ability to learn. Robinson demonstrates the capability to adapt to the new environment. This flexibility enables him to overcome adversity and acquire new knowledge that he utilizes to become successful. For instance, Robinson finds him in a desperate situation after his ship is wrecked on the voyage to West Africa to search for slaves. Robinson realizes that he is the sole survivor, and he has to struggle to survive by looking for shelter, seeking a source of food, and protecting himself from the danger posed by wild animals and harsh weather conditions (Defoe, chap.3, 4). However, Robinson adapts quickly by gaining essential skills such as building canoes from materials around him, pottery, making bread, and weaving baskets, among others. He also keeps a journal that he uses to document all the significant discoveries that he makes, such as his trials to make a candle and his experience while constructing a cellar (Defoe, chap.4). Robinson also develops a close connection with animals by making them his pets and source of food. For instance, he keeps a parrot as a pet and takes care of goats as a source of meat. Generally, the skills that Robinson Crusoe acquires enable him to survive in the harsh conditions that he finds himself.
Sea voyages are not for the faint-hearted. The experience of Robinson Crusoe offers insight into the tough challenges that those undertaking these voyages encountered. Today, the improvements of vessels that travel by sea and also the emergence of the efficient alternative mechanism of travel such planes have eliminated most of these challenges. However, Robinson Crusoe is a documentation of the experiences, both good and bad, that those who undertook voyages had to undergo. Some of these challenges include life-threatening situations due to harsh weather conditions, hostile people, dangerous wild animals, and harsh living conditions.
Additionally, one had to adjust to different environments that one was not accustomed including an encounter with new cultures leading to culture shock. For instance, Crusoe encounters the cannibal tribe while living on the coast of Trinidad. He finds the concept of eating people strange because it is not something that he is used to (Defoe, Chap.11). However, he wonders if he has a right to interfere with the customs of the cannibal tribe. To some extent, he realizes that he comes from a different cultural background from the cannibal tribe. This realization cultivates tolerance as he becomes aware that what might seem strange to him is a regular practice of the cannibal tribe. Generally, undertaking voyages was characterized by uncertainty since one did not know what to expect. As a result, one had to be resilient to overcome the challenges that one would encounter. For instance, Robin was determined to travel by sea from the beginning. This determination sustained him amid the challenges that he faced (Defoe, chap.15). His passion for these voyages was far much greater than the threats they posed. However, not all experiences were awful while undertaking voyages. The pursuit of this long-distance sea travel yielded some benefits such as accumulation of wealth upon successful completion. Additionally, they provided an opportunity to venture into new lands. For instance, Robinson Crusoe was able to establish profitable plantations in Brazil.
Religion
Religion plays a critical role in the life of Robinson Crusoe. While living in solitary, he questions why God had let him suffer in such miserable conditions, why he was the only one who was saved during the shipwreck and why the other people who had accompanied him died. After reflection, he realizes that there is a good and evil aspect in every situation. For instance, he realized that being lonely was evil in that he lacked the company. However, the positive side of this aspect is that God had saved him from dying when their ship capsized.
Furthermore, God had provided him with supplies to sustain him (Defoe, chap.4). Therefore, religion and God was a source of comfort and solace for Robinson Crusoe. He derives the strengths to maintain him through miserable conditions. God and religion are a significant part of Robinson Crusoe’s life, such that he teaches and manages to convert his servant, Friday after he rescued him.
Daniel Defoe finds a creative and entertaining way to communicate reality through literature. The novel Robinson Crusoe just like most works of literature, is a reflection of society. The novel was written at a time when voyages were very common. Additionally, there were multiple stories of castaways who had been forced to live in inhabited areas, just like Robinson Crusoe. At the time, the concept is of castaways living in harsh conditions was thriving. As a result, the writer seized the opportunity to compile a novel that presents the life of these castaways in the same way that contemporary literature authors focus on intriguing topics such as mental illness and homosexuals.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Robinson Crusoe is an exciting novel. It offers insight into a phenomenon that is rarely practiced today, going on voyages. Often, these travelers are faced with difficulties such as encounters with deadly animals and being subjected to harsh living conditions. However, Crusoe can rise above all these challenges because of his ability to learn first. He adopts skills such as pottery, animal rearing, weaving, and making boats, among others, that contribute to his ability to overcome the challenges that he undergoes. The ability to learn first, coupled with personality traits such as resilience and determination, empowered Robinson to survive in harsh conditions. While facing significant difficulties in his life, Robinson Crusoe turns to God for solace. He tries to focus on the positive aspects of his life instead of the negative. Generally, Daniel Defoe used his book to portray the lives of castaways who were common in society at the time that the novel was compiled.
