Religion and its Role within Daniel Defoes Book Robinson Crusoe - Essay Example

Section/# Religion and its Role within Daniel Defoe’s Book Robinson Crusoe When analyzing the work of Daniel Defoe, as exhibited within his book Robinson Crusoe, the existence of religious themes is pervasive. However, rather than performing a running commentary on each and every religious reference, analysis of the reference, and attempting to categorize the very broad topic of religion and religiosity as exhibited within the work, this author will seek to analyze four specific religious themes that manifest themselves throughout the novel in a number of different ways. These are: the importance of Defoe’s personal belief system and faith, allusions and references to the Garden of Eden, allusions and direct references to the story of the Prodigal Son, and lastly allusions to and references to the idea of original sin. As a means of performing such an analysis, it is the belief of this author that the broader meanings of religion’s role within the novel, as well as the key understandings of the nature of God, religious beliefs of the author, and key moments of religious and political history are illustrated throughout the novel in a variety of different ways. Before delving into the heart of the matter, it is necessary to consider the means by which the author’s own biases, religious preferences, and spiritual differentiation from the dominant religion of both his fellow countrymen helped to impress Defoe with the inclusion of such a high degree of religious discussion within the novel. Firstly, as compared to the broad majority of his fellow countrymen, Defoe himself was a Presbyterian; something of an oddity at the time which represented the most recent outgrowth in protestant differentiation from the power of Rome and consequently the power of the Anglican church as represented by the authority of the English crown. Likewise, rather than simply relating the areas within the novel that point to religious undertones, understanding the reasons why such religious undertones exist in the first place is of course of more importance.1 One of the primary motivations that existed for the inclusion of such a high degree of religious undertones and discussion within the novel is due to the fact that the Presbyterian understanding of God and his relationship to man was one that placed a much higher degree of emphasis on man’s deep and personal relationship to God. This may be of little surprise to many within Protestant denominations today; however, at the time that the novel was penned, such an understanding of the nature of God was something both new and doubtless highly unique to a great number of individuals.2 In order to build upon the deeply personal relationship with God and its importance to both Robinson Crusoe as well as the reader of the novel, Defoe acquaints the reader early on in the novel with what can only be understood as three uniquely Biblical concepts: the story of the Garden of Eden, the idea of original sin, and the parable of the Prodigal Son.3 It is from this context that the analyst can quickly realize that the novel, although very much a story in and of itself, seeks to engage the reader with a near historical retelling of the key components of God’s message to humanity. Furthermore, through this retelling of this message, it can also be understood and inferred that Defoe hoped to impress upon the reader that each of these core Biblical components relayed within the story each serve to help make the reader aware of the deeply personal nature of the relationship that ultimately must exist between God and man within the confines of modern Christianity.4 The first of these three Biblical concepts that Defoe brings to light has of course to do with the interpretation of the island upon which Defoe is marooned as a type of untouched, virgin, Garden of Eden. Within this context, although Defoe does not specifically mention this, is the idea that there is a very real battle between good and evil taking place within this extension of the Biblical Garden of Eden. However, rather than making the battle between good and evil something that is extent upon the island, Defoe works to present the ultimate battle being waged as something that is occurring within the mind of Robinson Crusoe.5 As a further means of utilizing the island to represent the Garden of Eden, Defoe is able to remove all distractions from the life of Crusoe and focus the allegorical energy of the novel on survival through the trials and temptations that Crusoe experiences as well as seeking to guide Crusoe to a greater and more full and complete understanding of his ultimate reliance on the goodness of God to rescue him from the situation he has found himself stranded within.6 Feeding into this Biblical portrayal of the Garden of Eden is Defoe’s representation of the idea and construct of original sin. This idea of original sin pervades the novel due to the fact that Crusoe himself seeks to come to grips with what mistakes and egregious sins he has made that have ultimately landed him upon the island and for how long he will need to pay penance for the many evils he has done that may have landed him in such a predicament. However, even this construct of original sin helps Crusoe to grow as a human being and to understand a more logical and nuanced meaning to the previously mentioned construct of the deeply personal relationship with God that Defoe himself was attempting to acquaint the reader within the context of the novel. This idea of original sin of course ties in perfectly with the aforementioned explanation of the utilization of the island as a type of metaphor for the Garden of Eden and even more appropriately for the following Biblical parable that is used to great effect throughout the novel; both in terms of literally describing and explication the situation that Crusoe finds himself in as well as seeking to make logical and spiritual sense from it.7 Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Defoe utilizes the parable of the Prodigal Son as a means to inform the reader as to the true nature of the situation that Crusoe finds himself within. Moreover, the clear relation to the Parable of the Prodigal Son is unique within the context of religion within the novel as it is the only one of the three that is expressly denoted within the text rather than merely alluded to.8 With reference to his decision to leave England and set out on what would prove to be his fateful adventure, Crusoe states, “Without asking God’s blessing, or my father’s I left”.9 Later, Crusoe went on to state, concerning his willful obedience, perfectly in comparison to the Parable of the Prodigal Son, “He (my father) would venture to say to me, that if I did take this foolish step, God would not bless me and I would have leisure to reflect upon having neglected his counsel when there might be none to assist in my recovery".10 In this way, the story of the son leaving the home of the father, only a thinly veiled reference to a Heavenly Father, is emblematic of the Biblical Parable as well as the story of Adam and Eve being forced to leave paradise as a result of the sin they have committed; only in this case, rather than being forced out of the Garden of Eden, Crusoe himself finds himself being put squarely within the crucible of an empty paradise as a means of realizing many of his personal and religious shortcomings that have doubtless troubled God but meant little if anything to Crusoe himself prior to finding himself in such a forlorn situation.11 As indicative of the human condition, Defoe helps to cast Crusoe as a hero that embodies a great many faults and shortcomings.12 Even though the religious undertones throughout the story are rife, Crusoe himself is emblematic of the clueless sheep that is alluded to so many times throughout the gospels. Rather than understanding the nature of his solitary life and the possible religious merits for its existence, Crusoe turns inward as soon as the need for God’s presence in his life has passed. Says Crusoe of his own nature, “All this while I had not the least serious religious thought, nothing but the common, Lord ha' mercy upon me; and when it was over, that went away too".13 Although a level of understanding, eventual religious re-awakening, and soul searching did indeed take place, this was only the case after a great many hardships had already encompassed the hero. In short, the novel itself utilizes the many allusions and references to religion as both a means to impress upon the reader the unique views that the author held with relation to religion and the importance of a very real and personal Savior as well as a key plot mechanism by which elements of lost paradise, internal discovery, devoid of any complicating factors, and religious realization could all take place. Within such a context, the reader is able to see that each of the three key religious undertones that have herein been discussed help to bring such an understanding about. References Defoe, Daniel. Robinson Crusoe. New York: Norton, 1994. Hillerbrand, Hans J. "The Unintended Reformation: How A Religious Revolution Secularized Society." Church History 81.4 (2012): 912-918. Academic Search Complete. Web. 21 Jan. 2013. Hinojosa, Lynne Walhout. "Religion And Puritan Typology In E. M. Forster's "A Room With A View.." Journal Of Modern Literature 33.4 (2010): 72-94. Academic Search Complete. Web. 21 Jan. 2013. Mcinelly, Brett C. "Expanding Empires, Expanding Selves: Colonialism, The Novel, And Robinson Crusoe." Studies In The Novel 35.1 (2003): 1. Academic Search Complete. Web. 21 Jan. 2013. PEARL, JASON H. "Desert Islands And Urban Solitudes In The Crusoe Trilogy." Studies In The Novel 44.2 (2012): 125-143. Academic Search Complete. Web. 21 Jan. 2013. Ritchie, Daniel E. "Robinson Crusoe As Narrative Theologian." Renascence 49.2 (1997): 94-110. Academic Search Complete. Web. 21 Jan. 2013. Schaeffer, Denise. "The Utility Of Ink: Rousseau And Robinson Crusoe." Review Of Politics 64.1 (2002): 121. Academic Search Complete. Web. 21 Jan. 2013. Strawn, Morgan. "'Zealous For Their Own Way Of Worship': Defoe, Monarchy, And Religious Toleration During The War Of The Quadruple Alliance." Eighteenth Century Fiction 25.2 (2013): 327-357. Academic Search Complete. Web. 21 Jan. 2013. Underwood, Doug. "Transcending The News: Religious Ambivalence Among The Famous Journalist-Literary Figures And Literature As The Uncertain Path To Immortality." Journal Of Media & Religion 6.4 (2007): 241-271. Communication & Mass Media Complete. Web. 21 Jan. 2013. van der Vyver, Johan D. "Morality, Human Rights, And Foundations Of The Law." Emory Law Journal 54.(2005): 187-200. Academic Search Complete. Web. 21 Jan. 2013. Read More