Robinson Crusoe - a Story of a Common Man Surviving Uncommon Conditions - Research Paper Example

Robison Crusoe: A story of a common man surviving uncommon conditions Daniel Defoe’s ‘Robinson Crusoe’ is a story of man who is a dreamer at a young age and in spite of being warned by his father, sets off to an adventurous journey into the sea. Robinson Crusoe is a story that does not talk of heroism, human greatness or any magical act. Through a story of a man who lives in isolation on an island for more than twenty four years, It simply tells us a psychology of a human being which can take many shades and shapes when faced with different situations. Robinson Crusoe is a story of any common man who has a capability of getting transformed in his mind, in his body and in his soul when he is left in a situation that he had never imagined before or was never trained to survive. Critics have seen Daniel Defoe’s work as a message for Englishmen. Jeremy Hubbell says that through ‘Robinson Crusoe’, Defoe was giving an idea to England that psychological tools like reason, ethic and protestant faith can make them successful in colonialism. And also, the author was trying to suggest how important labor is when one is trying to please God [1] . Twentieth century critics are little confused over what is Defoe’s exact message on human needs of security, economics and moral values [2] . According to another review, the story carries the theme of individual versus society [3] . It says that Robinson Crusoe’s desire to go on a sea journey was his individual desire and his father’s refusal was an outlook of the ‘society. So it was as if trying to suggest a theme of self against the ‘others’. But the question is, was this the only message? Was Daniel Defoe’s story a tool to tell people how they can be successful in their political ambition or was it a journey into a mind of a human being, no matter what background he is from? Daniel Defoe has written a story of young man called Robinson Crusoe who listens to his heart and instead of taking a conventional path of work, he goes on a sea journey. Robinson Crusoe, as a young man, is fatalist, weak, and timid. These qualities are evident from the fact that he becomes disturbed with the disastrous prophecy that his father makes when he expresses to set off on a sea adventure rather than settling in the family business (Defoe, pg. 4). He does not have guts to tell his father strongly that no matter what, he is going to leave. In fact, it takes him one year after the initial conversation to leave for the journey and that too without telling his parents about it (Defoe, pg. 6). Even when he leaves on a journey, every now and then, whenever he comes across any trouble or adversities, he remembers the words of his father where he was warned that the journey would prove to be disastrous and would make him repent for the decision. So even though Robinson takes a decision to leave the house to follow what his heart says, he is not successful in freeing himself of his fathers influence and words. When people influence you, whether through words, memory or actions, it means that you are not free. And same is the case with Robinson. Daniel Defoe has very brilliantly expressed the human nature and different aspects of it. Throughout the story, he has created characters, situations and events that make us understand how a human mind can change its functioning and how it can reason any action we take. We can study many such characters and events where we come to know about a need of security, protection, power, food and survival. These are called symbols and there are many symbols in this novel that speaks volume about the humanity and its need. The symbols also talks about different aspects of psychology and the behavior pattern of the man. Some of the prominent symbols in the novel are as follows: The Cross: When Robinson Crusoe is stranded on an island, he feels a need to keep the record of the time. So he starts to record the dates and weeks and years by marking it on the cross with his knife. Now, let us understand here that when you are alone on an island, and when you know that it is impossible to leave, you are suppose to understand that society no longer exist for you. However, our brains are so trained to be in the society and act like it, that even when we are free of it physically, we are the prisoners mentally. And that’s what is evident when Robinson decides to keep a track of the date and create a calendar of his own The Footprint : After living for eighteen years alone on the island, when Robinson Crusoe finds a footprint of a human being on the sand, he goes into a frenzied mental state. Instead of being happy about the situation and thinking that he has got someone who can help him to get out of his isolation, he gets into a fearful state of mind and starts getting defensive against the unseen enemy. His mind, even without knowing who the man is, assumes him as an enemy and makes Robinson to be alert. Footprints are the symbol of a common human psychology of ‘fight or flight’. So even before knowing who has left the footprints, Robinson becomes alert and does not sleep for hours at night [4] . Father : Robinson’s father is a symbol of experience, maturity and need of stability. When Robinson tells him about his wish to go to the sea instead of settling down with his business, he uses all the means to make Robinson change his decision. When he realizes that his reasons have no effect on Robinson, he talks about his brother and tells him how he died when he chose to go to the war. He tells Robinson that if he leaves for the sea, he will not get his blessings and fate will not support him (Defoe, pg. 4). He also symbolizes the ego. Money and Coins : In the novel, when Robinson Crusoe finds money in the boxes while searching the stranded ship, he smiles at himself thinking that as he is on a deserted island with not even a single human being around, money has no value for him. However, he still takes it with him thinking that maybe someday he will need it. This symbolizes the hope in human being. No matter what kind of situation man is in, no matter what adversities he face, there is one quality that never leaves him and that is hope. Robinson Crusoe keeps the money with him which shows that even after realizing that getting out of the island is next to impossible, he still hopes that some day he will be able to get out of there and be a part of the society (Defoe, pg. 58). Beasts and savages: Man is always perceiving threats. If there are no real threats, then he ‘imagines’ threats and prepares for it. It is extremely difficult for him to relax. And this has been very clearly shown by Robinson’s description and the mention of the beasts when he encounters none. For initial ten years that he lives on the island, Robinson does not encounter or face the attack of any wild animal. But whenever he describes his work and the labor, he mentions the beasts and the animals as if they are real(Defoe, pg. 60). Horrible Dream : Robinson once dreams of a horrible storm. He dreams that the storm is blowing wildly outside his shelter and a man descends from a black cloud and says that ‘even after going through such a bad time and ordeal, if you do not feel repentance, then you are destined to die.’ This is nothing but a subconscious way to realize the guilt that Robinson has suppressed for not listening to his father. The nightmare of a storm and a man declaring him to die as a punishment is a symbol of emotional suppression. Robinson tries to be independent and prove his individuality by going against the wish of his father. Even after getting a chance of going back home after surviving the first storm, he decides to continue and faces slavery and then isolation on an island. He survives on his will power, hard work and determination, and still has a guilt somewhere hidden in his mind. This shows that if man carries a guilt in his heart, no matter how many victories he experiences, inside, he still feels like a loser (Defoe, pg. 88) . God : Daniel Defoe has written a story of a man who, after going through many hardships in life, gets stuck on an island alone and survives for more than twenty five years. When we think of a man who survives death, storm, isolation, starvation, loneliness, fate and disillusion by working hard, we think of a man who is brave, strong and independent. However, in a way Robinson talks to God now and then, we know that God is an inseparable entity from the human mind. Human being has a capacity to survive in the most dangerous and adverse situations. He can work hard, go through pain, go through failures and miseries and still is not independent of God. He is always aware of the power that is beyond him and is always conscious of that power. Even after creating a totally new life for himself, Robinson does not believe in his power of creation. He always converse with God and is sure that HE is the ultimate creator. GOD is a symbol of the ultimate creator that human being depends on (Defoe pg.90). Bible : Robinson Crusoe finds immense support in the reading of the bible. The bible says that whenever God is called for help, HE will come and then the one who is blessed will praise the GOD. This is believed strongly by Robinson and in his sickness and loneliness, he finds great strength and peace by reading the bible. Bible is the symbol of faith that has been carved on your mind by your ancestors and history. Rice and Barely : Human being is the only living organism that can think, analyze, plan and create. When Robinson is stranded on an island, he knows that the stock of biscuits. Bread and the goats are enough for him to survive. But still, he finds the grains and plants rice and barely. This shows the need of productivity. Man cannot sit still. If he is given everything that one desires for in a lifetime, he will find some way to multiply it (Defoe pg.115). The growing of rice and barely is a symbol of a mind that always desires for more and looks forward to grow rather than being content in what it has. Rice cakes and puddings: Robinson grows rice and barely on the island. He also makes cakes and puddings out of it. Not only that, he also tries his best to make the pots out of clay which takes him three months to make ( Defoe pg.117) This symbolizes the desire to create. Cats, dogs and Poll: Robinson, while his stay on the island, domesticates the dogs, cats and a parrot that he finds on the island. He treats them as a family. He teaches the parrot to speak so that he can hear a different voice than his own and someone call his name. He makes them sit around him when he is having his meals and takes them along when he goes for walk (Defoe pg.143). These animals are symbol of family for him. Man hates society at some point in his life. But when he gets a opportunity to live alone, he misses the same and tries to create a society of his own. He does not have the capacity to remain relaxed and just ‘be’. The mind is always hankering for company and someone to talk to. At one time, Robinson also says that he has one desire that someday the dog will talk to him ( Defoe pg. 67) . This shows that how much man desires to talk and to be talked to. Silence is something that he cannot bear. And when he does not have anyone to talk to, he ends up talking to God. ‘Master’: When Robinson saves a man from his captors, the thought that comes to his mind is that he might end up getting a servant or an assistant. Never does he think that he can get a friend or a companion. He names the man who is saved as ‘Friday’ and tells him to call him ‘master’ . This shows everyone has a desire to have power over the other [5] . The word master symbolizes the that the desire for power is so strong, that even after living on an island alone for more than twenty years, when Robinson gets an opportunity to have a companion, he refuses to treat him as equal and keeps him as an assistant (Defoe pg.195). . If we look at the story from a point of view of analyzing the abilities of human being, we realize that human being has immense power. It is believed by some that the story of Robinson Crusoe is based on a true story of a sailor called Alexander Selkirk [6] . Through all these symbols and characters, Daniel Defoe has shown that society is a creation of the man. His desire to overpower, to achieve more, to have a status and to be more wealthier, healthier and happier makes him to compete in the society. In the beginning, we see Robinson Crusoe as a person who blames fate for his life and who feels guilty for not listening to his father’s advice of not leaving home. He runs away without telling his parents and sets on the adventurous journey. He goes through many hardships and finally is left isolated on an island as a survivor of shipwreck. But as he goes on living for years and years alone on the island, he ponders deeply over everything that has happened in his life and realizes that with every adversity he has faced, God has also sent some blessing along with it. Once when walking along the shore, he weighs the pros and cons of the situations he has faced throughout his life and every with every unlucky thing that happened to him, he finds that some luck has played the part and helped him survive (Defoe pg.69). This thought process and the deep analysis makes him positive in his outlook and he starts believing firmly in the grace of God. He works hard, uses his skills and with will power builds a new world of his own. Daniel Defoe has clearly shown us that man is a civilized creature. He has lost the primitive nature of his. If you ever come in contact with society, you are hypnotized by its ways, its desires and its ambitions. Society trains you to be a pat of it and so strong is the training that even ten to twenty years in isolation are not enough to dehypnotize you of it. Robinson Crusoe gets a chance of being free of the society, to live the way he wanted to live and to be a master of his heart. But alas, he cannot do it. He finds ways to form a ‘society’. He builds a shelter for himself, domesticates the animals, thinks himself as a lord of the land (Defoe pg.125) and is haunted by the words of his father. Even after getting a freedom and the opportunity, he still remains a prisoner of the society. However, things do change in his life. From a fatalist boy who does not have intelligence or the maturity to understand the world, he becomes a man who takes the responsibility of life in his own hands. He starts using reason and tactics to survive the harsh conditions and the dangerous enemies. From a weak man, he transforms into a strong man and takes initiative to grow and develop his habitat. And most importantly, he survives and survives strongly. Robinson Crusoe is a story of a boy , who takes the journey that his heart desires and through rough and rougher times, is transformed from a boy who believes in fate to a man who believes in miracles. Reference : Defoe, Daniel, The Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe, Routledge, Warne and Routledge, London, 1864 Citations : [1] Robinson Crusoe ( Criticism) by Jeremy Hubbell < http://www.answers.com/topic/robinson-crusoe-novel-7 >, April 6, 2009 [2] Literary Criticism ( 1400-1800) , April 6, 2009 [3] Humanity : A Look At Robinson Crusoe , April 6, 2009 [4] [5] Themes, Motifs and Symbols < www.sparknotes.com/lit/crusoe/themes.html > , April 6, 2009 [ 6] Mccarthy, Tara, The Sign Of The Beaver April 7, 2009 Read More