J. M. Coetzee's Foe Book summary (part1 only) - Essay Example

Susan Barton, the main character, is stranded in the deserted island as a result of a mutiny in a ship en route Lisbon. She was on the lookout for her daughter who was kidnapped by an Englishman and conveyed to the New World.On the island, Susan meets Cruso and Friday and starts her miserable life as a castaway. Cruso is a character who is reluctant to escape or saved by others. Instead, he enjoys living in the island where he sees himself as a king. Friday is a slave of Cruso who lost his tongue.

However, there is no explanation of how he lost his tongue. Cruso kept telling Susan different stories all the time about how Friday had lost his tongue. They live extremely basic lives on the island, eating simple meals like fish and birds' eggs and the only labour Cruso and Friday did was building terraces. Susan comes to know that Cruso is suffering from an old fever. However, with Susan's care, he recovers. Susan is in the island for about a year before she is rescued along with Cruso and Friday by a cargo ship of cotton and indigo called John Hobart.

However, Cruso dies on the journey to England after being rescued of his old fever. On board, Susan is called Mrs. Cruso to make it easier for both of them on board. When they land in England, Part 1 ends with Susan asking Mr. Foe to write an account of her adventure.