Themes in Robinson Crusoe

Having returned to England, Crusoe joins another ship, one going to the African coast. While he knows that his father, and even God, would prefer he stay, Crusoe cannot follow those desires. He claims that an “evil influence” made this decision for him. This appears to strip him of agency and responsibility for his actions. This rejection of God’s and society’s wishes marks the emergence of a two themes that endure throughout the novel: the individual in tension with society’s expectations and the spiritual journey towards repentance and redemption.

Since its beginnings, the novel has attracted critics who argued these books were immoral or distractions from more pious pursuits. In this light, Crusoe’s gestures of piety and the novel’s religious themes are partially an attempt to maintain some redemptive moral value. In a moment like this, defenders of the novel could even argue along somewhat Aristotelian lines that readers benefit morally from the vicarious experiences of the story’s characters.

Compare this moment to Crusoe’s exchanges with the people on-shore. Here, value is shown to be negotiable and even arbitrary. Yet, the possibility of a market where two or more people might bid for the value of a given commodity (Crusoe’s boat) serves as a means for the final arbitration of value, as in capitalism.

This passage shows that although Crusoe has imagined he’s being punished for forsaking the wishes of God and his father, he still credits his success as a miracle God has performed for him. He believes that he threw away empty corn husks and God made them sprout and grow to keep him alive. Crusoe does not stop to consider the logic of the discarded husks having the potential to yield new stalks when watered.

In his early days on the island, Crusoe plays the role of victim rather than fearless conqueror. By juxtaposing the helpless man he was when he arrived at the island with the determined master of his own fate Crusoe became after repenting his sins to God, Defoe emphasizes the importance of spirituality in determining the course of an individual’s life. Crusoe effectively made his own fate, but not without first gaining pardon from God.

Notice that Crusoe once again tries to separate himself from the concept of “barbary.” While shipwrecked on an island with presumably limited food, he rejects these grapes simply because they are “bruised” and some are “broken.” His selective tastes reveal his upper-middle class upbringing and the “civilized” standards by which he lives his life.

Crusoe comes to view his hut on the beach as “home.” It seems important to him to establish home and order within that home. One explanation for this connection to a seemingly unimportant place touches on the theme of civilization vs. barbary. The concept of home and the establishment of this “settlement” connects Crusoe to his “civilized,” domestic world; he continues to reveal the importance he places on “civilization” and act in a way that separates him from what he perceives to be “barbary.”

In his previous life as a farmer, Crusoe never needed to worry about starting a farm from nothing. This passage focuses in on the difficulties of life without tools and support from society. As even simplest tasks become more difficult and time-consuming, Crusoe has to try and recreate the farming environment to which he is accustomed. His realizing how difficult this is emphasizes the benefits of working as part of a society, because when removed from others, he is forced to do everything for himself, which is inefficient and far more difficult.

Crusoe’s mood improves after opening his Bible to this passage. Having accepted that he is isolated from society on the island, this statement reminds him that God will keep him company. This presence, Crusoe alleges, is better felt without society around him, giving him comfort in the belief that God has a plan for him. This eases his mind and reduces his worry about survival.

While Crusoe recognizes the potential threat of unknown people to his safety, another reason for choosing to stay is his decision to accept “the dispositions of Providence.” This decision contrasts with his earlier disregard for the wishes of his father and God, preferring to fight his destiny and choose his own paths. This recognition to remain because it is the will of God marks a turning point in his character and faith.

As the chapter comes to a close, Crusoe reflects on the religious character of his island solitude. His unignorable loneliness pushes Crusoe to connect with God. He reflects that his life has become “better than sociable.” He asks himself whether conversing with “God Himself, by ejaculations, was not better than the utmost enjoyment of human society in the world?”

As a Christian, Robinson Crusoe often wrestles with the notion of Providence, attempting to divine his fortune by wondering whether his actions are favored or rejected by God. By reframing his condition in terms of the relative plenty he enjoys, Crusoe decides that God is treating him mercifully.

This sentence contains a double entendre on the word “deliverance.” Struggling to drag his boat across a significant stretch of land, Crusoe copes with the frustration by keeping the “deliverance in view.” There is Crusoe’s literal deliverance of the boat to the sea. Crusoe also considers deliverance in the biblical sense—that is, to be rescued from trouble by God. This notion of deliverance makes sense given Crusoe’s increasingly devout Christian philosophy over the course of Chapter IX.

This is a quote from the biblical book of Psalms 50:15. Crusoe uses the message of this quote—that God will always take care of his faithful followers, even in difficult times—to comfort himself and reaffirm his religious devotion.

Crusoe’s spiritual devotion is tested, and he is filled with doubt in God’s ability to keep him alive on the island. He has always trusted in God to take care of him, but the possibility of others arriving causes him to resolve to be more self-reliant. Notice also that Crusoe seems to be making an allusion to the biblical Garden of Eden, where food was plentiful; Adam and Eve were banished from the garden, which God had created for them out of “goodness.”

For Christians, laziness is immoral and subject to divine punishment. Crusoe worries about seeming idle on the island, so he constantly devotes himself to projects that prove he is hard at work making a civilized home for himself. Notice the word choice of “testify,” which suggests Crusoe believes that he is constantly on trial and having to defend himself and his actions.

Repetition of tasks and improving upon old designs keeps Crusoe busy during his many years on the island. Though another boat assists with his physical survival, the effort to build the boat is more important to keep his mental health intact. Crusoe is always looking for new duties so that he will not succumb to the sin of idleness.

Notice Crusoe’s desire to comprehend what he doesn’t understand. He wishes to come to some understanding of how the tides work so that he can better use them for his own ambitions, speaking to his desire to master the island and its natural mysteries.

Crusoe uses the metaphor of a kingdom where he is the ruler to show both his pride in his accomplishments and to make fun of himself. While it is impressive that he has built a habitable dwelling and survived stranded for so long, his royal “subjects” are animals, who, though they are under his care, likely do not fully obey him. He does not leave behind his imperialist mindset, as he still believes he has animals under his command. However, there might be a note of sarcasm in his description here.

Crusoe mentions multiple times that his faith in God mediates his crushing fear. These assertions reinforce the theme of religion and faith: Crusoe teaches readers how to react to challenging situations with grace.

Crusoe demonstrates the proper Christian response to his plight. He never loses faith in God or God’s plan, and he believes that every silver lining is evidence that God is still protecting him. In this way, Crusoe represents the ideal colonial settler: a faithful man who is able to endure hardships because of his belief.

Again, Crusoe thanks God for the positive things, or silver linings, that make his life bearable rather than decrying the horrors of his condition. This reflects Crusoe’s focus on religion and Christian responses to his situation.

Crusoe presents a paradox indicating that humankind has a limited perspective: often situations that they believe are hopeless will bring about their divine deliverance. This paradox speaks to larger Christian dynamics of God as omnipotent and His providence, to which humanity has only limited access through the word of the Bible.

Crusoe voices questions that have long-ranging theological histories, particularly as these questions inform his relationship to other parts of God’s creation. He wonders why God would show favor to one part of his creation over others, and he concludes that it’s best perhaps not to ask too many questions along this line.

The acts of naming here reveal much about the relationship between these two figures. Crusoe names Friday, and he renames himself in terms of the social position he wants to inhabit in their relationship.

This is a key moment in terms of the novel’s master and servant theme. As Crusoe tells it, the man he rescues submits completely and immediately to his mastery, making Crusoe a master figure. Notably, Crusoe himself cannot submit to this extent—even to God, the clearest master-servant analogue.

This is a key moment in terms of the novel’s master and servant theme. As Crusoe tells it, the man he rescues submits completely and immediately to his mastery, making Crusoe a master figure. Notably, Crusoe himself cannot submit to this extent—even to God, the clearest master-servant analogue.

Crusoe here wonders about a question that runs deep in Western theology. If God is perfect, and good, and all-powerful, then how does one account for evil or imperfection in the world? While this line of questioning could lead Crusoe to re-evaluate his stance toward the indigenous islanders, he stops short of questioning the premise that God has given them up. Who and why God gives up, though, is a question that presses on Crusoe’s mind in his situation on the island.

Notice that the religious journey Defoe documents in Robinson Crusoe is deepened by his sharing of his faith with another individual. Though Crusoe seems to struggle with his own faith and how it dictates the events of his life, he seems to believe that bringing Friday to the knowledge of the Christian God will save his life and his soul. Crusoe enjoys a degree of satisfaction in bringing another individual to Christ even though he is far from the perfect Christian himself.

This sensational retelling of the conflict sets up a comparison between the natives and Europeans. Because the natives have not encountered gunfire before, they instead explain what they cannot understand in religious terms. To them, Europeans and Europeanized Friday appear to be powerful, vengeful gods, elevating them higher—both technologically and spiritually—than the natives. This depiction would have appealed to Europeans of Defoe’s time, as it asserts that Europeans were the most advanced civilization at that time.

Although Crusoe is no stranger to violence, he is unable to bury the remains of the person the cannibals ate. Friday, on the other hand, has little trouble cleaning up the place. Note the word choice “effaced,” to rub out or obliterate. Crusoe wants to erase evidence of the cannibals in much the same way English imperialists sought to eradicate all signs of things they deemed “savage.”

Notice Crusoe’s narcissism and entitlement in this passage. Though others have visited the island, Crusoe claims control over the land because he has built a home there. He also believes that he has total control over Friday, Friday’s father, and the Spaniard because he saved them—a mindset that modern readers may recognize as problematic. Notice that Crusoe conveniently leaves out Friday’s role in helping to rescue the others and contributing to Crusoe’s homestead.

Here Crusoe encounters a dilemma: he believes he should not punish the natives for cannibalism since they don’t know any better without the teachings of the Christian God. God, he believes, will discipline them when the time is right. He decides that he is neither the right person to judge nor decide on a just punishment. Notice how Crusoe attributes the native’s cannibalism to their location. At the time, non-European nations were thought to have been abandoned by God, which was why they had resorted to less appropriate behaviors—a lack of guidance that Europeans would be happy to provide.

Friday’s more “savage” methods of boat-building are contrasted with Crusoe’s more advanced use of tools. After Crusoe shows him a better method, Friday, ever the model native convert, proves to be adept at the English building method and leaves behind his old ways with no complaints.

Crusoe justifies keeping Friday as a servant because of Friday’s devotion to him. Since Friday is so attached to Crusoe that he claims he would rather die than leave Crusoe’s side. Here Crusoe shows his dominion not only over the island’s natural wonders but also its native inhabitants. Since people like Friday were seen as backwards and barbarous, it would not have surprised Defoe’s 18th century English audience that Friday was devoted to the person who brought him enlightenment.

Here Friday praises the English imperial system. Teaching a “wild” person like Friday the proper, “civilized,” and Christian ways of English society was a goal of imperialism, and helped justify Europeans taking over land throughout the world and replacing local cultures with their own. Friday is the perfect “liberated” native character for an English audience, in that he has embraced European ideals and wishes to spread them among people like him.

Notice the language of ownership that Crusoe uses to refer to Friday. Crusoe takes credit for Friday’s accomplishment with marksmanship because he ordered his servant to learn the skill. This assumption demonstrates Crusoe’s colonial mindset: he does not see Friday as a human being; he sees him as an object.

Crusoe reinforces the moral of his story and his religious interpretation of events. It may strike readers as odd that Crusoe never seems to despair over his condition or lapse into excessive self-pity. One explanation for this surprising reaction could be his faith in God: he believes that there is alway something to be thankful for even in bad situations. Crusoe demonstrates how he wants people to approach hard situations.

Crusoe reinforces his connection with God by suggesting that his intuition is divinely inspired. When he gets a feeling that something is not right, he assumes God is cautioning him against a bad situation. Crusoe’s faith can be interpreted as a model for readers; in other words, readers might learn a moral from Crusoe’s faith and trust in God’s divine wisdom.

Crusoe’s religious faith is cemented in this conversation with the captain, showing that he has fully repented from his earlier mistakes. Notice that Crusoe believes that everything—from his first marooning to his rescue—is determined by God, as the chain of events that has led to his rescue is too outrageous to be anything but divinely planned. At this point in the novel, Crusoe is gracious and repentant, believing that he has adequately atoned for his previous sins—and that such atonement is acknowledged through the captain’s presence.

Because the captain believes he owes his life and his ship to Crusoe, he gifts the ship and his crew to Crusoe. This presents Crusoe with an opportunity to finally escape the island, continuing the theme of Crusoe’s gaining mastery of the natural world through hard work and cunning. Now that the island, Friday, and the English ship are all under his command, Crusoe is now able to return to Europe.

Crusoe’s title of “governor” shows not only the respect his various comrades give him but also his adherence to English civility after all the time he’s spent on the island. They likely choose to call him governor to try and put the mutineers at ease since the title would signify that they were dealing with an educated, civilized sort of person—and someone who has total control over the island, their fates, and the laws that may deal out their punishments.

Notice Crusoe’s metaphorical usage of military ranks and terms. His army is rather small as far as armies go, indicating that this vocabulary choice is somewhat sarcastic. Though it’s obvious that Crusoe still considers himself in command as a general would be, he curiously ranks Friday above the English captain, showing that his friendship and camaraderie with Friday is to some extent sincere.

The mutineers show superstitious tendencies when they can’t figure out how Crusoe and the others are manipulating them. In their confusion, they believe that evil and elusive supernatural beings are intent on eating them, or native inhabitants want to kill them. This reaction shows a common fear of the unknown—a reaction earlier exhibited by Crusoe when he found a native footprint—and speaks to English sailors’ lack of knowledge of the people or places they encountered in their travels. When unable to comprehend their circumstances, they seek answers in the supernatural and fear.

Here Crusoe shares his total control over the island with the English captain. Since they’re both masters of their various domains and have saved one another—the captain having been saved by Crusoe from his mutineering crew, and Crusoe saved from being stranded on the island—Crusoe declares that anyone who arrives on the island is at their mercy. Crusoe thinks it would have been a nice coincidence if the captain’s crew had been entirely violent mutineers, as that would make the decision for what to do with them easy and show that God was looking out for the captain.