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Details analysis of Robinson Crusoe:

This analysis is tailored to target potential questions on Robinson Crusoe. Here, we'll skim through the major events, look at few themes,  places he went to, character/names and their roles, values or figures at a particular point, voyages and his misfortunes. 

Introduction

Robinson Crusoe is a young Englishman with a desire for sea adventures. Despite his father’s advice to stay home and live a quiet, middle-class life, he runs away at 18 to pursue life at sea.

Early Adventures

Crusoe’s first voyage ends in shipwreck. Undeterred, he goes on another trip, is captured by pirates, and becomes a slave in North Africa. He escapes with the help of a Moorish boy and is rescued by a Portuguese ship. He eventually makes his way to Brazil and starts a successful sugar plantation.

Shipwreck and Island Survival

Seeking to expand his business, Crusoe joins a slave-trading expedition. On this voyage, the ship is caught in a storm and wrecked near the coast of an uninhabited island. Crusoe is the only survivor. He salvages supplies from the wreck and builds a shelter. He learns to hunt, fish, and grow crops, including barley and rice.

He keeps a journal, noting important dates, his feelings, and his religious reflections. He reads the Bible and sees his isolation as a punishment from God, later interpreting it as a chance for redemption.

Life on the Island

Crusoe spends 28 years on the island. He tames animals, including a parrot, and makes pottery and clothing. He becomes deeply religious and finds comfort in the Bible. One day, he finds a footprint in the sand and realizes he's not alone. He later discovers cannibals visit the island occasionally to kill and eat captives.

Meeting Friday

Crusoe rescues a native man from the cannibals, names him Friday, and teaches him English and Christianity. Friday becomes a loyal companion. Together, they rescue more captives, including Friday’s father and a Spanish prisoner.

Rescue

Crusoe and Friday help defeat mutinous sailors who had taken over an English ship. Crusoe helps the ship's rightful captain regain control. In return, the captain offers to take Crusoe and Friday back to England.

Return to England

At the end of the novel Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, Crusoe finally leaves the island after spending 28 years there. He is rescued by an English ship whose captain he helps reclaim his ship from mutineers. Crusoe returns to England, finds that his family believed him dead, but he is still able to recover some of his wealth from his previous investments.

He becomes a wealthy man and reflects on his life, faith, and the lessons he learned during his long isolation. Eventually, he revisits the island years later, finding it colonized by people he had helped settle there. The story ends with Crusoe settled, wealthy, and spiritually enlightened.

Major Themes in the novel.

Theme 1: The Necessity of Repentance

Another significant theme is the necessity of repentance. Throughout the novel, Crusoe undergoes a moral transformation that emphasizes the importance of acknowledging one's sins and seeking forgiveness. His initial disregard for his father's advice leads him to view himself as a sinner in need of redemption. This theme is reinforced by a pivotal moment when an angelic figure urges him to repent or face death. As he learns to appreciate God's providence during his time on the island, he recognizes that true repentance involves understanding one's dependence on divine grac. He started reading his bible, praying to God for forgiveness.

Theme 2: The Importance of Self-Awareness

Robinson Crusoe’s time alone on the island shows how important it is to know yourself. With no one around, he starts thinking deeply about his life and the choices he has made. He writes in a journal, not just to keep track of events, but to understand himself better. This helps him realize his past mistakes and grow as a person, especially in his faith.

Theme 3: Progress and Self-Reliance

The theme of progress is evident as Crusoe evolves from mere survival to establishing a thriving existence on the island. He learns agricultural practices, builds shelter, and domesticates animals—demonstrating significant personal growth. This progression symbolizes not only physical advancement but also mental resilience as he adapts to challenges.

Similarly, self-reliance plays a crucial role in Crusoe's survival narrative. Stranded alone, he must depend entirely on himself for sustenance and safety. His ingenuity in utilizing limited resources showcases the human capacity for innovation under duress. This theme resonates with broader historical contexts where individuals or societies strive for independence. This theme shows that man can do anything. the ability for Robinson Crusoe to provide himself some necessities of life through the little available resources is evidence that self-reliance contributes to one's progress and immense results.

Theme 3. Civilization and Savagery in Robinson Crusoe

The theme of civilization and savagery appears throughout Robinson Crusoe. Crusoe sees himself as a civilized man, and he tries to bring order and structure to the island using European ways—building a home, farming, and keeping a calendar. He also sees the native people, like Friday, as "savages" who need to be taught how to live "properly." Crusoe teaches Friday to speak English, wear clothes, and adopt Christian beliefs. 

This theme shows how Crusoe views European culture as superior and tries to recreate civilization in a wild place. Some notable cases of civilization is the naming of the native man "Friday'', that is, giving an English name to someone who can't speak English, using threat or force to comand respect, claiming the island to be his territory, teaching Friday the bible.

Theme 4: of Exploration in Robinson Crusoe

The theme of exploration is central to Robinson Crusoe. Crusoe is driven by a desire to travel and see the world, even against his father's wishes. His journeys take him across seas, through shipwrecks, and finally to the deserted island. On the island, he continues to explore his surroundings, learning how to survive and adapt. Exploration in the novel is not just about travel—it also includes discovering new skills, understanding nature, and exploring his own thoughts and faith.

Character/name in Robinson Crusoe 

Here are the main mentioned characters in Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe:

1. Robinson Crusoe

 The main character and narrator of the story, who is shipwrecked on a deserted island.

2. Kreutznaer or Kreutzner (Crusoe's father)

A German man living in England who wants Crusoe to live a quiet, middle-class life and avoid going to sea. He wanted Robinson to study law

3. Crusoe's Mother

 Not named, but she also warns Crusoe not to travel.

4. Crusoe’s Brothers

Briefly mentioned; one dies in war.

5. Xury

 A young Moorish boy who escapes slavery with Crusoe and helps him navigate the sea.

6. Portuguese Sea Captain

Rescues Crusoe and buys Xury. He helps Crusoe reach Brazil and treats him kindly.

7. Friday

A native man Crusoe saves from cannibals. He becomes Crusoe’s servant and companion.

8. Friday’s Father

Rescued by Crusoe and Friday from cannibals.

9. The Spaniard

Another captive rescued by Crusoe and Friday. He helps plan the rescue of other Spaniards.

10. The English Captain

Helps Crusoe return to England after Crusoe helps him retake his ship from mutineers.

11. Mutineers

English sailors who try to take over their ship but are stopped by Crusoe.

12. Cannibals

Native people who practice cannibalism and are feared by Crusoe.

13.The widow 

She was a close and trusted friend of Robinson Crusoe. After one of his early sea voyages (not the island adventure), Crusoe gave her the money (300 pound) he earned as a sailor (or captain) to keep safe. She treasured and safeguarded that money for him while he was away.

14. Poll. The poll is not a character in the novel, but I see it pertinent to include it here for the purpose of analysis. The poll is a parrot which keeps Robinson accompanied in terms of communication. Often address him as "poor Robinson "

Settings and major events that took place.

Locations in Robinson Crusoe and Their Significance

1. York, England

Robinson Crusoe is introduced as an Englishman from York, where he was born to a merchant family. This location represents his origins and the societal expectations placed upon him by his family, particularly his father, who wanted him to pursue a career in law. Despite this, Crusoe's desire for adventure leads him to defy his family's wishes.

2. Hull, England

Crusoe sets sail from Kingston upon Hull on his first voyage. This port city serves as the departure point for his adventures at sea, highlighting the beginning of his journey away from home and into the unknown.

3. London, England

After surviving a storm on his first voyage, Crusoe travels to London to set himself up as a merchant. This city symbolizes both opportunity and risk as he engages in trade before embarking on further adventures.

4. Sallee, North Africa

Crusoe is captured by Moorish pirates and taken to Sallee, where he is enslaved for two years. This location marks a significant turning point in Crusoe's life as it introduces themes of captivity and survival under harsh conditions.

5. Lisbon in Brazil

After escaping slavery with the help of a Portuguese captain, Crusoe arrives in Brazil, where he becomes a successful plantation owner. This location represents prosperity and economic success but also foreshadows future misadventures when he seeks more wealth through slave trading.

6. The Island of Despair

Crusoe’s shipwreck occurs near the mouth of the Orinoco River on what he calls the Island of Despair (later referred to as his desert island). Here, he becomes the sole survivor after a storm destroys his ship. This island becomes his home for 28 years and serves as the primary setting for most of the novel’s events.

Key Events:

Survival: Crusoe salvages supplies from the wrecked ship.

Isolation: He builds shelter and learns to survive alone.

Discovery of Cannibals: He observes cannibalistic tribes visiting the island.

9. The Mainland (Spanish Territory)

Through interactions with Friday and later rescued Spaniards, Crusoe learns about life beyond his island and plans for potential rescue or escape back to civilization. 

Key Events:

Plans for Rescue: Collaborating with Friday and Spaniards to build a boat for escape.

10. The Mutineers' Ship

Towards the end of the novel, an English ship arrives manned by mutineers who have overthrown their captain. This location signifies another turning point where Crusoe takes action to restore order.

Key Events:

Restoration of Authority: Crusoe helps retake control of the ship.

Return Home: Ultimately leads to Crusoe's return to England after many years away.

Numbers/currency in Robinson Crusoe

 money-related figures.

1. 40 Pounds – Crusoe receives £40 from the captain of the ship he saves early in the story.

2. 100 Pounds – He makes £100 from a voyage to Guinea (his first successful trading trip).

3. 300 Pounds – After selling some goods from the Guinea trip, he earns £300.

4. 800 Pounds – He invests in a Brazilian plantation and eventually earns £800 from it.

5. 5,000 Pounds – After his return to England, Crusoe finds his plantation investment has grown to over £5,000.

6. Money Found on the Ship – He recovers pieces of eight, gold doubloons, and silver coins from the wrecked ship, but doesn’t find it useful on the island.

7. Xury was sold for 60 Spanish pieces of eight, with a promise of 100 more if the buyer made him a Christian and freed him in 10 years. (Eight refers to Spanish coins)

8. Crusoe’s View of Money – While stranded, he considers money useless, calling it “mere dirt” since it can’t buy food, shelter, or help.

9. Crusoe’s Age & Time

   Left home: 18 (some source says 19 and 20)

   Shipwrecked: 27

   Island stay: 28 years, 2 months, 19 days

   Returned: 55

Number of Voyage and misfortunes

Robinson Crusoe had five major sea-related problems or misfortunes in the novel:

1. First Voyage – His very first voyage (against his father’s wishes) ends in a shipwreck near Yarmouth, but he survives.

2. Second Voyage – His second trip to Africa is successful, but on his return, his ship is attacked by pirates, and he is taken as a slave in Sallee.

3. Escape from Slavery – He escapes by sea with a boy named Xury, facing danger at sea before reaching safety with help from a Portuguese captain.

4. Fourth Voyage – He sails to Brazil and becomes a plantation owner. No problem here.

5. Final Sea Disaster – On his voyage to Guinea, intending to trade slaves, his ship is wrecked in a storm, and he ends up stranded on the island — the most famous disaster.

 in total, he had 4 sea-related problems (shipwreck, pirate capture, escape, and final wreck landed on island), out of 5 major sea voyages.