Title: Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
Publication Year: 1719
Plot: Daniel Defoe relates the tale of an English sailor marooned on a desert island for nearly three decades. An ordinary man struggling to survive in extraordinary circumstances, Robinson Crusoe wrestles with fate and the nature of God.
Miscellaneous: By the end of the 19th century, no book in the history of Western literature had more editions, spin-offs and translations than Robinson Crusoe. There are more the 700 such alternative versions.
I did not plan on our first three novels correlating the way they did, but we discovered that Heart of Darkness, The Drowned World and Robinson Crusoe all talk to each other in certain ways. Right off the bat, the readers noted the treatment of the “savage” in Crusoe and how the island natives are viewed and treated as lesser, more like commodities. They also noted how Crusoe had a sense of mastery and ownership over the island, perhaps a similar (but less innocent) feeling Kurtz had over his territory. in Heart of Darkness. There are also some heavy imperialistic overtones in the novel that resonated with anyone familiar with Heart.
I usually let our conversation snowball naturally, but I had a question I was curious to hear their answer to:”Why has this novel remained so popular over the last 300 years?” It is arguably the first novel, at least in the western world. It has inspired it’s own genre of fiction (Robinsonade). One reader linked it to those “desert island” questions we hear. “What would your five movies/books/albums/etc. on a desert island?” Robinson Crusoe looks at what life might be like on a desert island. The notion of being stranded on an island is a questions people enjoy wrestling with. many people imagine themselves as these inspired, crafty survivors, capable of roughing it. Another reader suggested this novel is the inspiration for the reality television show “Survivor.” But above the desert island aspects of the novel, they were struck by the sense of adventure and ingenuity in the novel. What Crusoe experiences is something nobody else will experience. Being based in a realistic world allows for readers to be transported and imagine what it was like. One reader thought at length what he would do were he in Crusoe’s shoes, especially in regards to building boats and caves and cultivating a farm. He kept setting his book down as he read and thought about what he might do.
In the last part of our discussion, the readers related the novel to their own situation of being in prison. Crusoe has to “scavenge” for social interaction. Crusoe can’t be picky with Friday and quarrel over differences in lifestyle, worldviews, or opinions. They find common ground. The readers related to this. They are in a hyper-controlled/restricted environment and have to make the best of what’s in front of them. They have very little they can control. The simplicity and minimalism of Crusoe’s island boils things down to what’s important and essential. Crusoe doesn’t have to worry about politics or social structures or things of that nature. Many of the religious dogmas and doctrines that bog the modern world don’t matter. It’s only his relationship to God, to Friday, and his self-reliance. We started to touch on the ideas of rebirth and repentance but alas, we ran out of time!
Next week, we are reading a novel that falls in the Robinsonade tradition: The Martian. We’re swapping out a desert island for the red hellscape of Mars.
Please feel free to share your thoughts on Defoe, his work, and anything else related in the comments!
I also try to provide some supplemental reading materials in the form of papers, essays, and Q&As. Here is an essay from 2012 by Geert Vandermeersche & Ronald Soetaert on landscape, culture, and education in Robinson Crusoe.
Until next time,
E.
You can purchase Robinson Crusoe from these places: