The poet James Joyce has described the character of Robinson Crusoe as the "true prototype of the British colonist"1, and Robinson Crusoe certainly shares many of the characteristics associated with British colonists of the period in which the novel was written. ... Robinson Crusoe decided to go against all advice given to him by family and friends who thought Robinson should become a lawyer, and stay in England. ... The ideas of the Enlightenment philosopher Immanuel Kant can be seen to influence the novel and the character of Robinson Crusoe. ... After setting up his plantation in...

• Word Count: 2166
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

People Who Need People In Robinson Crusoe, a novel by Daniel Defoe, a boy leaves home against his father's will to seek out adventures at sea. ... Hubbell describes the novel as "A strange myth for a class of people dependent on an economic system that requires people to interact with one another- (Hubbell 1); Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe demonstrates that interaction with others is a necessity of life. ... Crusoe teaches Friday to speak enough English to do the daily chores that Crusoe has been doing alone ever since he's been on the island. ... These chores are some of...

• Word Count: 626
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

In the novel, "Robinson Crusoe," by Daniel Defoe, the main character, Robinson Crusoe, is a middle class, white man from England. ... The relationship that ensues between them is diverse and unbalanced; it brings out the great and lesser qualities of Robinson Crusoe and reveals his racist, colonial, white mindset typical of those times. Crusoe and Friday's relationship starts off by Crusoe taking him under his wing and protecting him from his fellow savages. ... Friday never does, and Crusoe often recounts how loyal he is. ... Despite his racist ways, Crusoe does think highly of Friday. ...

• Word Count: 844
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

In the case of Robinson Crusoe, the calamity comes from nature. ... The eponymous Robinson Crusoe was set on a lucrative slave gathering expedition, when a freak storm scuttles that plan (Defoe 1). ... In "Robinson Crusoe", one sees the title character stranded on a foreign island; alone with his thoughts. ... This dynamic is reversed in "Robinson Crusoe", as it is the main character who could serve as a sort of role model. ... A similar sort of gray area can be seen in the cannibals featured in "Robinson Crusoe". ...

• Word Count: 1319
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography

In Daniel Defoe's novel, Robinson Crusoe, religion plays a prominent role throughout the story; however, Crusoe, like the majority of individuals, practices selective religious conviction, clinging to actions and moral principals he finds appealing and ignoring those that do not conform to his beliefs. Robinson Crusoe is more than a story about a shipwreck, survival and rescue; it is a novel about one man's spiritual journey, a spiritual journey complete with spiritual apathy. ... By isolating Crusoe on an island, Defoe put Crusoe in a situation where his only option is to rely upo...

• Word Count: 2307
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography

The first major difference between Defoe's work and most other books dating from this time is that Robinson Crusoe is really entertaining, quite exhilarating and at times even amusing to read. ... Robinson Crusoe was one of the first few books to have characters with whom a reader could actually identify. ... Defoe put this theory into practice in Robinson Crusoe. ... It may seem as if I am saying I am strongly inclined to believe that Robinson Crusoe is both a terrific book and a novel which set a new standard for literature in its time. ... My foremost criticism is this; Robinson Crusoe...

• Word Count: 994
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

In Daniel Defoe's novel, "Robinson Crusoe," the titular character struggles to remain moral in a society which places great significance on the attainment of power and wealth. ... The creation of a journal in which Crusoe can voice his innermost thoughts provides the reader with an opportunity to connect with Crusoe on a new level, understanding the reasoning behind many of his actions. As the lone survivor of a shipwreck, Crusoe has been truly blessed. ... In just this comment, Crusoe is shown to be an economical man with a moral impulse. ... The diffusion of economics and religion throu...

• Word Count: 2834
• Approx Pages: 11
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Robinson Crusoe sense of self begins to change while stranded on this deserted island in which he has gone from a castaway to a king. ... The Spaniard one of the prisoners saved by Crusoe, it is interesting to note that he is treated with much more respect in Crusoe's mind than any of the colored peoples with whom he is in contact. Friday's devotion to Crusoe is a living justification of the slavery relationship between the two men in which he sees Crusoe above everyone in the world. ... Crusoe acts like a leader therefore the men will treat him like one. ... Crusoe's is ...

• Word Count: 590
• Approx Pages: 2