Blog Post Robinson Crusoe: Pages 242-304

Cavitt Bradley

Zach Piazza

Anna Preston

Robinson Crusoe: Pages 242-304

Importance of Civilization

-Crusoe calls Friday, Friday’s father, and the European’s from the shipwreck his “subjects.” He also refers to them as his “men”(271) and Friday as his “lieutenant general”(271).  As if he is a king, imposing his own form of civilization (monarchy) on the natives. He has no need for an army, but he creates one anyway because it is a hallmark of English civilization.

-Crusoe is hesitant to kill the cannibals that are on Robinsons land because of his growing religious beliefs, saying that God does not grant him the right to judge and kill. He kills the savages justifying that it is okay because it is an act of war since they are enemies with Friday’s tribe.

“Friday might justify it, because he was a declar’d enemy, and in a state of war with those very particular people and it was lawful for him to attack them, but I could not say the same with respect to me”(243).

Do you think killing the cannibals on his island because of Friday’s relation to them is a good reason to go against his initial thoughts on killing the savages?

Comparisons between Europeans and Savages

-Historical rarity to have a close relationship with a “savage” or someone of non european descent. There are still clear boundaries between them, but not nearly as profoundly as in the rest of society at the time.

- Although Crusoe and Friday have a close relationship, Crusoe still holds onto European ideals of foreigners, calling Friday “creature” and continuously being surprised by his actions, especially of the love he shows for his father.

“It is not easy for me to express how it mov’d me to see what ecstasy and filial affection had work’d in this poor Savage, at the sight of his father, and of his being deliver’d from death”(247).

How do Friday’s emotions toward his father differ from that of Crusoe’s relationship with his father? Do you think Defoe had a purpose for these differences?

-Treatment of the European crew(mutiny)

“They conveyed them to a cave, as to a prison”(273).

-Imprisoning crew members and threatening the European crew members who were mutinous that they will be put in chains is similar to how slaves are put in chains.

“If they were sent to England, they would all be hang’d in chains, to be sure”

- Crusoe and his men are willing to threaten the lives of the European mutineers. How does this differ from the savages killing each other? Is it different? and do you think Defoe is making a comment with this juxtaposition?  

Holding to European Ideals

- Doesn’t trust the spaniards (historic enmity between England and Spain)

- Crusoe is effectively declaring himself king of the natives (reminiscent of colonization)

- Crusoe is overjoyed when he realizes he will soon get to return to civilization in Europe

“Such was the flood of joy in my breast, that it put all my spirits into confusion, at last broke out into tears...we rejoiced together”(276).