Robinson Crusoe Critique...I admire how Defoe developed his character through behaviors and actions on the island

Essay by LilChu22High School, 11th gradeA+, April 2004

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Robinson Crusoe Critique

Many novels are read everyday, some well liked and others not. Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe is a very well written novel that can be an example to other ones elsewhere. I like how Defoe creates his characters, but in particular, Robinson Crusoe. Additionally, I admire how he developed his character through behavior and actions on the island.

Firstly, I like how Robinson Crusoe is not a mythological hero who has supernatural powers, but just an ordinary man. This gives the novel a sense of realism, which I fancy. His normalcy can be seen when he approaches problems. Crusoe can not use "magic" to solve them, but must think of rational ways of dealing with them, just like every human being. Creating a human protagonist is a reason why I like Defoe's methods of fabricating characters.

In addition to being an ordinary man, I like how Daniel Defoe puts Crusoe in situations that allow his actions and attitudes to bring out his character.

The fact that he is able to adapt to a whole new environment leaves me in awe. The way Crusoe builds shelter, raises a flock of goat, and salvages precious items from his ship shows that he has the will to survive and that he is determined to do so at any cost. Another characteristic that Defoe brings out in Crusoe was that he iss kind to others. This can be seen when he rescues men, including Friday, his father, and a ship captain, from the cannibalistic savages. Not only iss Crusoe benevolent to these men, he iss also merciful to prisoners. "...Here [I] left them bound, but gave them provisions... and promised to give them their liberty in a day or two" (177).

Another characteristic of Robinson Crusoe effectively developed by Defoe is his...