Robinson Crusoe: King or Soul Searcher

When one thinks of the character Robinson Crusoe, stunning images of a deserted island, a free, self-sufficient man, and a shipwreck come to mind. However, to understand who Robinson Crusoe is as a character, one must first understand the society that he was raised in and how that contributes to his actions on the island. In other words, with the constant stress of trying to make something of himself in Seventeenth Century Europe, it seemed the only way out was to get out and start a life of his own. Thus, Robinson’s adventures were born. However, throughout the novel readers are presented with the sense that Robinson only craves to be a free and self-sufficient man on his island, with no societal pressures, laws, or other citizens to govern his life. Though this idea may seem to be the underlying cause of Robinson’s actions on the island, it is made clear by the end of the novel that Crusoe never becomes the self-sufficient and solitary identity he craves, rather he becomes king of the island controlling all aspects of the island, both animate and inanimate as well as the individuals that cross his path. Crusoe’s characterization from a confused young adult to a King marks Robinson Crusoe as being one of the first novels because of the growth and individualism of Crusoe himself. At the start of the novel, Crusoe is portrayed as a young, naïve, eighteen year old man who is confused about his place in society and what his future holds. He given advice from his father to become a lawyer and an active member of society, however, Robinson is unsure that this is what he wants to do for the rest of his life. However, it is this conflict with his father that infuses the enlightened and superior attitude of Crusoe. In a patriarchal society, Crusoe would have been expected to obey the words of his father; however, his rebellion is a catalyst for ensuing events that occur once he reaches the island. In his article “King Crusoe: Locke’s Political Theory in Robinson

Cited: Bell, Ian A. "King Crusoe: Locke’s Political Theory In Robinson Crusoe." English Studies 69.1 (1988): 27. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 8 Dec. 2010. Defoe, Daniel. Robinson Crusoe. New York: New American Library, 2008. Print. Donoghue, Frank. 1995. "Inevitable politics: Rulership and identity in Robinson Crusoe." Studies in the Novel 27, no. 1: 1. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed December 8, 2010). Mcinelly, Brett C. "Expanding Empires, Expanding Selves: Colonialism, The Novel, And Robinson Crusoe." Studies in the Novel 35.1 (2003): 1. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 8 Dec. 2010.