The Moral Aspects in Robinson Crusoe
The Moral Aspects in Robinson Crusoe
Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe, is a novel with a deep moral aspect. Really, the author introduces his novel as an adventure story, but he highlights the moral aspect more than the adventure side. That is, he aims to teach the reader the importance of reason through the disobedience, punishment and repentance of Robinson. Crusoe’s shift from disobedience to obedience shows everyman’s journey from suffering to God’s grace and mercy. This moral theme is built gradually throughout the life and experiences of this protagonist.
At first, the author shows Robinson as a symbol of the typical human nature in its weakness in front of temptation and over-ambition, so he deserves God’s punishment and faces many hardships. No advice can change his desire to go to sea even if his father gives him excellent advice to stay at home. Nature has provided him with the middle station of life which can be a source of his happiness, yet he decides to run away. His father warns him that if he goes abroad, he will be miserable. However, Crusoe gets free passage on a ship of a friend’s father heading to London. Consequently, he goes through terrible consequences owing to his original sin. First, his ship has a storm in his first voyage. It is a remark from God to guide him to the right way, so he promises God to repent. Nevertheless, he breaks his promise after the end of the danger. He even refuses to listen to the advice of his friend’s father and goes on another voyage.
On the second voyage, he deserves to have deeper punishment which is his slavery. Instead of improving his social class, he suffers from slavery for two years. However, he succeeds to escape in the boat of his master. After some adventures with wild beasts and Negroes on the African coast, he is saved by a Portuguese ship and taken to Brazil. In Brazil, he does very well financially and becomes successful in plantation, but he fails to understand the purpose of his previous
Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe, is a novel with a deep moral aspect. Really, the author introduces his novel as an adventure story, but he highlights the moral aspect more than the adventure side. That is, he aims to teach the reader the importance of reason through the disobedience, punishment and repentance of Robinson. Crusoe’s shift from disobedience to obedience shows everyman’s journey from suffering to God’s grace and mercy. This moral theme is built gradually throughout the life and experiences of this protagonist.
At first, the author shows Robinson as a symbol of the typical human nature in its weakness in front of temptation and over-ambition, so he deserves God’s punishment and faces many hardships. No advice can change his desire to go to sea even if his father gives him excellent advice to stay at home. Nature has provided him with the middle station of life which can be a source of his happiness, yet he decides to run away. His father warns him that if he goes abroad, he will be miserable. However, Crusoe gets free passage on a ship of a friend’s father heading to London. Consequently, he goes through terrible consequences owing to his original sin. First, his ship has a storm in his first voyage. It is a remark from God to guide him to the right way, so he promises God to repent. Nevertheless, he breaks his promise after the end of the danger. He even refuses to listen to the advice of his friend’s father and goes on another voyage.
On the second voyage, he deserves to have deeper punishment which is his slavery. Instead of improving his social class, he suffers from slavery for two years. However, he succeeds to escape in the boat of his master. After some adventures with wild beasts and Negroes on the African coast, he is saved by a Portuguese ship and taken to Brazil. In Brazil, he does very well financially and becomes successful in plantation, but he fails to understand the purpose of his previous