Robinson Crusoe's Analysis

Analysis of Robinson Crusoe Novel
1. Setting: (Time) From 1651 to 1694.

(Place) Transatlantic.
Crusoe begins his journey in September 1651 and travels to Africa, Brazil, and a lost island
in the Atlantic. He moves primarily through and around the Atlantic Ocean. In this sense,
the setting of the novel is a transatlantic one. The significance of this setting is that it is
also the primary location of the eighteenth-century trade routes – including the slave
trade.
2. Motive: Crusoe’s desire for money and adventure.
3. Type of conclusion: happy ending, because Robinson is (REWARDED) at the end of the
novel.
4. Style of wriBng: suspense and foreshadowing.
a. Early on in the novel, Crusoe experiences a storm at sea. This storm foreshadows the
shipwreck that will leave him helpless and alone. “in an ill hour, God knows, on the first of
September, 1651, I went on board…”.
b. “At this surprising change of my circumstances from a merchant to a miserable slave, …;

and now I looked back upon my father’s propheBc discourse to me, that I should be
miserable and have none to relieve me, … this was but a taste of the misery I was to go
through…” p. 15.
c. “That boy might be happy if he would stay at home, but if he goes abroad he will be the
most miserable wretch that was ever born. I can give no consent to it.”
5. NarraBve format: The Three-Act Structure
Act one: Before the Island

Act two: Life on the Island (This porYon of the novel is dedicated to Crusoe's Yme alone on
the island).
Crusoe becomes stronger in his religious faith, eventually submi[ng to the authority of God.
He devotes himself to much religious reflecYon and prayer.
Act three: Escape from the Island. (Crusoe then returns to England with Friday, where he
comes into a great deal of money from his sugar plantaYons. Crusoe gets married and
eventually revisits the island in his later years).
6. Conflict:
Major Conflict Shipwrecked alone, Crusoe struggles against hardship, privaYon, loneliness,
and cannibals (savages) in his aêmpt to survive on a deserted island.
1. Conflict between man and nature (environment): Aèr the shipwreck, the protagonist
found himself on an uninhabited island, so he is alone with the wild environment in its
original form / external.
2. The internal conflict, however, is going on in the mind of Crusoe about his acYons and his
behaviour, i.e., going against the advice of his father.
Even though Robinson accepted his fate, he won the internal intellectual and emoYonal
conflict to preserve his human and moral qualiYes on the one hand, and adapt to nature, on
the other.
7. Themes:
(1). Self-Reliance
Robinson Crusoe is at its core a story of adventure, and true to its nature the hero must rely
upon his wits and courage to survive. Throughout the novel readers see this theme in
acYon. Robinson Crusoe demonstrates self-reliance in building his plantaYon in Brazil. And
most clearly, he uses his self-reliance to survive on the island.
(2). ChrisBanity / Religion:

The theme of ChrisYanity is significant in the course of the novel through the physical
journey of Robinson Crusoe to the island that is also a representaYon of his spiritual journey
to become a good ChrisYan. Crusoe relies on God to take care of him and also fears God's
punishment for abandoning his family and for his lack of faith and graYtude on past
occasions. Learning about the true God and religion gives him a way out from his confusion
and provides him with some solace during these dark moments on the island. He finds his
quality of life improves as his faith in God becomes stronger, and this moYvates him to
conYnue. Some other such incidents and happenings, which first seem disastrous for him,
later prove blessings only because of his leanings toward ChrisYanity in that he considers
them God’s will and care for him. Crusoe teaches this faith to Friday, and soon seems to
become as devoted a ChrisYan as Crusoe. In the end he realizes that in teaching ChrisYanity
to Friday, he has become a beêr and more understanding ChrisYan himself. IsolaYon and
loneliness bring him close to God and ChrisYanity.
3. Individuality: The novel shows the theme of individuality through Robinson Crusoe’s
desire of leaving English society despite his father’s warnings. When he is shipwrecked and
ends up on an island, he learns about his individuality and the difficulYes a person faces
when they remain away from society. He also learns to live a sustainable life of
independence that is free from the stress of everyday preoccupaYons and tensions. The
novel shows that what Robinson values the most is his liberty and freedom.
8. Plot Analysis:
IntroducBon: Robinson’s desire to go to sea and his family’s warning from doing this.
Rising AcBon: Crusoe disobeys his father and goes out to sea. Crusoe has a profitable first
merchant voyage, has fantasies of success in Brazil, and prepares for a slave-gathering
expediYon.
Climax: Robinson Crusoe finds himself trapped on the island aèr confronYng the storm in
which his ship is wrecked.
Falling AcBon: Crusoe constructs a shelter, secures a food supply, and accepts his stay on the
island as the work of Providence.
ResoluBon/ conclusion:
Crusoe and Friday are saved. They sail back to England on an English ship. Crusoe discovers
that his investments have made him wealthy. He marries, has three children, and, aèr his
wife dies, sets out on more traveling adventures.
9. Main Characters
A. Robinson Crusoe
Robinson Crusoe is an adventurous spirit who ignores his father's advice to stay at home and
enjoy the "middle staYon" in life. Instead, he goes to sea and experiences many adventures,
including a 28-year stay on a deserted island. He possesses many admirable qualiYes,
including persistence, courage, and invenYveness. When his ship sinks on his first voyage, he
resolves to conYnue pursuing his dream of a life at sea. He learns the skills to survive when
he is cast ashore on a remote island. Despite Crusoe's admirable virtues, he possesses other
less-desirable qualiYes. He has no qualms in being a slave trader. And aèr he rescues Friday
from the cannibals (savages), the first word he teaches him is to call him "master."
Throughout the novel, Crusoe remains a complex and contradictory character.
Type of character: protagonist, round and dynamic as he shows a considerable

transformaYon in his behaviour and conduct by the end of the novel.
B. Friday
Friday is a naYve who is saved from the cannibals by Robinson Crusoe. He becomes a willing
servant, eager to learn English and do Crusoe's bidding. He also stands in emoYonal contrast
to Crusoe. Whereas Crusoe shows li^le emoYon, never seeming to miss his parents or
wanYng close Yes to others, Friday displays strong emoYons. He becomes closely aâched
to Crusoe, volunteering to die for Crusoe whenever he calls. Friday is also intelligent and
learns quickly.
Type of character: staYc
C. Xury:
Xury is a non-white character who becomes Robinson’s friend when both of them join hands
with slaves to escape Sallee island. Robinson, however, sells this pliant boy to the
Portuguese captain, showing the English mentality of occupying human beings and
humanity of that Yme.
Type of character: staYc
11. Symbols
Defoe uses symbols that connect directly to the challenges of building a life in a wild land.
Calendar Post
Crusoe marks his days on the island on a post he sets up on the beach where he first came
ashore. It represents his connecYon to Yme and civilizaYon. This is a pracYce that keeps him
sane and grounded as he marks off the days and years he spends on the island.

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Analysis of Robinson Crusoe Novel

1. Setting: (Time) From 1651 to 1694.

2. Motive: Crusoe’s desire for money and adventure.

4. Style of wriBng: suspense and foreshadowing.

b. “At this surprising change of my circumstances from a merchant to a miserable slave, …;

5. NarraBve format: The Three-Act Structure

Act one: Before the Island

(2). ChrisBanity / Religion:

Type of character: protagonist, round and dynamic as he shows a considerable

Type of character: staYc

Type of character: staYc

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