Discuss on the theme of Individuality in Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe.

Discuss on the theme of Individuality in Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe.

Defoe’s novel celebrates the idea of individuality. This means that the character lives according to his own way. He serves his own way. Thus, the novel focuses on the life of individual character. Robinson, the main character of this novel, seeks self-realization, so he yearns to go his own way through life. He acts independently and as he chooses, against the advice of others. This idea goes with the concepts of age of reason. Defoe’s novel is emotionless because it was written in the Age of Reason. Thus, it appeals to the reader’s mind and focuses on the importance of the individual. Defoe’s novel is mainly concerned with the idea of individuality which is shown through Crusoe’s life.

Robinson Crusoe deals with the life of an individual character who yarns to work his way up from the common middle position of life to a high one. Robinson decides his way through life according to his own thoughts and inclination. He is overambitious. He wants to get rich quicker. He is not satisfied with the quiet middle station of life. He seeks self-realization, so he refuses to lead a stable life or to remain inactive for any length of time, and as a result, he rejects his father’s advice to accept the middle position of life. His desire to go to the sea pushes him to leave home and go on voyages. He is seized by an overwhelming desire to travel abroad. He goes on a voyage bound for London against his father’s will. During the voyage, a storm overtakes the ship, he feels regretful and decides veer again to think of going on a voyage if God saves his life. After he is saved, he refuses to turn home. He has no longing for his family. He proves to be hard-hearted and disobedient. He follows his own inclination and design. In spite of his former oath, he goes on a voyage bound to Africa as a trader. He succeeds in making some money and thereafter decides to become a merchant. He wants to create a life by his own way. He yarns to succeeds as an individual. He does not want to depend on his father or inheritance. This time, his ship is attacked by pirates and he is held as a slave. He finds himself alone and miserable. He makes plan to set himself free. When his master asks him to take a boat into the sea to catch fish, he prepares to furnish himself, not for a fishing business but for a voyage. He takes the necessary equipment and food for a long voyage. This shows that he follows his individual thoughts. 

After he succeeds to escape from slavery, he settles in Brazil. He becomes a planter. He starts a new life alone. He plants tobacco and other crops and gets prosperous. This shows that he is self-made man. This is related to the idea of individual economy.  Yet, he feels dissatisfied with this life. He feels that he gained nothing from all his adventures. He finds that he leads the same life which his father has recommended to him. He feels lonely because he has no relatives or friends in this place. This is not what he has looked forward to achieve. His pride makes him think that he deserves better life. The life of a planter is inferior to his abilities. He is not content with this life. He proves to be ungrateful to God’s blessings. He does not appreciate Gods’ favour after he is saved twice. He does not learns from the previous lessons. This shows his obstinacy. He decides that he must get rich quicker. To that end, he joins a voyage to buy slaves. This reckless abandonment of a settled life for an illicit venture at last provokes God’s anger. His ship is wrecked and he finds himself marooned on an isolated island. He is the only survivor. Yet, he does not actually give way to despair. He does not keep lamenting his fate. He takes action. He adapts himself to these circumstances. He starts to discover the place whether it is inhabited or not. He organizes his life on this island..............................................................................

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Milan Tomic

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