Discuss the role played by Friday in Robinson Crusoe
Or,
Discuss the relationship between Crusoe and Friday.
Friday is the first person Crusoe introduces
into the social order of the island. His name, of course, isn't Friday by
birth, but this is the name that Crusoe gives him after saving him from the
hands of the cannibals. Crusoe also teaches Friday to speak English, encourages
him to eat goat (you know, instead of human flesh), and aids in his conversion
to Christianity.
The first and most obvious point about
Friday's relationship with Crusoe is that Friday is Crusoe's subordinate.
Friday always calls Crusoe "master," for example. Crusoe also
mentions that their relationship is much like that of "a Child to a
Father" (176). Why does Crusoe not see Friday as his equal, even after
Friday converts to Christianity?
Crusoe's dominant relationship to Friday
produces a pretty interesting dynamic between the two of them. See, for
example, Crusoe's description of Friday as he is sleeping:
He was a comely handsome
Fellow, perfectly well made; with straight strong Limbs, not too large; tall
and well shap'd, and as I reckon, about twenty six Years of Age. He had a very
good Countenance, not a fierce and surly Aspect; but seem'd to have something
very manly in his Face, and yet he had all the Sweetness and Softness of an
European in his Countenance too, especially when he smil'd. His Hair was long
and black, not curl'd like Wool; his Forehaed very high, and large, and a great
Vivacity and sparkling Sharpness in his Eyes. The Coulour of his Skin was not
quite black, but very tawny; and yet not of an ugly yellow nauseous tawny, as
the Brasilians, and Virginias, and other Natives of America are; but of bright
kind of a dun olive Colour, that had in it something very agreeable; tho' not
very easy to describe. (173)
Crusoe spends a great deal of time describing
Friday's body, to be sure, especially the ways in which he resembles a
European........................................................................................................
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