Book report: Robinson Crusoe and Friday
Daniel Defoe’s famous novel The Life and Strange Surprising Adventure of Robinson Crusoe has gained approval of readers all over the world. In his fantastic lifetime, Robinson Crusoe has experienced unbelievable misfortunes like dreadful storms, terrible pirates, an uninhabited island and cruel cannibals. However, he survives all these and fights against his destiny by his diligent working, perseverance and also the help from either God or the Luck Lady. Magically, after 28 years he finally leaves the island for his hometown with his newfound friend Friday.Analysis of Robinson Crusoe
Robinson Crusoe is a kind of heroic figure in the aspect of both adventure and creativity. Although Robinson Crusoe is just an ordinary sensible man who is always ready to admit his unheroic feelings of fear or panic, but the perseverance in spending months making a canoe, a house, grape arbor and goat stable is clearly remarkable. The independent attitude towards life is actually inspiring to many, especially teenagers who always rely on their parents. Moreover, Robinson Crusoe’s talent in business can also be seen from the great fortune he made in the planting garden of Brazil.
However, Robinson Crusoe seems cold in feeling towards his family, as shown by his cold account of leaving his family. When Robinson Crusoe tells us that he has gotten married and that his wife has died all in the same sentence, his indifferent to her is cruel.
To summarize, Robinson Crusoe’s virtues tend to be private: his industry, resourcefulness, and solitary courage, while his vices are social.
Stories About Robinson Crusoe and Friday
Robinson Crusoe would have to face the loneliness for the entire 28 years and could only speak to animals without the appearance of the young friend Friday. After Robinson Crusoe saves him from the bloody cannibals, Friday is described as “he had all the Sweetness and Softness of an European in his Countenance too…”, “His Hair was long and black, not curl’d like Wool…”, “The Color of his Skin was not quite black, but very tawny; and yet not of an ugly yellow nauseous tawny, as the Brasilians, and Virginians, and other Natives of America are…”, and “his Nose small, not flat like the Negroes, a very good mouth, thin Lips, and his fine Teeth well set, and white as Ivory”. When the two meet, Friday seems timid like rabbit and approaches Crusoe in a very careful way , Friday is terrified yet he does not lash out at Robinson Crusoe. He does not seem wild, ferocious or barbaric in any way. He uses sign language at first to communicate, which indicates knowledge of some sort of primitive language.
Friday is quick to learn Robinson Crusoe’s language and is so loyal to Crusoe that he offers himself as an eternal servant to Robinson Crusoe. The description is vivid, “At last he lays his Head flat upon the Ground, close to my Foot, and sets my other Foot upon his head, as he had done before; after this made all the Signs to me of Subjection, Servitude, and Submission imaginable, to let me know, how he would serve me as long as he liv’d…”. Thanks to Crusoe’s patient modification, Friday is improved in a large scale, comparing to his tribes who get a desire for human flesh. All that Robinson Crusoe had filled his days with before the arrival of Friday had become easier by the hands of two men rather than one. Friday’s ability to work as diligently as he does is an indication of being civilized. Later on, Robinson Crusoe teaches Friday to use guns to protect themselves and fight the terrible cannibals. In an attack towards a few cannibals, Friday’s father is saved together with a Spaniard. Friday does not go with his father when he returns in a canoe. He companies his master and cooperates to get a large boat back for its original captain.
Near the end of the story, Robinson Crusoe and his traveling party encounter a bear during the return voyage from Lisbon. Amusingly, Friday turns this dangerous incident into an joking spectacle by teasing the bear climbing a tree. This episode adds live entertainment in the novel and also shade light on Friday’s original way of life. All these contribute to shaping Friday the character as realistic and attracting as Robinson Crusoe himself. How do you view the fact described in the novel that Friday is so willing to subject himself to Crusoe?:)
页:
[1]