final-鲁滨逊漂流记.doc

Analysis of Robinson’s Character
(Final Paper) 11301116 吴娜
Robinson Crusoe, whose full name is life and strange and surprising adventures of Robinson Crusoe, is written by Daniel Defoe. Jean-Jacques Rousseau in Emile recommended it as the first book that should be studied by a growing boy. In this paper, I want to write from two parts. The first part is the brief introduction of the author Daniel Defoe and Alexander Selkirk, and the second part is the analysis of Robinson’s character.
1. Brief Introduction to Daniel Defoe and Alexander Selkirk.
Defoe had abundant experiences in his wonderful life. He was born in a businessman’s home. At his twenties, he had become a successful businessman. He engaged in many field such as trading, brick. He also experienced bankrupt. When he did business, he also took part in the political activities. He pressed the political pamphlets as the deputy of bourgeoisie. He was poisoned, and got out by other’s help. After that, he also joined in the political activities. When he was in his old age, he started to write his novel. Before that Defoe never wanted to be a writer.
Alexander, the original figure of Robinson, was a Scotland sailor. After a quarrel with his captain, he was thrown onto a desolate island off the coast of Chile by captain. After four years, he was taken to England, but he became a savage. Of course, the man didn’t do any wonderful thing on the island, but his experience became the source of Defoe’s writing.
2. The Character of Robinson
Modern novelist James Joyce noted that “Robinson is the true prototype of the British colonist, independent, unconscious cruelty, persistent.” However, just as the old saying goes, “Men are not saints”. Robinson Crusoe also has his shortcomings in his character. Most previous researchers concerned more about Robinson’s sprint while ignoring his flaws. In the following part, I will focus on the both sides of Robinson’s character.
2.1 Robinson is a man of individualism but pays little attention to his family.
The ideals of enlightenment endowed Robinson some progressive characters. He pursued a free life and valued individual. While in the middle age, human took the God as the core. Robinson was not willing to stick to the old doctrines and lived a life of leisure and ease. “My head began to be filled very early with rambling thoughts: my father, who was very ancient, had given me competent share of learning…and designed for the law, but I would be satisfied with nothing but go to sea…” (Daniel, Robinson Crusoe, P1) His restless nature made him always fight for a better life and the things he wanted to possess: he went out to sea three times to do business, even after he had established his plantation in Brazil.
However, we can see that, in order to realize his dream, Robinson left his family, not considering much about the feelings of the family. As he told us, “I would be satisfied with nothing but go to sea, and my inclination to this led me strongly against the will, nay the commands of my father, and against all the entreaties and persuasion of my mother and other friends.” (Daniel, Robinson Crusoe, P1) In the end he went out to sea without saying goodbye to his family. This, to me, is irresponsible, especially in modern society.
2.2 Robinson is a fortitude but vain man.
Robinson was born as a son of an old English gentleman, who designs his son for the law. But the young man has set his mind on becoming a sailor. At the age of 19, he runs away from, and begins his way to take adventures on a sea. In spite of many perils and adventures on the sea, he never changes his mind to seek after the sea. Robinson says that, "My temperament is not drop a thing when I determined to do it, if not successful," (Daniel, Robinson Crusoe, P31) He makes a wood block that needs 42 days. He wasted much time and the practice force on many matters, when he does not succeed; he is always not discouraged and disappointed. He summarizes the experience of failure and does it again. He discovers rice; the wheat seed and sows them, but that is not right time and has no crop, he has plant again. Finally has the bread to provide food, to have the plantation, All these has taken very many efforts and overcame many difficulties, He changes his own situation by fortitude.
On the other hand, Robinson Crusoe also had a sense of vanity and weakness. After the first sea voyage failed, he had the thought of going home, shame opposed the action, “it occurred to me how I should be laughed at among the neighbors, and should be ashamed to see, not my father and mother only, but even everybody else.” (Daniel, Robinson Crusoe, P11) On this point, I don’t agree with Robinson, for his so strong a sense of vanity. What is more, sometimes he was dull and lacking prediction of the results. Once he had an ideal plan to make himself a canoe, one big enough to have carried him and all his cargo. He thought it possible and easy, but it interested in possessions, power and prestige. After the island was peopled, it turned out to be a mad plan and unlikely to be performed: he simply couldn’t think he was “very rich in subjects”, and he thought it was a “merry reflection” that “how like a king I looked. He thought the whole country was my own.
3. Conclusion
In Daniel Defoe's masterpiece, Robinson Crusoe, Robinson begins as a wanderer, aimless on a sea, and ends as a pilgrim, crossing a final mountain to enter the promising land. Robinson is a hero rather than an everyman. He is ambitious, hard-working, persistent, etc. In a word, he is a collection of virtues. However, as a human, he also has his flaws; he is a little irresponsible, vain, etc. However, as a people in modern society, we all should learn from his virtues, and overcome his faults. Be brave to take any adventures, and face every challenge in our life fearlessly.
References
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2. 刁克利. classical readings of English literature（上）. 北京：外语教学与研究出版社， 2011.07
3. 唐红敏. 英国文学的伦理学批评. 湖北：华中师范大学出版社，2007.11
4. 曾莉. 英美文学中的环境主题研究. 北京：中国社会科学出版社，2012.03
5. 吴伟仁. 英国文学史及选读. 北京：外语教学与研究出版社，1988.12