Am I the only one annoyed with Robinson's renewed religious fervor in relationship to Friday and how quickly Friday accepts everything Crusoe espouses? If anything is unbelievable in the book, it is this. I don't doubt in reality Robinson would push his beliefs on a non-white, however I find it less believable that Friday would so easily accept all of Crusoe's religious beliefs. If there is one thing people are usually the most fervent in, it is there religious convictions.
Another thing I find implausible in Robinson and Friday's relationship is the ease and quickness in which Friday devotes his entire being and soul to Crusoe. It makes sense that Friday would dedicate himself to helping Robinson after what he has down for him, however the book gets a little ridiculous when it seems Friday would rather kill himself than be separated from Crusoe. I understand Robinson has saved Friday's life, but Defoe treats Friday's mind as that of a child's. Friday is supposed to be twenty-six, not six. There is no question in my mind that the oversimplification of Robinson and Friday's relationship derives from the accepted racism of this period in time.
On a personal note, I find it abhorrent that Robinson names Friday as if he is a dog and then tells him to call himself "Master."
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I do agree to some extent with what you mean but I think that ones someone saves your life you kind of feel devoted to them, no matter how old you are. I think that is what was happening with Friday. Also about Crusoe naming him Friday, obviously Friday had no problem with it after all Crusoe does eventually teach him everything he knows. I think it was a different lifestyle back then. I mean I wasnt back then obviously but based on everything I learned, yeah if someone saved your life you would be indebted to them for the rest of yours. It is as if your lifes is no longer their. But hey Crusoe had no problem teaching him everything either. Honestly he needed someone and I guess he was like a son to him that he took under his wing.
The hard time I had with this novel, and other historical works, is in trying to read it with some separation from my 2007 mind-set. While not wanting to generalize and, of course, acknowledging exceptions, it is probably pretty safe to assume that most students who live in the NYC area and choose a school experience like Brooklyn College are not thinking in terms of a racial or ethnic hierarchy. So, when Crusoe has Friday call him Master and refers to ‘civilizing’ him, it goes against my personal beliefs and into a way of thinking that I find offensive. My question is how much do we try, as readers, to put this into a historical context and look at it from the worldview in which it was written? I tried to make this separation but, in reading the comments that have been posted, so many have brought up strong points against Crusoe that I am questioning whether it is possible to read a book isolated from our own life experience. In that light the book becomes less satisfying. I did enjoy the detail, the insight into Crusoe’s daily routine, and the idea of Crusoe as a survivor forced to push himself to his limits and find peace with the life he is given. I am challenged mostly by the ideas of the time and reconciling them with my own within the structure of the book. Any thoughts??
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