Well I'm glad that the prophetic claims of Crusoe's father and the first ship captain were wrong in the end. I found Crusoe appealing because of his initial ambivalence over his own wants vs. those of others. Somewhere I started rooting for Robinson Crusoe although in my current reflection I think the only reason is because I have a tendency to empathize with the suffering of believable characters. However, I did not enjoy the conclusion of Robinson Crusoe. I think it was too neatly packaged and too beneficiary to a character that (from my modern perspectives) was simply mediocre in his values.
If he advocatated human capability and was enveloped in recurring "fits" which brought him to understandings of culpability, then I think he should have had more conviction when he returned home. Maybe I need to read the sequel, but honestly I felt the admonitions of slave holding were putrid and do not even get me started on the assassination of the bear. The way he came back to the island and immediately acceded to become the owner over it was a detestable advocation of the mentality of colonizers who thought they could own anything that they set their fingers upon. And twenty-eight years on a deserted island and the man needed no adjustment time to be able to delve right into matters of law, politics and appropriations? C'mon. Maybe we should send Bush away and see what he'll be able to do when he gets back. Oh, and I shouldn't leave out that at least there was one woman in the whole story - virtuous or spendthrift, whichever you choose - who got some attention, that is of course besides his wife who bore three children, but only got one sentence's recognition.
The story's ending left a dry taste in my mouth viz. all one needs to do is conform to the cultural standards of the time, while using some level of humanism, hard work and reasoning so that life will grant you gold bouillion in multitudes.

The Simple Life

In examining Robinson Crusoe in the pages before the introduction of Friday, Defoe asks the reader to look, albeit not directly, at issues that feel current and relevant. These issues explain the novels enduring popularity as it offers a frame work that the modern reader finds familiar. Robinson Crusoe has become an icon for a life of self-reliance, simplicity and hard work. Many contemporary readers struggle with these concerns and, though they may be in a small town or in the middle of NYC, the overriding feeling of exertion that accompanies day-to-day life remains the same. The current success of books that focus on a life of simplicity or entire magazines that are dedicated to living modestly are an indication that modern life’s constant striving for acquisition pulls at our conscience.
This theme of insatiability has been explored in stories since the beginning of time. Adam and Eve wanted more out of life than the Garden of Eden; Gilgamesh searched tirelessly for eternal life; Pandora couldn’t stop herself from opening the box. In Rasselas, Samuel Johnson argues quite convincingly for man’s inability to be content. Man seems destined to maroon himself, either literally or figuratively, in his/her quest for more. Humans seem unable to stand still and live with what is given. The search for the next acquisition, the next step, the next accomplishment holds more pull than accepting what has been set in front of one.
Whether Defoe offers an answer, aside from the ever-popular solo island living, is for the reader to ponder. A life of minimalism offers advantages. Being grateful for what you have and being in the moment are popular themes in today’s vernacular and, while formal religion may be less popular now, the solace that Crusoe finds in his religion can be paralleled to today’s focus on spirituality in its many forms. Crusoe certainly seems to offer a picture of a mentally and physically healthier lifestyle and, while twenty-odd years on an island may not be anyone’s prescription for contentment, Defoe gives credibility to the argument that happiness or self-confidence is not a self-induced feeling but rather the result of mastery and accomplishment.

Cultural Relativism

Robinson Crusoe’s disgust for the behavior of the savages reveals him to be quite the hypocritical character. This characteristic is most prominent with his reaction of being repulsed and outraged by the savages cannibal ways. While Crusoe admits to not being in a position to judge the savages his treatment of Friday proves otherwise, for he makes him his servant and insists he conforms to his beliefs. According to Crusoe only fellow white Christians are deserving of his respect and can possibly be considered an equal; therefore Friday is not treated much differently than Crusoe’s animals, they are tolerated and even treated well when Crusoe serves to benefit from them, they are to be used. Servitude is likened to death in this sense, for servants like Friday is are not free with their actions or thoughts. What makes this death any less than that of one the savages physically afflict upon its enemies or those deserving punishment? The savage’s behavior is a result of their culture, as is that of the Crusoe’s and his opinions leaving him in no place to believe he is superior and correct.

Symbolism of the Footprint

My favorite part of the book so far is the discovery of the footprint as well. I think this particular part shows us a different side of Crusoe. While being trapped on a "deserted" island you would think that seeing a sign of another human life would cause happiness, excitement, etc... In reality, it is a scary sign--one's first reaction might be an excited one because you're not alone but right after the excitment I know I would think; "Is this a murderer?"...etc. At the same time, if I read correctly, it is a single footprint...which is probably why Crusoe thought it belonged to the devil. At the same time, maybe Crusoe enjoys being the only person on the island...I mean, at home his father tells him to do the opposite of what Crusoe really wants to do...maybe Crusoe finally found happiness in lonliness??? We'll see...

Although I have not yet finished Robinson Crusoe, I can honestly say that I cannot put this book down. The hardships, emotions, and struggles Robinson goes through seem so fascinating and real. To me he seems philosophical. I kept going back to this one line in which the author wrote, " Today we love what tomorrow we hate; today we seek what tomorrow we shun; today we desire what tomorrow we fear..." In a way I believe Robinson has been living his life on the island through this quote; he desires to leave the island that he has spent so many years perfecting, but fears where he will end up if he leaves. Janet Georgakopoulos

General Comments

I just have general unrelated comments on the book. My first comment is really about something that probably only I'll find interesting, but I thought I'd mention it anyway. I actually really enjoyed that Robinson Crusoe's Birthdays, viz. (I'm not sure if I'm using it correctly but I've read it so many times, it's constantly popping up in my head) the day he was born and the day he was saved from the shipwreck and lands on the deserted island happens to both occur on September 30th. I don't find it interesting only because of the "Days as Fatal or Fortunate" factor but because it happens to be my birthday as well. My birthday generally is so uninteresting I have a tendency to milk out whatever interesting happened on that day, even if it is fictional (after all Defoe did choice September 30th from all other days).
I was also reflecting about the importance of Crusoe's religious rebirth in relation to this being one of the first English novels. I personally find the religious parts of the book to be the most boring and annoying; the parts I could do without. That got me to thinking that perhaps those parts contributed to the success of Robinson Crusoe as a first novel. After all during that time, people only read serious writings, and true stories, therefore if people were going to read a fictional account there must be something worthwhile for the reader. Therefore, Crusoe may have been able to pass as a more exciting way to teach people important religious lessons. Obviously stuffy aristocrats would probably look down upon the trivialization of religious teachings, but I think the middle class, which Crusoe was meant for, would enjoy it.
Another thing that bothered me about the book is that Crusoe never attempted to figure out Friday's real name, but just decided to name him himself. I guess that provides more insight to how the Westerners considered the natives viz. (I can't stop!) their lifestyle is so inferior it's worthless in comparison. There's contrasting views to the way Crusoe considers the natives, at the one hand he acknowledges that their human and that he shouldn't kill them without just cause. And then on the other hand, when they threaten a fellow white Christian, the all deserve to die. Plus, when he decides to make a native a companion he doesn't even bother to find out what his name is, and one of the first words he teaches him is 'master.' I'm not sure why the fact that Crusoe instantly named him Friday without any consideration to whether the native had his own name bothers me so much, but it does.

Oversimplification of Robinson and Friday's Relationship

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."

The Foot Print

The foot print is the most exciting part in the book for me. When he first see's the foot print he is relieved that humans do exist where he is. What ponders in my mind is how he goes into panic. Crusoe takes this event in such a negative way. If that was me i would be so relieved to see that another human being was in the same position as me. I dont understand why he thinks that the devil is behind this trick. This makes me think that he is afraid to return to human society. This does not make any sense because he has confessed before that he misses the human society. I guess when you go through all the changes and life making choices you just get crazy after a certain point. He has the attitude like the whole world is out to get him.
Crusoe never thinks for one second that this person can be someone to rescue him. He becomes so afraid that he wants to secude him self from everything. He has to live in fear and I guess everyone can relate to that. This is really hard for him because when you keep changing your lifestyle its hard to go back to the way life was from the start. Even for us today when we have had one lifestyle and have to change to another its hard. I feel like we can all relate to him. I guess in the begining i thought differently.