Concetti Chiave
- Defoe's major works include "Robinson Crusoe," "Captain Singleton," "Colonel Jack," "Moll Flanders," and "Roxana," each exploring themes of survival, morality, and societal roles.
- His novels often incorporate religious references and are structured as fictional autobiographies with a didactic purpose, focusing on realism and character actions over a coherent plot.
- Narrative style involves a retrospective first-person narrator, with episodes presented chronologically, highlighting external changes rather than character development.
- Key themes include individualism and materialism, reflecting the Augustan age's focus on economic success and struggle for survival, often portrayed through a picaresque style.
- "Robinson Crusoe" serves as a commentary on colonialism, depicting the protagonist's pragmatic survival and dominance over the island, embodying the colonial master-slave dynamic with the character Friday.
Major Works of Defoe
He wrote a lot of works, satirical pamphlets and articles. He's known for 'Robinson Crusoe' (the story of a shipwreck on a desert Island - 1719) - Captain Singleton (the voyage of a captain who became a pirate) - Colonel Jack (story of a pickpocket who repents) - Moll Flanders (the adventures of a woman who becomes a thief and a prostitute to survive but finally leads a respectable life) - Roxana (the adventures of a high - society woman who exploits her beauty to obtain what she wants).
What are the Themes and Style of the Novels?
His novels are full of references to god and the bible, in order to justify the didactic purpose of what he wrote (puritanism stated that reality mustn't be reproduced in stories, and that fictionism was a form of lie.).
- Fictional autobiographies (realism);
- A series of episodes and adventures;
- Unifying presence of a single hero;
- Lack of a coherent plot;
- Retrospective 1st person narrator;
- Author's point of view coincides with the protagonist's one;
- Characters are presented through their actions.
Narrative Structure and Realism
Defoe's purpose was didactic, he tended to give moral teachings, to transform bad people in good people. Usually are presented in the form of a diary in order to increase the idea of realism.
There's not a real plot but episodes are narrated in chronological order and are always about the same protagonist. Characters do not develop throughout the stories but external conditions change.
Individualism and Materialism
Individualism/materialism were two of the main characteristics pf the Augustan age. The main character is forced to struggle against a lot of misfortunes, he's forced to count only on himself/herself and has to struggle for survive.
Men must find their salvation, individualism comes from economical success. Isolation is another characteristic: there's no sentimentalism, every day i s a struggle for daily bread (picaresque element)
style.
Description of primary qualities of objects: number, shape, color. Everything useful to give the idea of realism:
solidity, extension, number.
Robinson Crusoe and Colonialism
Robinson Crusoe is the middle-class hero. He's pragmatic, the trusts his own abilities, he's able to survive. He shares restlessness with classical heroes of travel literature. (story took inspiration from Alexander Selkirk's one ).
Act of transgression/disobedience (goes against his father's will) and punishment (his isolation on the island after the shipwreck).
Defoe explores the conflict between economical motivation and spiritual salvation: the island is the ideal place for Robinson to prove his qualities organizing a primitive empire because at a certain point he meets Friday, a savage described as European-looking with some racism. Rescuing Friday from the cannibals, he guarantees himself a servant who will be deprived of his own identity.
When you colonize a country you became the owner, as Robinson did. The spirit of Augustan age is domination: nature is controlled by men's power. The society he recreates is an exaltation of the 18th century England and its ideals of social-mobility, material productiveness and individualism lead to a lot of immoralities and corruption. The individual can change, modify his destiny (pragmatic attitude). This fact is the reason why poor were considered in a different way from Catholicism.
Dates give you the idea were dealing with a novel. Robinson describes Friday as similar to a white man: attempt to assure the reader. There's a sort of racism under the surface. Robinson is the archetype colonist. This became clear especially in the last part of the novel, after he has met Friday. Their relation perfectly describes the pattern of the relation between the colonist and the native, or master and slave. Robinson's education of Friday closely recalls the process of modern colonialism.
Social Criticism and Realism
Set in urban society: insight into some social problems (prostitution, crime, provisions for poor orphans)
women weren't able to support themselves legally because they couldn't work. Moll rejects emotional experiences, seen as an impediment to accumulate a capital, and became a prostitute. She's a self-made woman, is Crusoe's female counterpart. The novel includes documents to increase the idea of realism.
Domande da interrogazione
- What are the key themes explored in Defoe's major works?
- What role does colonialism play in "Robinson Crusoe"?
Defoe's major works explore themes such as individualism, materialism, and the struggle for survival. His characters often face misfortunes and must rely on themselves, reflecting the Augustan age's focus on economic success and isolation.
In "Robinson Crusoe," colonialism is depicted through Robinson's domination of the island and his relationship with Friday. The novel explores themes of transgression, punishment, and the conflict between economic motivation and spiritual salvation, highlighting the colonial mindset of the time.
Accedi a tutti gli appunti
Tutor AI: studia meglio e in meno tempo
