Daniel Defoe: pioneers of realistic fiction and adventure

Daniel Defoe

The novel as a literary form took root in England during the 17th century, with Daniel Defoe emerging as a pivotal figure. His narratives began to reflect the intricacies of real life, incorporating actual names and settings, yet often omitting the emotional depth of the characters.
Defoe was renowned for his detailed portrayals of genuine cities and individuals without delving deeply into the emotional states of his characters. He aimed to depict events in their true form, and discussions about Defoe's work frequently highlight his contributions to the literary movement of realism.

Robinson Crusoe

Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe was initially presented as a series in a newspaper before its book publication. The story, inspired by the real-life ordeal of Alexander Selkirk who spent five years stranded on a deserted island, was penned by Defoe who favored the diary format for its straightforwardness and accessibility over more voluminous works.

The Tale

The narrative follows Robinson Crusoe, the lone survivor of a maritime disaster, as he secures survival gear and establishes himself on an uninhabited island. His ingenuity and resourcefulness are evident as he constructs a dwelling. His existence is dramatically altered upon encountering island cannibals and saving one of their prisoners, whom he names Friday. Crusoe endeavors to impart his own values to Friday, and after nearly three decades of solitude, they are both rescued and returned to England.
Key themes include:
- A man's resilience and reliance on personal ingenuity in the face of adversity.
- The depiction of the individual as the epicenter of his world.
- The narrative's clarity and directness.
- The retrospective first-person perspective enriches the narrative's authenticity.

Moll Flanders

The story of Moll Flanders centers around a woman born to a prisoner. Her life takes a tumultuous path from being raised by a noble family to navigating through multiple marriages, engaging in prostitution and theft for survival, and eventually establishing herself as a successful plantation owner in Virginia after being deported there. Her journey culminates in her return to England, where she lives a dignified life.
The narrative explores themes such as:
- Moll's introspection and complex feelings of remorse for her past deeds, balanced with her justifications due to extreme necessity.
- Her pronounced individualism and self-centeredness.
- The evaluation of one's life through economic achievements.

Daniel Defoe (1660 - 1731)

Born in the heart of London in 1660, Daniel Defoe was immersed in studies that spanned geography, economics, and modern languages, establishing him as a literary pioneer, particularly among the middle class. Contrary to his father's wishes for him to join the ministry, Defoe ventured into commerce and political arenas, eventually becoming a government informant for the Whigs. His most notable contributions include "The Shortest Way with the Dissenters," a critique of religious intolerance, and "The Review," which featured his essays.
Defoe's literary journey, particularly with Robinson Crusoe, began in his sixties, bringing to life the saga of a castaway's survival. "Roxana" would be his last major literary work. Defoe passed in 1731, leaving behind a legacy marked by his innovative storytelling and reluctance to edit his work.
His character portrayals were often simplistic, lacking in-depth psychological exploration. He employed realism through autobiographical and diary-like narratives, told from a first-person viewpoint to lend credibility to the tales. The settings, especially in Robinson Crusoe were meticulously chosen to highlight human triumph over nature. The language used by Defoe was plain and matter-of-fact, adding to the stories' realism. "Robinson Crusoe" is divided into three segments: his life prior to the shipwreck, his survival narrative on the island, and his eventual return to England with his companion Friday.
Robinson Crusoe draws heavily from Alexander Selkirk's real adventures and the era's popular travel literature.

A Journal of the Plague Year

Another notable work by Daniel Defoe is A Journal of the Plague Year, which recounts the events of the bubonic plague that struck London in 1665. Written as a first-person narrative, the book presents itself as a detailed account by a resident who chose to stay in the city during the catastrophic outbreak. Defoe blends real statistics and imagined anecdotes to create a vivid picture of a city under siege by disease. The narrator navigates through the desolate streets of London, recounting the plight of the afflicted and the various responses of the citizens, from the pious to the profane. Defoe's meticulous attention to detail and his incorporation of government documents and bills of mortality lend the narrative a stark realism, making it a compelling yet harrowing read. Despite being published in 1722, more than half a century after the plague year it describes, Defoe's work remains a powerful exploration of human resilience and societal response in the face of a widespread disaster.