Frank Zhou

ENG210

29/07/15

Reading Report B - #1: Robinson Crusoe Pg.161 end

One of the more interesting conclusions from Crusoes adventures struck me as an
important foreshadowing of the things to come, as well as it being ironic. Here Crusoe explains
about himself becoming married, starting a family, and then eventually going back abroad onto
the sea with his nephew as a private Trader to the East Indies. (256) Crusoe follows by giving a
general plot of what his adventures entail, and ends off with a sort of cliff-hanger that will be
answered by a soon to be published sequel.
I find this very ironic and true to the nature of the novel, and so should other readers.
Throughout the story, life on the sea only ends in disaster for Crusoe. Whether it be ships
foundering, undergoing slavery, or becoming shipwrecked alone on an island. Crusoe even says
that two ships he planned to travel on with his belongings ended up miscarrying. Its ironic
because one wouldnt expect Crusoe to make attempts at sea-faring again, considering all his
misfortunes, and even Crusoe acknowledges it by refusing to travel to England by Sea. (243)
At the same time however, Crusoe stays true to his character of wanting adventure. He is
unable to endure long durations of inactivity, evident from his abandonment of his parents,
leaving his successful plantation business, escaping the island he called home. And now, Crusoe
leaves his family after finally settling down only to again embark on new adventures,
foreshadowing the disasters and adventures he will face in a future novel.