Prose

Eighteenth Century Literature

The Intellectual Background:
1-he 18th century is regarded as an age of stability, order, peace, and tolerance. People in
the 18th century became more convinced that civilized way of living depended on law, order,
and. restraint.
2-Law and order meant laying common rules to be followed.
This entailed a shift to man as a social being, and not a particular human being.
3-In the 18h century, there was the belief in the supremacy of reason and common sense.
4-Thinkers in the 18th century emphasized rational thinking and assumed that it was a
feature of the modern mind.
5-The rational outlook affected life and art in the 18th century and put certain rules that had
to be accepted by all men.

Literature in the 18 century:

1-The 18 century literature is sometimes called The Augustan Age this term refers to the age
of Emperor Augustus of Rome, but since this age was known for the progress in writing and
learning.
2-The 18th Century literature tended to Classicism
3-Thus, the writers of the 18th century admired the classical writers
4-Imitation in the sense of modelling the form on Classical patterns became a fashion

The main Novelists in the 18 century

Daniel Defoe
He was trained in many professions as a printer,a volunteer trooper,a governmental spy,and
a journalist.He kept in his mind the puritan values in which he was educated.And novel
writing was only one of his activities.Defoe’s great book is The life and adventures of
Robinson Crusoe written when he was sixty (1719).Robinson Crusoe is based on the true
story of sir Alexander Selkrik, a British seaman who was marooned for several years on a
desolate island off the coast of Chili.This book appeals to the readers as a story of exciting
adeventure which deals a simple style.

The 18 century Novel

The idea of novels comes from the 18 century before that were plenty of forms of prose
fiction that didn’t present a picture of real life.The real life became the dominant topic of the
novel.
As a result of :
-The rise of philosophical rationalism,the influence of puritanism,the expansion of the
reading public,and the influence of books that provided a model for the 18 century writers.
The realistic novel in the 18 century
Novelists began to reject conventional plots and the ancient classical models and look to
reality for inspiration.The novel became a picture of life and classifiable as a realistic.And
some of the elements which characterized the 18 century realistic novel, Clock time and
physical setting began to be used, Certain communicating qualities such as colour
size,Attention was focused not only on outdoor seting but more and more frequently on
“interiors “, characters were endowed with actual names and surnames,And greater
importance was given to money as a status symbol.

Analysis of Major Characters

Robinson Crusoe
While he is no flashy hero or grand epic adventurer. Robinson Crusoe displays character
traits that have won him the approval of generations of readers. His perseverance in
spending months making a canoe, and in practicing pottery making until he it right, is
praiseworthy, Additionally, his resourcefulness in building a home, dairy, grape arbor,
country gets house. The Swiss philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau ecommends that children
be taught to imitate Crusoe's hands-on approach to life. Crusoe's business instincts are just
as considerable as his survival instincts: he manages to make a fortune in Brazil despite a
twenty-eight-year absence and even leaves his island with a nice collection of gold. Crusoe
prefers to depict himself as an ordinary sensible man, never as an exceptional hero. Crusoe
seems incapable of deep feelings, as shown by his cold account of leaving his family he
worries about the religious consequences of leaving his father, but never displays any
emotion about leaving. When Crusoe tells us that he has gotten married and that his wife
has died all within the same sentence, his indifference her seems almost cruel. Moreover, as
an individual personality. Finally, while not boasting of heroism, Crusoe s nonetheless very
interested in possessions, power, and prestige When he first calls himselfr king of the island.

Friday
Probably the first nonwhite character to be given a realistic, individualized, and humane
portrayal in the English novel, Friday has a huge literary and cultural importance. Friday
represents not just a Caribbean tribesman, but all the natives of America, Asia, and Africa
who would later be oppressed in the age of European imperialism. At the moment when
Crusoe teaches Friday to call him "Master" Friday becomes an enduring political symbol of
racial injustice. Friday is a key figure within the context of the novel. In many ways he is the
most vibrant character in Robinson Crusoe, much more charismatic and colorful than his
master.

The Portuguese captain

The Portuguese captain is presented more fully than portrayed than Crusoe's widow friend
or his family members. First, it is the Portuguese captain who picks up other European in the
novel besides Crusoe, more vividly Crusoe after the escape from the Moors and takes him to
Brazil, where Crusoe establishes himself as a plantation owner. Twenty-eight years later, it is
again the Portuguese captain who informs Crusoe that his Brazilian investments are secure.
In both cases, the Portuguese captain is the agent of Crusoe's extreme good fortune. All
these virtues make the captain a paragon of human excellence.
The Spaniard
One of the men from the Spanish ship that is wrecked off Crusoe's island, and whose crew is
rescued by the cannibals and taken to a neighboring island. The Spaniard is doomed to be
eaten as a ritual victim of the cannibals when Crusoc saves him In exchange, he becomes a
new "subject" in Crusoe's "kingdom,".

Xury

A nonwhite (Arab or black) slave boy only briefly introduced during the period of Crusoe's
enslavement in Salle, Xury never betrays Crusoe's trust. Nevertheless, when the Portuguese
captain eventually picks them up, Crusoe sells Xury to the captain. Xury's sale shows us the
racist double standards sometimes apparent in Crusoe's behavior.

The widow

Appearing briefly, but on two separate occasions in the novel, the widow keeps Crusoe's 200
pounds safe in England throughout all his thirty-five years of journeying.She reminds us of
the goodwill and trustworthiness of which humans can be capable, whether European or
not.

Colonialism in Robinson Crusoe

Given the publication date of Robinson Crusoe,it comes as no surprise that it’s a largely
racist ‫ عنصري‬work. For example, Robinson Crusoe’s relationship with his servant Friday
serves as an allegory for British imperialists disrupting other cultures and civilizing
them.when Robinson Crusoe first saves Friday from being killed.in the text, Friday “laid his
head upon the ground and taking me by the foot set my foot upon his head”.this serves as a
fitting illustration of the situation.Robinson Crusoe chooses to his servant “Friday”,he
chooses a name from western culture.Robinson has created a new identity for the servant.
After being labeled, Friday must live life answering to a name that has roots in English-
speaking culture. It’s noteworthy that Friday is named for a thing rather than an actual
person.Robinson is extremely quick to change his servant’s cultural values.Robinson Crusoe
dresses Friday in new clothes.Robinson makes these clothes,fancying himself. To Friday , the
clothes are “very awkward”and “they hurt him”at firs, but soon “he took to them very well”.
This event serves as another example of Robinson stripping Friday of his individuality and his
identity.
Robinson Crusoe as a realistic novel
Defoe in his preface to the novel Robinson Crusoe described the book as a “a just history of
fact.Robinson Crusoe was based upon the actual experiences of a real man called Alexander
Selkirk who had spent four years alone,on the uninhabited island of juan Fernandez.Defoe’s
technique of telling the story is such that we fall completely under its spell and go on reading
it eagerly.In short,Defoe is a realistic novelist. He gave his readers all kinds of minute
details.Such details to be seen in Crusoe’s digging the cave,building the fence,collecting his
crops of barely and wheat,hunting the animals,fighting the cannibals and the like.Defoe, on
the other hand , has used different techniques to bring realism into the novel.One of Crusoe’s
most successful projects is the raising of the crops of barely and rice on the island.And when
Fridaay comes he becomes a devoted servant of Crusoe who has saved his life from the
clutches of cinnibals and many other characters in the novel seem to be real such as the
English captaion,The Portuguese captain and the black boy Xury who has helped Crusoe to
escape from the Turkish pirates.Finally, the psychological truth of the story helps in bringing
realism into the novel.

Theme Tackled in Robinson Crusoe

The Necessity of Repentance
Crusoe’s experiences constitute not simply an adventure story in which thrilling things
happen, but also a moral tale illustrating the right and wrong ways to live one’s life. This
moral and religious dimension of the tale is indicated in the Preface, which states that
Crusoe’s story is being published to instruct others in God’s wisdom, and one vital part of this
wisdom is the importance of repenting one’s sins. Crusoe needs repentance most, as he
learns from the fiery angelic figure that comes to him during a feverish hallucination and
says, Crusoe believes that his major sin is his rebellious behavior toward his father, which he
refers to as his “original sin,” . This admission marks a turning point in Crusoe’s spiritual . he
complains much less about his sad fate and views the island more positively.Ironically, this
view of the necessity of repentance ends up justifying sin: Crusoe may never have learned to
repent if he had never sinfully disobeyed his father in the first place. Thus, as powerful as the
theme of repentance is in the novel, it is nevertheless complex and ambiguous.
The importance of Self-Awareness
Crusoe’s arrival on the island does not make him revert to a brute existence controlled by
animal instincts, and, unlike animals, he remains conscious of himself at all times.We see
that in his normal day-to-day activities, Crusoe keeps accounts of himself enthusiastically
and in various ways. For example, A sort of self-conscious or autobiographical calendar with
him at its center. Similarly, Crusoe obsessively keeps a journal to record his daily activities,
even when they amount to nothing more than finding a few pieces of wood on the beach or
waiting inside while it rains. Crusoe feels the importance of staying aware of his situation at
all times. We can also sense Crusoe’s impulse toward self-awareness in the fact that he
teaches his parrot to say the words. This sort of self-examining thought is natural for anyone
alone on a desert island, but it is given a strange intensity when we recall that Crusoe has
spent months teaching the bird to say it back to him. Crusoe teaches nature itself to voice his
own self-awareness.

The next is Ghaith’s Summary not me but I added them here to be able to return to this file
before the exam.

Robinson Crusoe as a Man of Economy

Crouse is first portrayed as man defined by money and ruled by economic principles, he is
impelled to practice economic conventions such as investments and moderation and the idea
of profit, when first reading the novel, its easy to assume that Crouse is a man who is driven
by money and its power, Crouse has been raised in a society that is concerned with social
structure and ways to get around the economic system, Crusoe’s father tells him “that the
calamites of life were shared among the upper and lower part of mankind..” here Crusoe’s
father expresses the distinctions between each class, he believes that the upper class live in
too much luxury and the extravagance and lower class live in need of the necessaries, yet
both are not satisfied and seek for more, after escaping a shipwreck on his first voyage, and
through the actions and realizations he made, he still want to set sail again, Crusoe draws
attention to the “evil influence which carried me first away from my father’s house..” Crusoe
directly addresses the “evil influence” of society that manifests(proves) the idea that we must
exercise(take) every opportunity to attain wealth and power. Society places such great
importance on rising to the top and achieving monetary greatness, and this attitude is
reflected obviously in Crusoe’s actions, he shuts out all sound advice and follows the popular
conception that money is everything, upon landing in brazil, Crusoe has left all of his money
back in London, until he can have it remitted to him, he explains “I acquainted myself by that
means with the manner of their planting and making of sugar” Crusoe acclimates. himself to
a different country and sets up a plan for his future, therefore, he decides to “purchase as
much land that was uncur’d, as my money would reach…”. Crusoe’s first thoughts are how
to collect money and make best profit from it, his actions are focused on attaining money,
where others may have sought(look) for family or safety, Crusoe’s thoughts are directed on
profit and wealth, he doesn’t bother to contact his family or attempt to go home, but instead
chooses to continue his pursuit for power, Crusoe knows how to make a profit even if he
were at home surrounded by society or if he were in a different country or alone on an island,
he also know how to execute smart business plans, once Crusoe begins to do well in brazil,
he grows weary and wants more , admitting)‫) ”نفوذ‬I must go and leave the happy view I had
of being a rich….” Crusoe often wanders through old shipwreck to find useful things and
equipment that will help him to survive, on one of his first journeys, Crusoe finds about
thirty-six pounds, on his discovery, he notes that “he smil’d to my self at the sight of money,
o Drug! I said aloud…” this metaphor, which compares money to a drug is used by Defoe to
convey its worthlessness, money has lost it’s value, because Crusoe is no longer living under
societal circumstances. Crusoe establishes himself as being economically
conscientious(accomplisher), one day while he was hunting, Crusoe finds an “infinite number
of fowls, of many kind” he shows a great comprehension when he admits that “I could have
shot as many as I pleas’d, but was very sparing of my powder and shot…” Crusoe realizes
that he has little supply and it would be wiser to not waste his shots, especially on things that
would not provide him optimal nutrients. In conclusion, Crusoe proves to be extremely
observant of his surroundings and his supplies, the way Defoe showed us how Crouse was a
man of economy is extremely or absolutely magnificent.

Crusoe’s Spiritual Development

Crouse undergoes notable religious growth while on the island and endures many struggles in
his journey. Biblical references such as the prodigal son, the Israelites departure from Egypt,
and Elijah and the ravens are incorporated, Defoe stresses the importance of repentance, as
well as the message of being thankful for many blessing of God, these crucial aspects of
religion are brought forth through Crouse’s many revelations during his discovery of God,
Defoe establishes parallels to biblical stories in order to apply his Christian ideas to
contemporary social matters. The story of the prodigal son is alluded(used) to throughout the
novel to depict(portray) the struggles people face in any faith journey, Robinson Crusoe has a
great desire to sail out to sea but his father encourages him from the reckless activity and he
followed his passion and sets sail, his ship becomes caught in a mighty storm and he
immediately makes promises that if he survived he would get back to the home, he would
“like a true repenting prodigal, go home to his father”. But Crusoe survived and failed to live
up his word, Crusoe’s situation strongly mirrors the story of the prodigal son in the bible,
where a young man takes half of his father’s money and runs off and wastes it, upon his
return, the son is accepted with open arms and happiness, the inclusion of this reference helps
us to understand the message that God will always be there to accept us with open arms when
have turned our backs or lost sight of him, Defoe places Crusoe in situations that mimic real-
life struggles in order to share his thoughts on how we should better our relationship with
God and the struggles that come with growing in faith and being a believer in God, Crusoe
largely forgets about God once on the island and tried to survive on his own, after years of
maintaining a rather passive relationship(bad relationship) with God, Crusoe undergoes an
experience that changes his view on religion, while being sick with a fever, he sees “a man
descend In a bright flame of fire” who tells Crusoe that “seeing all these things have not
brought thee to Repentance, now though shalt die” . this incident parallels the several visions
that are found in the bible, where God delivers his message through the holy spirit or through
visions and dreams, it’s this sudden revelation that allows Crouse to become self-reflective
and realize that he needs to not only be more thankful to God, but to repent his many sins,
this vision makes Crusoe realize that he has forgotten about God and needs to work on his
faith and his character, Crusoe cries out to God, asking for help in his time of distress, Crusoe
finds the strength to open up the bible and fall to the words, “call on me in the day of trouble,
and I will deliver, and thou salt glorify me” Crouse sees just how applicable these words are
in his situation and begins to grow hopeful, Crouse wonders “as the children of Israel did,
when they where promis’d flesh to eat” the story of how God led the Israelites out of Egypt
and provided for them is referenced here by Defoe to parallel course’s newfound hope that
God will guide him to safety, a desire to connect with God is strongly expressed from Crusoe
and his perspective has greatly changed and we are able to see a great change in Crouse’s
attitude. That night Crusoe shares “but before I lay down, I did what I never had done in all
my life…” a desire to connect with God is strongly expressed from Crusoe and his
perspective has greatly changed, Crusoe’s development in his spirituality is further noted
when he later states that for the first time “in the true sense of the words, I pray’d in all my
life,” this comment reveals an important change in Crusoe’s attitude, in the first half of the
novel, Crusoe only thinks of himself and spends much of his time establishing a home for
himself and managing his crop investments without thinking about God or his repentance of
his sins. Crusoe has truly accepted God and has altered his ways of life to become a better
Christian man, through many professions he discovers during his spiritual journey. Here we
see a clear reflection of Crouse’s spiritual development through his slave Friday, Crouse is
less concerned with himself and his possessions and more focused on God and being a better
person, Crouse truly cares for Friday and wants what is best for him, which is to know and
learn about God. He teaches Friday how to live civilly and opens his eyes to the Christian
religion, Crusoe admits that Friday would be an even better Christian than himself. One of
the strongest examples of Crouse’s change in attitude can be seen at the end of the novel
when he is finally able to depart the island and arrives at home, in civilization. Upon his
arrival, Crouse re-connects with old friends and manages to accumulate his wealth and land.
in conclusion, the way Crusoe improved his relationship with God is magnificent and worth
to read and comprehend.