1. Lecture Five Objectives:
Discussing characterization and literary decorum in Robinson Crusoe.
Assignment:
what is the moral lesson of Robinson Crusoe?
Link:

2. Characterization, Human Regeneration, and moral lesson in Robinson Crusoe2

3. In his book, The Craft of Fiction, Percy Lubbock analyzes haracterization as the backbone of a novel, saying that 3

4. "no one can miss the emphasis on character in the novelist's debate about narrative technique. Is character then, the most important element in the novel? 4

5. The figures who inhabit the world of fiction are such anomalous abstractions that one approaches the whole question of characterization with considerable misgiving." (197) 5

6. Characters of a work of art are the living elements that give motion and liveliness to fiction. Applying this to Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, it is apparent that the title of the novel suggests that the central focus of the novel is on the protagonist himself. 6

7. Actually, Crusoe is "a verbal construction which has no existence outside the book. It is a vehicle for the novelists sensibility and its significance lies in its relations with the author's other constructions". (198) 7

8. He is a flesh and blood creation that is commonly encountered in ordinary life of all readers. Defoe depicts the actual adventures of the true character Alexander Selkirk. 8

9. "Yet it would be wrong be suggest that Robinson Crusoe was not a very real innovation for Defoe. Not the least astonishing thing about it is the way in which he does something that might have thought almost impossible for him-losses his own robust personality in one of his own innovation." Robinson Crusoe, (15). 9

10. Crusoe conveys a moral lesson to his readers where he is portrayed from the beginning as a rebellious imperialist who lives more than 20 years alone on an island. "I consulted neither father nor mother anymore, nor so much as sent then word of it." (30) 10

11. Crusoe starts his rebellious journey against the desire of both father and God, "without asking God's blessing or my father's." At the beginning, he claims that he freed himself from social standards that were domineering England at that time. 11

12. Defoe, although not driving his characters to true sincere repentance, still his novels are not but a document of moral behavior. In other words, Crusoe who didn't reach true repentance at the end of the events, expresses his suffering and his pain all the time. 12

13. This is considered a manual of behavior; a threat to transgressions
This is considered a manual of behavior; a threat to transgressions. It is through reading the adventures of Crusoe that readers learn about the fate of disobedient, rebellious people. 13

14. "The tears would run plentifully down my face when I made these reflections; and sometimes I would expostulate with myself why Providence should thus completely ruin his creatures, 14

15. and render them so absolutely miserable, so without help abandoned, so entirely depressed, that it could hardly be rational to be thankful for such a life" (93). 15

16. This is a sincere self-reflection that takes place towards the beginning of true hard adventures where Crusoe realizes that God (Providence) does not bestow his blessing on the rebellious sinner. This is a rather moral preaching lesson directed to readers, than a simple self reflection. 16

17. It is the perpetual sense of suffering and fear that reminds readers of the moral lesson behind the novel. In the episode of Crusoe's imagining horrors of death, he says: "seeing all these things have not brought thee to repentance, now thou shalt die! At which words I thought he lifted up the spear that was in his hand to kill me." (123) 17

18. The genius of Defoe is that he does not address direct moral orders to his readers, he , however, connotes to his moral themes through these reflections and confession. 18

19. "This grieved me heartily; and now I saw, though too late, the folly of beginning a work before we count the cost, and before we judge rightly of our own strength to go through with it". (167) 19

20. Now this is the fourth year for Crusoe on the island
Now this is the fourth year for Crusoe on the island. He is disappointed as he couldn't build his life as he wished. Defoe here portrays the image of Crusoe the disobedient as the symbol of the weak human being who surrenders to the temptations of life. This theme is recurrent throughout the whole novel. 20

21. It is Crusoe's fallen adventure that gives readers a moral lesson about the punishment of disobedience, rebellion, greed and limitless ambition. All these situations that threaten the life of Crusoe, are God's warnings to the sinner Crusoe, so as to redirect him to the right. 21

22. However, the stubborn sinner never reinstitutes himself and never repents heartily. Every time he breaks his promise with God and goes back again to his sinful life. 22

23. "so void was I of everything that was good or of the least sense of what I was, or was to be, that in the greatest deliverance I enjoyed, such as my escape from Sallee my being taken up by the Portuguese master of the ship, my being planted so well in Brazil" (171) 23

24. This is highly ironic that Crusoe who does not accept his belonging to the middle class, is punished by being a servant to the captain who rescued him from the sea. 24

25. These terrible situations, in which Crusoe puts himself, are a direct proof of his disobedience to both his God, and his father, God's proxy on earth. This makes readers accept and expect divine punishment smoothly and logically. 25

26. "The perturbation of my mind during the fifteen or sixteen months' interval was very great; I slept unquiet, dreamed always frightful dreams, and often started out of my sleep in the night: in the day great troubles overwhelmed my mind" (233) 26

27. Discovering the cannibals on the island might be interpreted as the inner fears of Crusoe, embodied and represented in a tactile form of flesh and blood. On the psychological level, the cannibals are the recurrent pangs of conscience of the moralizing Crusoe. 27

28. It is through the threat of the cannibals that Crusoe changes from a status of a sinner to a status of a penitent, though insincere. Crusoe changes morally, and so his readers; he becomes a punctual reader of the Bible, who is pleading to Jesus Christ to save his soul. His confession that 28

29. "I have been, in all my circumstances, a memento to those who are touched with that general plague of mankind, whence, for aught I know, one half of their miseries flow—I mean, that of not being satisfied with the station wherein God and nature hath placed them—, not to look back upon my primitive condition." (244) 29

30. This is an intense moral lesson
This is an intense moral lesson. Crusoe does not only regret his sin of disobedience, but he also warns readers of acting the same way as he did. 30

31. Actually the regenerated protagonist follows the typical steps of moral regeneration starting by rebellion, disobedience, passing by remorse and suffering, which lead to repentance, then finally reaching moral regeneration where he concludes his story saying: 31

32. "And thus I have given the first part of a life, of fortune and adventure, a life of Providence's chequer work, and of a variety which the world will seldom be able to show the like of: beginning foolishly, but closing much more happily than any part of it ever gave me leave so much as to hope for." (365) 32

33. Robinson Crusoe is actually a novel that achieves literary decorum as it combines both pleasure and moral aspects. It is a novel of a moral lesson where the author focuses on the moral aspect more than the adventure itself. 33

34. Defoe wants to teach his readers how a common sinful human being can turn himself from damnation to salvation through suffering and moralizing. 34

35. Crusoe's journey from disobedience and rebellion to obedience and submission is actually everyone's journey from transgression to redemption and reinstitution. 35

36. Robinson Crusoe is a novel of disobedience and rebellion
Robinson Crusoe is a novel of disobedience and rebellion. Defoe depicts a rebellious son who suffers throughout the novel till he is restored and purified. 36

37. Crusoe goes to the sea against his father's wish, and consequently he encounters troubles, as a punishment, symbolized in many things such as the sea storms, starvation, and the cannibals. 37

38. The punishment Defoe has chosen to Crusoe takes many forms, however, it always contributes to the redemption and moralization of the sinner hero. 38

39. Actually Crusoe's agony of the soul is not as direct and clear as other heroes of Defoe. However, it is still there, felt and detected from the character's reaction. Readers can easily detect moments of regret and agonies of Crusoe's soul. 39

40. Meditating on the matter, Crusoe was well aware, before taking his trip, that "if I did take this foolish step, God would not bless me". (28) This fear recurs throughout the whole novel in every unstable situation that mars Crusoe's peace of mind, 40

41. till he repents at the end
till he repents at the end. Actually there is a strong relationship between the agony of the soul, or the psychological suffering, and human moralization. Crusoe's agony of the soul helped him so much to elevate his soul to a degree of purgation and redemption: 41

42. "In this agony of mind, I made many vows and resolutions, that if it would please God to spare my life in this one voyage, if ever I got once my foot upon dry land again, I would go directly home to my father and never set it into a ship again while I lived." (31) 42

43. This promise is a recurrent one in the novel, which is, unfortunately, never fulfilled. It is actually Crusoe's inner agony of the soul that prompts his regeneration and moralization. 43

44. "At this surprising change of my circumstances, from a merchant to a miserable slave, I was perfectly overwhelmed with; and now I looked back upon my father's prophetic discourse to me that I should be miserable, 44

45. and have none to relieve me, which I thought was now so effectually brought to pass, that I could not be worse—that now the hand of heaven had overtaken me, and I was undone without redemption." (43) 45

46. Now Crusoe's agony of the soul has led him to "heaven" and "redemption". In other words, without his agony of the soul, Crusoe could never have realized the necessity of repentance and deliverance. 46

47. Shocked by being " a miserable salve", alone in an island, Crusoe is having agonies of the soul that , unexpectedly, lead to his prosperity : 47

48. "as I had done thus in my breaking away from my parents, so I could not be content now, but I must go and leave the happy view I had of being a rich and thriving man in my new plantation." 48

49. Crusoe's success in creating his plantation is due to his keen insistence on success and also his fear of failure. 49

50. With his hesitant soul, and his determination to improve his religious situation, in terms of sin and repentance, Crusoe moralizes only through his agony of the soul and recurrent pangs of conscience; he confesses that 50

51. "the tears would run plentifully down my face when I made these reflections; and sometimes I would expostulate with myself why Providence should this completely ruin his creatures, 51

52. and render them so absolutely miserable, so without help abandoned, so entirely depressed that it could hardly be rational to be thankful for such a life." 52

53. Here, Crusoe is a true character of flesh and blood that readers can identify with. This is because his suffering and moralization is true and realistic. What he narrates about the agony of his soul, is a recurrent familiar feeling with all human beings; who are sinners. 53

54. Crusoe, the one who has made a promise to God just a few pages before, is now at the same situation again, feeling miserable and alienated: 54

55. "After I got to shore, and had escaped drowning, instead of being thankful to God for my deliverance, I ran about the shore, wringing my hands and beating my head and face, exclaiming at my misery, and crying out, I was undone, I was undone." (100) 55

56. As a common human being, the sinful Crusoe has forgotten his promise to God earlier when he promised to go back to his father and ask his forgiveness if he is saved. 56

57. Now Crusoe, the same person, is in the same situation, but this time his agony is sharper and more serious. He starts to reflect upon his miserable situation, and this leads ultimately to his repentance. 57

58. Being sick and lonely on the island, Crusoe resorts to God, like all human beings; he starts to search for the deliverance of the supreme power: 58

59. "I was ready to perish for thirst, but so weak I hadn't strength to stand up, or to get myself any water to drink. Prayed to God again, but was light-headed; 59

60. and when I was not, I was so ignorant that I knew not what to say, only I lay, and cried: Lord, look upon me! Lord, pity me! Lord, have mercy upon me!" (122) 60

61. Things started to change with Crusoe
Things started to change with Crusoe. He has moralized his soul a little better than earlier in the novel. One more situation and he is going to achieve true repentance. 61