The English writer Daniel Defoe (1660–1731) wrote a novel in 1719 entitled The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, a Sailor from York. World literature knows many examples of the adventure genre - exciting novels, short stories and short stories. Such remarkable authors as Louis Boussinard, Arthur Conan Doyle, Fenimore Cooper and others gave the world immortal works that were written at different times and even in different centuries. The adventure genre is one of the most popular literary trends, and Daniel Defoe is a representative of the school of an adventure novel of an early period. After the release of the novel Robinson Crusoe, numerous reviews of various kinds followed, but all of them were united by one thing - the work was recognized as outstanding.
The best adventure genre
The most successful work of the writer is considered to be "Robinson Crusoe". Reviews of the book are never mediocre, as readers are long impressed by the incredible adventures that befell a simple sailor from the port city of York. The narrative is not distinguished by an action-packed development of events, the life of the hero of the novel on a desert island proceeded moderately and relatively calmly, but it was the feeling of hopelessness, the complete lack of the ability to influence the situation that makes the story about the fate of a sailor named Robinson Crusoe so fascinating. Reviews about the book are left by readers of different ages. Most of them sincerely sympathize with the traveler in trouble, believing that he was fatally unlucky.
Shipwreck
The writer sympathizes with his hero and tries to somehow help him. The sailor not only escaped during the storm, but also found many useful things on the wrecked ship. These things - tools, materials, marine equipment - were useful to Robinson in the future. And the powder in the dry barrels, which was found in large quantities on the ship, made it possible to obtain food in the form of game. And it was not in vain that he monitored the safety of his powder supplies Robinson Crusoe. Reviews of the book are not as clear as it seems at first glance. Some readers believe that the traveler was not hurt at all, on the contrary, fate gave him a present - it provided an opportunity to live free, away from civilization and fuss. It even seems strange to some that Robinson was trying to build a boat in order to leave the uninhabited island as soon as possible . Where else, they say, a person can find peace and serenity, if not in the ocean, on a wild island.
The fateful influence of fate
If you read the work of Daniel Defoe carefully, you can trace one pattern - the adventures of Robinson Crusoe took place even before the last, fateful voyage, because he took part in several sea voyages, and they all ended in wrecks. That is, some kind of rock was traced, a clear danger of being buried in the depths of the sea or being carried by a wave to the shore of an uninhabited island. And we can assume that if the sea voyage to the shores of Africa in September 1659 did not end in a shipwreck, but ended successfully, then perhaps Robinson Crusoe, a sailor from York, would make another attempt to cross the ocean. And this would continue until he, in the end, was thrown to the shore of an uninhabited island as a result of the collapse of the ship on which he sailed. This was already destined by fate, and it only remained to wait for the storm, no matter in what account the voyage. Which, in fact, was what Robinson Crusoe did. Reviews of the book, left by fans of this novel, contain this aspect. Many readers believe that "you will not escape fate." However, the danger of the unknown should stop a person if he does not want to die, and the numerous adventures of Robinson Crusoe, still had to teach him caution. Although the writer Defoe does not make it clear that his hero learned from mistakes.
Book "Robinson Crusoe"
In 17th-century literature, the adventure genre played the role of a tonic in the readership. In those days, it was not customary to transfer books from hand to hand. Publications were purchased in bookstores and, after reading, were put on the library shelf, where they remained for years and decades. But for some reason, in all the rich houses and apartments of average prosperity, the book "Robinson Crusoe" always stood in the most prominent, and even honorable, place. Nearby were other works of Defoe, but they did not pay attention. The novel "Robinson Crusoe" in those days would be called a bestseller if this term already existed.
Summary
Daniel Defoe’s novel "Robinson Crusoe" by its structure refers to a phased literary work. The plot develops in strict accordance with a given "schedule": first, the victim is carried ashore on an uninhabited island, and then he begins to stock up with everything necessary for life. The cannibal natives began to sail from time to time to Robinson Island when Crusoe was already accustomed, built a picket fence around his home and was well armed.
The main task for the wrecked sailor, thrown on a desert island, was to acquire funds for the extraction of provisions. At a minimum, it should have been a knife with which you can get a rabbit and dig a hole for a bonfire. The second is fire. So, a chair and a tinder are needed. At first, Robinson was preoccupied - he had nothing. But after a while, they managed to get to the ship, which got stuck aground, and found everything there necessary for life. In the captain’s cabin, gold was discovered, which Robinson seemed to be useless, but he dragged them to the island. It was a kind of incentive to salvation - not to lose the same wealth.
Life is getting better
Gradually, Daniel Defoe’s novel "Robinson Crusoe" began to dominate the theme of well-being. The islander acquired an economy, caught almost all the wild goats on the island and combined them into a herd. When he realized that animals need to be fed regularly, and this is troublesome enough, he released them again into the wild. Fortunately, the goats managed to get used to the new place and did not go far. Now Robinson always had milk and cheese.
Dreaming of the day when it would be possible to sail away from the island, Crusoe installed a pillar at his hut, on which he made nicks daily. It must be said right away that he had to make nicks for 28 years, so he could not get by with one column.
Life was gradually getting better, a parrot appeared at Robinson, whom he taught to speak and then spent long evenings with a smart bird. And given that he lived with a dog and three cats, which Crusoe picked up on the ship, his life began to resemble a pretty decent existence, which was marred by periodic arrivals of Aborigines from other, larger islands. It so happened that the cannibals chose the island of Robinson for their feasts. They brought a sacrifice and after ritual songs and dances they ate it for the glory of their gods. Savages did not pay attention to Robinson.
Once a belligerent Crusoe recaptured another victim from the cannibals, and sent them to flight. He called the rescued young aborigine Friday. So Robinson Crusoe made a loyal friend and assistant. The problem of loneliness has ceased to exist.
Native Linguistic Abilities
The first thing Robinson decided to teach Friday was English. The savage turned out to be a capable student. He obeyed his savior in everything and soon began to make progress. When Friday learned to speak English reasonably well, he told many interesting things about his life and the customs of his native tribe. After these stories, Robinson Crusoe began to look with renewed vigor for ways to build a ship and sail home.
He managed to put together a longboat from boards thrown ashore from a ship that sank somewhere in the distance during a storm. And Robinson even sailed several rounds around the island. Friday was on the ship as helmsman. But once the wind blew the boat into the open sea, and Robinson, somewhat frightened, barely managed to return to the island. After this incident, swimming stopped.
Deliverance
One fine day, fate took pity on him and sent salvation - a command from an English ship passing by. The sailors dragged the captain and his assistant to the island for reprisal. Robinson managed to agree with them, and after the team resolved their issues, the ship headed for the shores of Misty Albion. This happened on June 11, 1686.
Review of Robinson Crusoe
Readers' opinions about the main character of the book are ambiguous. Many consider Robinson a hero not broken by difficulties. Some readers are trying to try on the role of an island hermit on themselves, arguing about whether they could bear all the hardships that fell on the lot of the sailor and get out of the situation with honor or not.