Article #521-2 | Gutenberg Articles

Excerpt

Excerpt from The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe

I had two elder brothers, one of whom was lieutenant-colonel to an
English regiment of foot in Flanders, formerly commanded by the famous
Colonel Lockhart, and was killed at the battle near Dunkirk against the
Spaniards. What became of my second brother I never knew, any more than
my father or mother knew what became of me.

Being the third son of the family and not bred to any trade, my head
began to be filled very early with rambling thoughts. My father, who
was very ancient, had given me a competent share of learning, as far as
house-education and a country free school generally go, and designed me
for the law; but I would be satisfied with nothing but going to sea;
and my inclination to this led me so strongly against the will, nay,
the commands of my father, and against all the entreaties and
persuasions of my mother and other friends, that there seemed to be
something fatal in that propensity of nature, tending directly to the
life of misery which was to befall me.

My father, a wise and grave man, gave me serious and excellent counsel
against what he foresaw was my design. He called me one morning into
his chamber, where he was confined by the gout, and expostulated very
warmly with me upon this subject. He asked me what reasons, more than a
mere wandering inclination, I had for leaving father’s house and my
native country, where I might be well introduced, and had a prospect of
raising my fortune by application and industry, with a life of ease and
pleasure. He told me it was men of desperate fortunes on one hand, or
of aspiring, superior fortunes on the other, who went abroad upon
adventures, to rise by enterprise, and make themselves famous in
undertakings of a nature out of the common road; that these things were
all either too far above me or too far below me; that mine was the
middle state, or what might be called the upper station of low life,
which he had found, by long experience, was the best state in the
world, the most suited to human happiness, not exposed to the miseries
and hardships, the labour and sufferings of the mechanic part of
mankind, and not embarrassed with the pride, luxury, ambition, and envy
of the upper part of mankind. He told me I might judge of the happiness
of this state by this one thing—viz. that this was the state of life
which all other people envied; that kings have frequently lamented the
miserable consequence of being born to great things, and wished they
had been placed in the middle of the two extremes, between the mean and
the great; that the wise man gave his testimony to this, as the
standard of felicity, when he prayed to have neither poverty nor
riches.

Explanation

**Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe**

Context of the Source

Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe (1719) is often considered the first English novel and a foundational work in the genre of realistic fiction. The novel is presented as an autobiography of Robinson Crusoe, a man who defies his family’s wishes, goes to sea, and endures shipwreck, slavery, and decades of solitude on a deserted island. The excerpt provided is from the opening chapter, where Crusoe reflects on his early life, his rebellious nature, and his father’s warnings against a seafaring life.

The novel emerged during the early 18th century, a time of expanding British colonialism, maritime trade, and economic ambition. Defoe himself was a journalist, pamphleteer, and political writer, and Robinson Crusoe reflects themes of individualism, providence, and the consequences of defying social and divine order.

Themes in the Excerpt

The Conflict Between Fate and Free Will
- Crusoe describes his "rambling thoughts" and "fatal propensity" toward the sea as something beyond his control, suggesting a predestined path to suffering. His father’s warnings frame his choice as a defiance of reason, implying that his misery is self-inflicted yet somehow inevitable.
- The tension between personal desire and societal expectations is central—Crusoe’s restlessness contrasts with his father’s advocacy for the "middle state," a life of moderation.
The Middle State as the Ideal Life
- Crusoe’s father argues that the "middle state" (neither too poor nor too rich) is the happiest, echoing biblical wisdom (Proverbs 30:8: "Give me neither poverty nor riches") and classical philosophy (e.g., Aristotle’s Golden Mean).
- This reflects 18th-century bourgeois values, where stability and moderation were prized over reckless ambition. The father’s speech is a critique of both the suffering of the poor and the moral corruption of the wealthy.
Youthful Rebellion and Parental Authority
- Crusoe’s defiance of his father’s "commands" and his mother’s "entreaties" establishes him as a prototypical rebellious protagonist. His insistence on going to sea despite rational objections foreshadows his later struggles—his suffering is framed as a consequence of his disobedience.
- The father’s gout (a disease associated with excess, often linked to wealth) ironically underscores his argument for moderation—even his physical condition reflects the dangers of extremes.
Adventure vs. Security
- The father claims that only "men of desperate fortunes" or those seeking "superior fortunes" go on adventures, implying that Crusoe’s desires are either foolish or dangerously ambitious.
- This sets up the novel’s central question: Is Crusoe’s journey a noble pursuit of destiny or a reckless rejection of wisdom?
Providence and Divine Punishment
- The excerpt hints at a Puritan worldview, where suffering is seen as divine retribution for sin (in this case, disobedience and pride). Crusoe’s later isolation can be read as a test or punishment for his defiance.

Literary Devices

Foreshadowing
- Crusoe’s mention of his brothers’ unknown fates ("what became of me") and his own "life of misery" hints at his future hardships.
- The father’s warning that Crusoe’s path leads to "misery" is prophetic, as the novel details his shipwreck and solitude.
Juxtaposition
- The father’s reason and experience are contrasted with Crusoe’s youthful impulsiveness.
- The "middle state" is juxtaposed with the extremes of poverty and wealth, reinforcing the idea of balance.
Rhetorical Persuasion (Father’s Speech)
- The father uses logos (logical arguments) to dissuade Crusoe:
  - "What reasons... more than a mere wandering inclination?" (challenging Crusoe’s lack of rational justification).
  - "This was the state of life which all other people envied." (appeal to common wisdom).
- He also employs ethos (moral authority) as a "wise and grave man" and pathos (emotional appeal) by describing the sufferings of both the poor and the rich.
Irony
- The father’s gout—a disease often associated with wealth and excess—undermines his argument for moderation, adding a layer of dramatic irony.
- Crusoe’s later survival on the island (where he must work like a "mechanic") contradicts his father’s claim that the middle class avoids "labour and sufferings."
Biblical and Classical Allusions
- The reference to the "wise man" praying for neither poverty nor riches alludes to Proverbs 30:8, reinforcing the father’s moral authority.
- The idea of the "middle state" echoes Aristotle’s Golden Mean, a philosophical ideal of moderation.
First-Person Narration & Retrospective Tone
- Crusoe narrates his past with hindsight, coloring his youthful defiance with regret ("tending directly to the life of misery").
- The use of phrases like "there seemed to be something fatal" suggests a deterministic view of his fate.

Significance of the Excerpt

Establishing Crusoe’s Flaw (Hamartia)
- Like a tragic hero, Crusoe’s fatal flaw is his pride and restlessness. His defiance of his father sets the stage for his downfall, making his later suffering a consequence of his own choices.
Critique of Social Mobility & Colonial Ambition
- The father’s speech critiques the rising merchant class’s ambition, suggesting that social climbing leads to ruin. This reflects Defoe’s era, where colonial expansion was both alluring and perilous.
- Crusoe’s desire to go to sea symbolizes the allure and danger of imperial adventure—a theme that resonates with Britain’s growing global empire.
The Novel as a Moral Allegory
- The excerpt frames Robinson Crusoe as a cautionary tale about disobedience and the perils of abandoning one’s station. Crusoe’s later spiritual awakening on the island can be seen as redemption for his early rebellion.
The Birth of the "Self-Made Man" Narrative
- Despite the warnings, Crusoe’s story ultimately celebrates individualism and resilience. His defiance, though initially foolish, leads to self-reliance—a key theme in later adventure and survival narratives.
Realism and Psychological Depth
- Defoe’s detailed, first-person narration gives the novel a confessional, autobiographical feel, making Crusoe’s internal conflict (between duty and desire) relatable.
- The father’s speech is didactic, reflecting 18th-century moral literature, but Crusoe’s rebellion adds psychological complexity.

Close Reading of Key Passages

"my head began to be filled very early with rambling thoughts"
- The word "rambling" suggests aimlessness, contrasting with his father’s structured worldview.
- "Filled" implies an uncontrollable, almost external force driving him—hinting at fate.
"something fatal in that propensity of nature"
- "Fatal" suggests doom, framing his desire as a tragic flaw.
- "Propensity of nature" implies an innate, unchangeable trait, reinforcing the idea of predestination.
"the middle state... the best state in the world"
- The father’s argument is utilitarian: happiness comes from avoiding extremes.
- "All other people envied" appeals to social validation, a powerful persuasive tactic.
"men of desperate fortunes on one hand, or of aspiring, superior fortunes on the other"
- Crusoe doesn’t fit either category—he’s neither poor nor elite, making his ambition seem unjustified and reckless.
"not exposed to the miseries... not embarrassed with the pride"
- The father’s parallel structure emphasizes the balance of the middle class, while also revealing his prejudice against manual labor and the wealthy.

Conclusion: Why This Excerpt Matters

This opening sets up the central conflict of Robinson Crusoe: the clash between individual desire and societal expectation, adventure and security, fate and free will. Crusoe’s defiance is both his tragedy and his defining trait—his suffering on the island becomes a crucible that forces him to confront the wisdom he once rejected.

Defoe’s novel, through this excerpt, explores the cost of ambition, the illusion of control, and the search for meaning in suffering. The father’s speech serves as a moral anchor, while Crusoe’s rebellion drives the narrative forward, making this passage a microcosm of the novel’s broader themes: survival, repentance, and the complex nature of human happiness.

Would you like any specific aspect explored further (e.g., historical context, religious themes, or comparisons to other works)?

Questions

Question 1

The father’s argument against Crusoe’s maritime ambitions is primarily structured around an implicit assumption that:

A. human happiness is optimised within constraints that mitigate existential volatility, regardless of individual temperament.
B. the pursuit of extraordinary achievement is inherently immoral unless sanctioned by divine providence.
C. the suffering of the lower classes is a necessary sacrifice to maintain social equilibrium.
D. parental authority should supersede personal aspiration as a matter of filiial duty.
E. the middle class is uniquely capable of philosophical reflection due to its freedom from material want.

Question 2

The phrase "there seemed to be something fatal in that propensity of nature" most strongly suggests that Crusoe’s narrative voice is:

A. retrospectively imbuing his youthful impulses with a deterministic inevitability that undermines his agency.
B. acknowledging the biological basis of his restlessness as a product of hereditary traits.
C. critiquing the societal structures that forced him into a life of adventure against his will.
D. invoking supernatural forces to explain his defiance of paternal wisdom.
E. employing ironic understatement to highlight the triviality of his early rebelliousness.

Question 3

The father’s reference to "the wise man" who prayed for neither poverty nor riches serves primarily to:

A. anchor his argument in a transcendent moral authority that transcends personal opinion.
B. demonstrate his erudition and thereby strengthen his ethical credibility.
C. contrast Crusoe’s impulsiveness with the deliberate wisdom of classical philosophers.
D. suggest that religious doctrine is the only valid framework for evaluating life choices.
E. imply that Crusoe’s desires are inherently ungodly and thus deserving of punishment.

Question 4

Which of the following best describes the rhetorical effect of the father’s gout in this passage?

A. It undermines his argument by revealing his own inability to adhere to the moderation he preaches.
B. It reinforces his credibility by aligning his physical suffering with the broader theme of life’s inevitable hardships.
C. It serves as a metaphor for the crippling effects of wealth on moral judgment.
D. It introduces a note of tragic irony, as his confinement mirrors Crusoe’s future isolation.
E. It distracts from his logical appeal by shifting focus to his personal infirmity.

Question 5

The passage’s treatment of Crusoe’s defiance is most analogous to which of the following literary paradigms?

A. The Byzantine hero, whose suffering is a test of faith ultimately rewarded by divine intervention.
B. The Picaresque rogue, whose rebelliousness is celebrated as a rejection of hypocritical social norms.
C. The Aristotelian tragic hero, whose hamartia leads to suffering that elucidates a moral truth.
D. The Romantic wanderer, whose restlessness is a noble pursuit of transcendental self-realisation.
E. The Modernist antihero, whose actions are devoid of meaning in an indifferent universe.

Solutions and Explanations

1) Correct answer: A

Why A is most correct: The father’s argument hinges on the idea that happiness is a function of stability and the avoidance of extremes ("not exposed to the miseries... not embarrassed with the pride"). His appeal is not moralistic (B), class-apologetic (C), authoritarian (D), or elitist (E), but structural: he posits that the "middle state" is objectively superior because it minimises existential risk. The passage emphasises systemic advantages (e.g., "all other people envied") rather than individual virtue or divine will.