The 18th Century Novel and Robinson Crusoe
The 18th Century Novel and Robinson Crusoe
The 18th Century Novel and Robinson Crusoe
- Novels
abandon
the
characteristics
of
and mythology
- Not mythology, but reality. Novels have to
entertain the raising classes and therefore plots
are realistic. That is why time and place are
always precisely set and the full name of the
main characters is reported
- The hero is usually the prototype of the selfmade man, representing all good qualities of
the men of his century.
passioni)
prevail on passions)
Robinson Crusoe = an
In Brazil he buys a plantation and organises a voyage to Africa to get more slaves.
During this third voyage, he is shipwrecked on a desert island where he will remain
for 28 years. From this point of the story on, Robinson is alone and tries to reproduce
his homeland society. Moreover, he writes a diary to maintain an ideal contact with
his world made of cultured and religious people. In his diary, he talks both to himself
and to God.
In the twelfth year, Robinson finds a human footprint and, later, some human remains
left by cannibals. Robinson decides to attack them and frees one of their victims. He
calls this savage Friday, after the day of his rescue. Robinson teaches him both
English and the Bible.
When other cannibals arrive on the island, Robinson and Friday attack them and free
two men, one of whom is Fridays father. At the end of the novel, Robinson returns to
England and discovers that his plantation in Brazil has made him very rich.
Nel dodicesimo anno, Robinson trova una impronta umana e, in seguito, alcuni resti
umani lasciata dai cannibali. Robinson decide di attaccarli e libera una delle loro
vittime. Egli chiama questo selvaggio Venerd, dal nome del giorno del suo
salvataggio. Robinson gli insegna linglese e la Bibbia.
Quando altri cannibali arrivano sull'isola, Robinson e Venerd li attaccano e liberano
due uomini, uno dei quali il padre di Venerd. Alla fine del romanzo, Robinson torna
in Inghilterra e scopre che la sua piantagione in Brasile lo ha reso molto ricco.