Analyzing an excerpt from Robinson Crusoe outside the deserted island

Topic: Analyzing an excerpt from Robinson Crusoe outside the deserted island

Analyzing an excerpt from Robinson outside the deserted island.

I. Outline of the analysis of Robinson outside the deserted island (Standard)

1. Introduction

- Robinson Crusoe is a famous novel by the British writer Daniel Defoe, narrating the solitary life journey of a sailor named Robinson on a deserted island for 28 years.
- The excerpt of Robinson outside the deserted island is a self-narrative of the character about his appearance after 15 years of exile, revealing the optimistic spirit, love for life, and extraordinary resilience of Robinson.

Robinson Crusoe is a renowned novel by the British writer Daniel Defoe, narrating the solitary life of a sailor named Robinson on a deserted island for 28 years after surviving a shipwreck. Amidst harsh and lonely life, he had to strive to labor, overcome all odds to survive, and return to the mainland after almost becoming a savage. The story is an ode to resilience, courage, and human's conquering spirit over nature with a romantic writing style in the early pages, while the ending resonates with a realistic ideology suitable for the society of England at that time, which was loved by many readers worldwide.

After years of living on the deserted island, the harsh life has caused Robinson to undergo many changes both physically and mentally. The wilderness life is extremely harsh, and extreme loneliness seems to deeply affect the protagonist's spirit. The primitive life, with only a few animals as companions, lacking the presence of another human being, deprives Robinson of human emotions. Moreover, through Robinson's portrait, one can perceive a profound sense of material deprivation - no food, clothing, or shelter. Especially, life on the deserted island, untouched by human footprints, is filled with harshness and lurking dangers.

Despite the deprivation and harshness of life, in the adventurous sailor, we can easily recognize interesting beauties within his soul. Firstly, there's the beauty of extraordinary resilience and optimism. Despite being stranded for 15 years on a deserted island without human contact, Robinson maintains a remarkably cheerful, humorous, and vivid tone when narrating his appearance. The opening line 'If there's anyone in England...dressed like this' proves Robinson's spirit is entirely intact; neither loneliness nor harsh life can break his zest for life. It's his extraordinary resilience and unwavering belief that he'll one day return home in his current eccentric state. It can be said that the power of faith and strong will has helped Robinson survive and endure on the desolate island for 28 lonely, cold years.

The second beauty emanating from Robinson's portrait is his creative mind in the endeavor to survive on the island. After 15 years of living on the deserted island, despite facing numerous hardships, he always tries to adapt to the living conditions. Lack of food leads him to cultivate barley and corn, hunt, and even raise goats for meat and hides. He crafts his own pottery, fells trees to make a primitive boat for fishing. Robinson also handcrafts peculiar but functional garments, like a 'tall, slouch hat' with a flap down the back to shield from sun and rain. He becomes an unintentional architect, building himself a tent for shelter, then a proper house. Despite life's challenges, Robinson maintains an attitude of optimism, confidence, living on the island like a lord with his loyal subjects - a parrot, an old dog, and two cats. It's evident that Robinson is a nature lover, possessing strong adaptability and optimism, cherishing life.