Who wrote "Robinson Crusoe"? Daniel Defoe's novel: content, protagonists

The book about the adventures of Robinson Crusoe can rightfully be considered one of the most famous works in European literature. Even those of our compatriots who are not particularly keen on spending time reading will surely be able to tell that they once read about the amazing adventures of a seaman who lived alone for almost thirty years on an uninhabited island. However, a much smaller number of readers will remember who wrote Robinson Crusoe. In order not to return once again to the book, but to plunge again into the atmosphere of carefree childhood, reread this article and remember what the author wrote about, thanks to which the wonderful adventures of the sailor saw the light.

Robinson Crusoe and Munchausen

The events in the life of the sailor, described by Daniel Defoe, are one of the books of the 17th and 18th centuries, which took a special place among the children's literature along with the adventures of Baron Munchausen. But if the story of a famous crank who claimed to have dragged himself out of the swamp by his hair, is reread by adults only during childhood nostalgia, the novel that Daniel Defoe created is quite another matter. It should be noted that the name of the author who wrote about the astonishing adventures of the Baron is known only to bibliographer specialists.

Robinson Crusoe. Topic of the work

We will try to answer the question of what the main task of this work is. Those who remember the story in which Robinson Crusoe fell, the content of this work, it becomes clear why the author created it. The main theme of the novel is the problem of a man from a civilized society, who was alone with nature.

About the creation of the work

The novel describes a modern era for the author, the time of geographical discoveries, when seafarers could stay in the sea for many years.

Adventurous adventure genre of the work is quite typical for realistic novels of England of that time.

The prototype of the protagonist is the sailor Selkirk and, of course, Daniel Defoe himself. The author gave Robinson his zest for life and perseverance. However, Robinson is older than the writer for almost 30 years: when a middle-aged sailor lands on his native shore, full of strength, educated Defoe already operates in London.

Unlike Selkirk, Robinson spends on the uninhabited island not four and a half years, but a long 28 years. The author consciously puts his hero in such conditions. After being on an uninhabited island, Robinson remains a civilized man.

Daniel Defoe was able to write amazingly accurately about the climate, flora and fauna of the island, which hit Robinson. The coordinates of this place coincide with the coordinates of the island of Tobago. This is because the author carefully studied the information described in such books as "Discovery of Guiana", "Travel around the World" and others.

The novel was released

When you read this work, you understand that the one who wrote "Robinson Crusoe", experienced great pleasure from working on his brainchild. The work done by Daniel Defoe was appreciated by his contemporaries. The book was published on April 25, 1719. Roman liked the readers so much that in the same year the work was reprinted 4 times, and all during the life of the author - 17 times.

The mastery of the writer was appreciated: readers believed in the incredible adventures of the protagonist, who spent almost 30 years on an uninhabited island after a shipwreck.

Summary

Robinson Crusoe is the third son of a wealthy man. Since childhood, the boy dreams of sea voyages. One of his brother was killed, the other was missing, so the father is against him to go to sea.

In 1651 he went to London. The ship on which it sails, crashes.

From London, he decides to sail to Guinea, now the ship is captured by a Turkish corsair. Robinson falls into slavery. For two years he has no hope of escaping, but when supervision weakens, Robinson finds an opportunity to escape. He, the Moor and Xori are sent to fish. Having thrown the Moor overboard, he persuades Xuri to flee together.

The Portuguese ship picks them up in the sea and takes them to Brazil. Robinson sells Xori to the captain of the ship.

In Brazil, the protagonist arranges thoroughly, buys land, works, in a word, comes to the "golden middle", which his father dreamed so much about.

However, the thirst for adventurism is pushing him on a trip to the coast of Guinea behind the labor force. Neighbors-planters promise to conduct farming in his absence and hand him slaves on a par with everyone. His ship crashes. He alone remains alive.

Hardly getting to the shore, Robinson spends the first night on a tree. From the ship he takes tools, gunpowder, weapons, food. Robinson understands that the island is uninhabited. Later he visits the ship 12 times and finds a "heap of gold" there, philosophically noting his uselessness.

Robinson arranges a secure home. He hunts goats, and then domesticates them, forges agriculture, builds a calendar (notches on the pole). After 10 months of staying on the island, he has his own "dacha", which the protagonist has in the hut in the part of the island where hares, foxes and turtles are found, melons and grapes grow.

Robinson owns the cherished dream - to build a boat and swim to the mainland, but what he built, can let him travel only near the island.

Once the main character discovers on the island a footprint: for two years he has the horror of being eaten by savages.

Robinson hopes to save the savage, who is meant to be "slaughtered" in order to find a companion, helper or servant.

By the end of his stay on the island in his life appears Friday, which he teaches three words: "yes", "no", "lord." Together they free the Spaniard and Father Friday, captives of the savages. Shortly thereafter, an English ship arrives on the island, which captured its captain, his assistant and the passenger of the ship. Robinson releases the captives. The captain delivers him to England.

In June 1686, Robinson returned from his journey. His parents died a long time ago. He receives all the proceeds from the Brazilian plantation. He takes care of two nephews, marries (61 years), he has two sons and a daughter.

Reasons for the success of the book

The first thing that contributed to the success of the novel is the high skill of the one who wrote "Robinson Crusoe". Daniel Defoe conducted a tremendous work on the study of geographical sources. This helped him to describe in detail the features of the flora and fauna of the uninhabited island. The author's obsession with his work, the creative uplift that he experienced - all this made his work unusually authentic, the reader genuinely believed in Defoe's plan.

The second reason for success is, of course, the fascination of the plot. This is an adventure romance adventurous character.

The author of the work "Robinson Crusoe", whose characters we all know, made the main character of an ordinary ordinary man, differed, however, with courage and energy.

Dynamics of personality development of the protagonist

It is easy to imagine that at first, having got to the island, Robinson felt the deepest despair. He is only a weak man, left alone with the sea. Robinson Crusoe is divorced from what he is used to. Civilization makes us weak.

However, later he realizes how lucky he is, because he survived. Realizing his position, the main character begins to settle on the island.

For twenty-eight years of life on an uninhabited island, Robinson learned a lot that helped him survive. Remoteness from civilization forced him to master the skills of obtaining fire, making candles, dishes, oil. This man made his own house, furniture, learned to bake bread, weave baskets, cultivate the land.

Perhaps the most valuable skill that Robinson Crusoe has received over the years is the ability to live, not to exist in any conditions. He did not grumble at fate, but only did everything to make his life on the island better, this was helped by diligence.

The psychological nature of the novel

The work on Robinson Crusoe can rightly be considered the first psychological novel. The author tells us about the character of the protagonist, the trials he endures. The one who wrote Robinson Crusoe, unusually accurately tells about the experiences of a person on an uninhabited island. The writer reveals the recipe, thanks to which the main character finds the strength to not lose his courage. Robinson survived because he managed to pull himself together and work hard, not succumbing to despair.

In addition, Defoe gave the protagonist the ability to analyze his behavior. Robinson kept a diary, which for a long time was his only interlocutor. The protagonist learned to see good in everything that happened to him. He acted, realizing that everything could be much worse. A difficult life required him to be an optimist.

About the character of the main character

Robinson Crusoe, the chapters of Defoe's book tell us a lot about this hero - a very realistic character. As in any other person, this sailor has good and bad qualities.

In the case of Xouri, he manifests himself as a traitor who can not empathize with others. It is characteristic, for example, that Friday calls him lord, not friend. About himself, Robinson speaks as the master of the island or even as the king of this land.

However, the author gives the main character many positive qualities. He understands that only he can be responsible for all the misfortunes in his life. Robinson is a strong personality who constantly acts and achieves improvements in his destiny.

about the author

The life of Daniel Defoe himself also abounds in adventure and is full of contradictions. Having graduated from the theological academy, he, however, for a long time he was engaged in commercial ventures, connected with high risks. It is known that he was one of the participants in the uprising against the royal power, after which he was hiding for a long time.

All his activities were connected with a dream that is understandable to many: he wanted to get rich.

Already by the age of 20 he was held as a successful businessman, but later he suffered bankruptcy, after which, while fleeing from the debt prison, he lived in an orphanage for criminals under an assumed name.

Later engaged in journalism and became an influential political figure.

Defoe until the end of his days hiding from creditors and died all alone.