''He told me, I might judge of the Happiness of this State, by the 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 wish'd 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 just Standard of true Felicity, when he prayed to have neither Poverty or Riches.''
I'm not sure if I actually enjoyed this book, at times it really felt like I wasn't but at the same time I read it quickly, I became engrossed in characters and so interested in the plot progression. I DON'T KNOW ANY MORE. I complained about Crusoe the whole way through the book but still willed him on and hoped for him. Defoe has basically bullied me into supporting someone I really don't like, very underhand of him.
In all seriousness Crusoe is not a particularly lovable person, he is obnoxious, self pitying (although this is slightly understandable), he is racist (although that is in context), he has an inflated vision of his own intellect and importance AND he kills things CONSTANTLY I mean he is on his own on an Island for 23 years but can he really not find any other way to entertain himself? Okay, after writing down the reasons I have taken a dislike to him I am feeling rather petty. But he still annoys me.
In all honesty I think the book took an interesting look into the mental distress that follows long term isolation. The stress comes very close to destroying Crusoe before he saves Friday who becomes his servant, project and companion. I found Crusoe's turn to religion particularly interesting, he found passages in his bible that sustained his hope in eventual rescue throughout his 28 year exile and this discovery of hope made a marked difference to his everyday life. You can understand the importance of hope in an otherwise bleak situation and how positively this effects his ability to survive and sustain himself in a reasonably sane state.
To be honest, despite my apparently slightly unreasonable dislike of the main character this novel impressed me. Even if I entirely based my respect upon the appreciation that it is widely recognised as beginning popularity of the genre of realistic fiction, however, I find myself liking it for more than simply its innovation. In terms of style it flows well, the language is beautific in places and despite his other (perhaps imagined, I am not sure I trust my own judgement at this stage) faults, Robinson pays homage to the beauty of his island.
In conclusion, I have no conclusion. I have no idea what to think, this novel has confused me to the point of not even knowing whether I like it or not. Utterly inconclusive. Might have to change degree course, it may have traumatised me that much.
In all seriousness Crusoe is not a particularly lovable person, he is obnoxious, self pitying (although this is slightly understandable), he is racist (although that is in context), he has an inflated vision of his own intellect and importance AND he kills things CONSTANTLY I mean he is on his own on an Island for 23 years but can he really not find any other way to entertain himself? Okay, after writing down the reasons I have taken a dislike to him I am feeling rather petty. But he still annoys me.
In all honesty I think the book took an interesting look into the mental distress that follows long term isolation. The stress comes very close to destroying Crusoe before he saves Friday who becomes his servant, project and companion. I found Crusoe's turn to religion particularly interesting, he found passages in his bible that sustained his hope in eventual rescue throughout his 28 year exile and this discovery of hope made a marked difference to his everyday life. You can understand the importance of hope in an otherwise bleak situation and how positively this effects his ability to survive and sustain himself in a reasonably sane state.
To be honest, despite my apparently slightly unreasonable dislike of the main character this novel impressed me. Even if I entirely based my respect upon the appreciation that it is widely recognised as beginning popularity of the genre of realistic fiction, however, I find myself liking it for more than simply its innovation. In terms of style it flows well, the language is beautific in places and despite his other (perhaps imagined, I am not sure I trust my own judgement at this stage) faults, Robinson pays homage to the beauty of his island.
In conclusion, I have no conclusion. I have no idea what to think, this novel has confused me to the point of not even knowing whether I like it or not. Utterly inconclusive. Might have to change degree course, it may have traumatised me that much.
