Daniel Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe" -- A Spiritual Autobiography

Question: Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe is a ‘spiritual autobiography’. – Discuss.

Answer: Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe is a complete novel in every sense. While this work of art is basically about the actions and the adventures of the narrator-protagonist named Robinson Crusoe, it has multi-layered meanings from multidimensional angles. Some critics say that this novel is a ‘spiritual autobiography’. The others say that it is an allegory or a fable. Apart from delineating Crusoe’s thirst for survival, this novel depicts the spiritual upliftment of the protagonist.

We notice, at the outset, that Crusoe was a bohemian, a vagabond, a daredevil and an adventurous boy. He was born at the city of York in England. From the very beginning, he used to dream of seafaring and so, his father used to advise him again and again that middle station invites fewest disasters and troubles. Perceiving that his father was against his dreams of seafaring, he began to try winning his mother’s support that he was already eighteen. At the age of nineteen, on 1 September, 1651, he went out of home and joined a ship immediately. The marine wind blew harshly and the sea became ruffled. He thought that God was punishing him for his disobedience to his father, the God at home. Feeling panic-stricken, he promised that if he could set feet on dry land this time, he would direct go back to his father. However, after getting rescued by God, he forgot about his promise. Here we see that his spiritual seed could not germinate sprouts.

Due to the shipwreck, he got ashore as the lone survivor in an uninhabited island, and resulting in, his conscience pricked him. From now on, he starts to believe that his father is the God in the family. His disobedience is a reminder of Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God that they took the ‘forbidden fruit’. This is man’s original sin and Crusoe began to realise his sin along with man’s inherent sin. He was grateful to God for his survival. His tears rolled down his cheeks in repentance that he had not prayed to God previously.

Sometimes he went through the Bible to inspire his religious belief. He could realise the unseen existence of God everywhere. Hence, he began to pray to God, the Father, and offer his spiritual devotion to Him. He can now comprehend that none but He helped him survive the shipwreck, gather his requirements like a table, a chair, earthen pots, jars, baskets etc. and win the friendship of man-Friday and the negroes. Crusoe virtually thanked God for everything.

Once he had a dream that a man was coming down from the clouds to kill Crusoe with a spear. He felt that it was a warning from God to Him. He sincerely offered his cordial prayer to God when he fell ill thereafter.

In the meantime, the wild, the savage and the cannibalistic island started to grow crops. Crusoe put his maximum wit, arms and labour to survive and make that island his own. He thanked God’s Providence again and repented that for about eight long years, he possessed a kind of ‘stupidity of soul’, because then he was uncaring to God’s existence.

Again, there was a fatal earthquake in that uninhabited island. He prayed to God wholeheartedly to save him, to offer his help, and to show him bounty and benevolence. He uttered soulfully, “O Lord, be my help, for I am in great distress.” He exclaimed, “Lord, what a miserable creature I am!”

We come to notice that Crusoe impressed all of us as a perfect role model.

In the light of the discussion, we may say that this novel is a document of man’s isolation and loneliness. Crusoe got isolated from society, but he got comforted by God. So, it may be said that we all are Crusoes, for it is the human fate to be a Crusoe. This is an ‘epic of solitude’, in which Crusoe is the central character to combat all the odds of nature and life for ultimate survival. However, we all must keep in mind that Crusoe could not be our adorable role model, unless God blessed, helped and saved him.

Before conclusion, we must observe that unless and until we undertake self-transformation in soul, it will be quite impossible impose the same upon us. It cannot work out, if and when it is imposed on us. Therefore, it needs to be an auto-transformation. Crusoe did that with God’s help, with his unshakeable belief in Him, and with his own will power. So, we may conclude that Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe is a flawless novel of spiritual upliftment. Hence, it is a ‘spiritual autobiography’.