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3.17 AVERAGE
3.17 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
My full review of Robinson Crusoe is available on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
Look, I didn’t hate Robinson Crusoe. I certainly read it more eagerly than I did Lord Of The Flies. I’m just not on board with the colonialist BS it espoused, even in context. I did appreciate the psychological and behavioural struggles that Defoe depicted (with startling accuracy, given that psychology as a field wasn’t born until about three hundred years later), in terms of the effects of isolation on Crusoe’s habits and emotions. For instance, the scene where birds were pecking at his burgeoning crops – a banal regularity for most agricultural farmers – was terrifying and emotionally devastating for Crusoe, alone on an island with few tools and no help, entirely dependent on that crop for his future food security. I was pretty moved by that part, actually, even if he was a racist d-head.
Look, I didn’t hate Robinson Crusoe. I certainly read it more eagerly than I did Lord Of The Flies. I’m just not on board with the colonialist BS it espoused, even in context. I did appreciate the psychological and behavioural struggles that Defoe depicted (with startling accuracy, given that psychology as a field wasn’t born until about three hundred years later), in terms of the effects of isolation on Crusoe’s habits and emotions. For instance, the scene where birds were pecking at his burgeoning crops – a banal regularity for most agricultural farmers – was terrifying and emotionally devastating for Crusoe, alone on an island with few tools and no help, entirely dependent on that crop for his future food security. I was pretty moved by that part, actually, even if he was a racist d-head.
Aside from the fact that this book is incredibly racist (because it was written by a white man in the 17th or 18th century so it shouldn't be a huge shock - also because I'm sure that, compared to other books in that era, it was probably very progressive for making a Black man someone to root for), the main character is incredible two-dimensional. Not only does he not have much of a personality, he doesn't have any charisma, and I have a hard time finding reasons to root for him. In fact, I got so sick of his stodgy, boring, uptight, religious personality that I was hoping it would end with him either dying alone and hopeless on the island or roasting on a spit for the cannibals to enjoy.
I'm a Christian and was not only annoyed by the inaccurate portrayal of Christianity in this book (completely unbiblical), but was also at a loss to finding a reason for Christianity being in the book at all. Why would there be religion? Is the point that, in being alone, all humans turn to God? I'd be inclined to argue it's the opposite - we're more likely to go crazy, lose our minds and our hope, and become animalistic than look to something we can't see or hear or feel or touch. I'm also not convinced that's even the argument Defoe was trying to push. (And from the books and articles I've read, when you're alone with your mind, you're more likely to look for things you can see, touch, feel, understand easily. God is not any of those things. So even if that is the argument he's trying to teach, it's a faulty one.)
Besides the fact that he becomes an odd kook, he also ditches those religious ideals as soon as it suits him so really what's the point of your religion in the first place if it's only there when convenient for you? Sounds like his religion wasn't based on true faith, in which case, again, what purpose is the religious there for? Certainly not to drive the plot forward or to add layers to the character when it's more of a cloak he wears to look good, something he takes off when it hampers him.
All in all confused at the purpose of the story and what could be gained by reading about a pompous fart who thinks himself morally superior simply because of his waxing and waning religious beliefs and the color of his skin. I see enough of that in today's day and age, thank you, I don't need to read about it in ye olde English too.
I'm a Christian and was not only annoyed by the inaccurate portrayal of Christianity in this book (completely unbiblical), but was also at a loss to finding a reason for Christianity being in the book at all. Why would there be religion? Is the point that, in being alone, all humans turn to God? I'd be inclined to argue it's the opposite - we're more likely to go crazy, lose our minds and our hope, and become animalistic than look to something we can't see or hear or feel or touch. I'm also not convinced that's even the argument Defoe was trying to push. (And from the books and articles I've read, when you're alone with your mind, you're more likely to look for things you can see, touch, feel, understand easily. God is not any of those things. So even if that is the argument he's trying to teach, it's a faulty one.)
Besides the fact that he becomes an odd kook, he also ditches those religious ideals as soon as it suits him so really what's the point of your religion in the first place if it's only there when convenient for you? Sounds like his religion wasn't based on true faith, in which case, again, what purpose is the religious there for? Certainly not to drive the plot forward or to add layers to the character when it's more of a cloak he wears to look good, something he takes off when it hampers him.
All in all confused at the purpose of the story and what could be gained by reading about a pompous fart who thinks himself morally superior simply because of his waxing and waning religious beliefs and the color of his skin. I see enough of that in today's day and age, thank you, I don't need to read about it in ye olde English too.
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Ik moet zeggen dat ik hem niet echt uitgelezen heb, want ik ergerde me kapot, maar heb voldoende gelezen om te weten dat Robinson een uiterst vervelende imperialist is, en dat het boek kan worden samengevat als 'wow, kijk mij, ik ben fantastisch, want ik ben blank'...