Role Of Heroism In Robinson Crusoe

Within the novel Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, we learn of the fictional story of Robinson Crusoe and his time spent on a forsaken island. Crusoe faces a number of obstacles through his adventure, finding creative ways to survive and persistently working to learn skills that will improve his odds. He rations out minimal supplies, builds a shelter, and adapts a few goats to his own style of animal husbandry. But aside from his practical ways of survival as he confronts the challenges of basic needs, Crusoe is also faced with opportunities to become the hero of his own world. I wanted to write about how heroism is depicted in the later portions of the novel to analyze whether or not Crusoe is as adept in combat and morals as he is at conventional

With intentions to attack them at dark, Crusoe suits up for a fight. “I fitted my self up for battle as before, though with more caution, knowing I had to do with another kind of enemy than I had at first” (p. 199). As said before, I fully believe Crusoe was faced with reluctance for knowing that this time, his enemy was likely far superior to him, as opposed to the cannibals that he was so well equipped to defeat. I believe it is more the characteristic of a coward or a bully to feel confident when facing those inferior to them, and though it is reasonable for Crusoe to feel fear, his terrified reaction to the Europeans who are equal to him seems to invalidate any characteristics he might have to qualify as a hero. Regardless, when night falls, Crusoe seeks out the three prisoners, who initially regard him as an angel. As he learns that they were mutinied against, Crusoe takes advantage of the situation as he has before, laying out conditions for the former-captain before he offers his help. Defoe explains the first condition as “while you stay on this island with me, you will not pretend to any authority here; and if I put arms into your hands, you will upon all occasions give them up to me […] and in the mean time be govern’d by my orders” (p. 201). Although reasonable in his want to preserve the life he has made on the island, Crusoe nonetheless demonstrates his own cowardice by taking advantage of prisoners, who are bound and unable to take any choice, forced through circumstance to take on his help, even if it means they become Crusoe’s so-called subjects. Once more, I do not believe this demonstrates heroism in Crusoe, as he does not selflessly act to help the three prisoners. Moreover, Defoe writes that the prisoner “would comply with these most reasonable demands, and besides would owe his life to me, and acknowledge it upon