The Character Analysis of Robinson Crusoe鲁滨逊性格分析.doc

The Character Analysis of Robinson Crusoe【Abstract】 In Daniel Defoe's masterpiece , Robinson Crusoe , Robinson begins as a wanderer, aimless on a sea, and ends as a pilgrim, crossing a final mountain to enter the promising land. Robinson is a hero rather than an everyman. He is ambitious, hard-working, persistent, etc. In a word, he is a collection of virtues. However, as a human, he also has his faults, he is a little irresponsible, vain, etc. However, as a people in modern society, we all should learn from his virtues, and overcome his faults. Be brave to take any adventures, and face every challenge in our life fearlessly.【Key Words】 Robinson Crusoe; character; positive; negative 【摘要】 在丹尼尔笛福的代表作，“鲁滨逊漂流记”中,鲁滨逊开始在海面上漫无目的的漂流，越过最后的大山，进入充满希望的土地，最后当了个朝圣者。与其说罗宾逊是一个普通人，还不如说他是个英雄。他雄心勃勃，工作勤奋，执着，等等。总之，他是美德的集合体。然而，作为一个人，他也是有他的缺陷的。他有点不负责任，自大等等。然而作为一个现代社会的人，我们都应该学习他的优点，克服他的缺点。勇于冒险，坦然面对生活中的一切挑战。【关键词】 鲁滨逊·克鲁索 性格 积极 消极Introduction: Robinson Crusoe, written by Daniel Defoe who is a great English novelist in the18th century as his masterpiece, is either a pioneering English adventure fiction or a typical colonial literature. It is a vivid narrative story about the surprising and adventuring life of Robinson who runs away from home and sets out to sea. Most previous researchers concerned more about Robinsons sprint while ignoring his flaws. However, this paper focuses on the both sides of Robinsons character. 1. The Positive Aspects of the Character of Robinson Crusoe1.1 He is a man of determinationRobinson was born as a son of an old English gentleman, who designs his son for the law. But the young man has set his mind on becoming a sailor. At the age of 19, he runs away from, and begins his way to take adventures on a sea. In spite of many perils and adventures on the sea, he never changes his mind to seek after the sea.1.2 He is a man of individualism The ideals of enlightenment endowed Robinson some progressive characters. He pursued a free life and valued individual. While in the middle age, human took the God as the core. Robinson was not willing to stick to the old doctrines and lived a life of leisure and ease. “My head began to be filled very early with rambling thoughts: my father, who was very ancient, had given me competent share of learningand designed for the law, but I would be satisfied with nothing but go to sea”His restless nature made him always fight for a better life and the things he wanted to possess: he went out to sea three times to do business, even after he had established his plantation in Brazil.1.3 He is a man of kindness For this point, he has won peoples concern, respect and best wishes. We can find it between the lines of the book. He is really performing well. For example, when he found that the savage wretches had come to the island to hold an inhuman feasting upon the bodies of their fellow creature, he was so astonished and filled with horror. From then on, he always thought about how he could destroy some of these monsters in their cruel bloody entertainment, and if possible, save the victims they brought to eat. He saved one victim, named Friday by him, who became a true and faithful companion later. 1.4 Robinson Crusoe is a man of hard working Robinson had shown his marvelous capacity for work, his boundless energy and persistence in overcoming obstacles. The realistic account of the successful struggle of Robinson single- handedly against the pitiless forces of nature makes up the best part of the novel. His perseverance in spending months making a canoe, and in practicing pottery making until he got it right, are praiseworthy. Additionally, his resourcefulness is in building a shelter, dairy.1.5 Robinson Crusoe is a man of wisdom After the shipwreck in Robinsons third voyage, he managed to land on the isolated island. Thanks to the education he received in the modern society and the goods he luckily got from the wrecked ship, especially the tools for production, he could then live on the island and remake it at his own will. When facing difficulties, Robinson not always prayed for the Gods blessing but used his wisdom and tools to fight all the obstacles off, and created a necessary and comfortable life for himself. He used full of his knowledge and learned more. In a word, believing that human could bend nature to his will by his wisdom and hard working, instead of relying on God, Robinson changed his miserable life.2. The negative Aspects of the Character of Robinson Crusoe Just like the old saying goes, “Men are not saints”. Robinson Crusoe also has his shortcomings in his character. 2.1 Robinson Crusoe pays little attention to his familyIn order to realize his dream, Robinson left his family, not considering much about the feelings of the family. As he told us, “I would be satisfied with nothing but go to sea, and my inclination to this led me strongly against the will, nay the commands of my father, and against all the entreaties and persuasion of my mother and other friends.” In the end he went out to sea without saying goodbye to his family. This, to me, is irresponsible, especially in modern society. 2.2 Robinson Crusoe is vain Robinson Crusoe also had a sense of vanity and weakness. After the first sea voyage failed, he had the thought of going home, shame opposed the action, “it occurred to me how I should be laughed at among the neighbors, and should be ashamed to see, not my father and mother only, but even everybody else.” On this point, I dont agree with Robinson, for his so strong a sense of vanity. What is more, sometimes he was dull and lacking prediction of the results. Once he had an ideal plan to make himself a canoe, one big enough to have carried him and all his cargo. He thought it possible and easy, but it interested in possessions, power and prestige. After the island was peopled, it turned out to be a mad plan and unlikely to be performed: he simply couldnt think he was “very rich in subjects”, and he thought it was a “merry reflection” that “how like a king I looked. He thought the whole country was my own.2.3 Robinson Crusoe likes to keep slavesDue to Robinsons bourgeoisie outlook, he did have some limits of the bourgeoisie. For example, he supported slavery and thought it was a profitable trade. He was ridiculous on this point, that is, he who believed that man was born free and equal was even eager to own some slaves and direct them at his will. After many yeas of living on the island, he set to get one of those savages into his hands, the slave is called “Friday”. The first word he taught to Friday is “Master” even before teaching him the words “yes “and “no”, and let he know that was to be his name.Conclusion: All in all, while not boasting of heroism, Robinson was nonetheless very interested in possessions, power and prestige. After the island was peopled, he thought he was “very rich in subjects”, and he thought it was a “merry reflection” that “how like a king I looked.” By bringing both sides together into one complex character, Defoe gave us a fascinating glimpse into the successes, failures, and contradictions of a modern man. In a word, Robinson Crusoe is not a flashy hero or grand epic adventurer but an ordinary sensible man, while his character traits have won him the approval of generations of readers. When the whole world is now facing with an economic crisis, his spirit has the profound pedagogical meaning: Facing an adverse circumstance, people should be like Robinson, struggling with difficulty tenaciously, and creating magnificence for life. References:1Defoe, Daniel. Robinson CrusoeM.西藏人民出版社,2003:175-292,356. 2John, Richetti. The Eighteenth Century Novel.上海外语教育出版社,2000. 3吴伟仁.History and Anthology of English Literature.外国文学与研究出版社,1994. 4刘炳善.A short history of English Literature.河南人民出版社,2000. 5赵一娜.殖民化的缩影: 鲁滨逊漂流记的后殖民视角阅读.外国文学，2004 第三期. 6王文华.鲁滨逊形象的现代性反思.外国文学研究，2004 第一期. 7蹇昌槐.鲁滨逊漂流记与父权帝国.外国文学研究，2003 第六期.