Daniel defoe

Robinson Crusoe

biograPHY

"The fear of danger is ten thousand times more chilling than the danger itself: the weight of anxiety seems to us heavier than the evil obtained"

Daniel defoe

Main themes and characters

Works

Ups and Downs

Professional Life

Education and Interest

IBirth

Return to England

The Arrival of Friday

Alone on the Island

Life in Brazil and a New Journey

Robinson’s First Difficulties

The Start

Robinson Crusoe

The Start

Robinson Crusoe was born in 1632 in York, England. His father was a rich and wise man who wanted Robinson to have a safe and comfortable life. He advised him to stay in England and work in a good job. But Robinson did not listen. He dreamed of adventure and wanted to travel by sea. One day, without telling his parents, Robinson left home and joined a ship. This was the beginning of many problems.

The Arrival of Friday

The Spanish sailor said that his friends were on the mainland and could help Robinson leave the island. Robinson started planning his escape. A few months later, an English ship arrived near the island. But Robinson discovered that the sailors were mutineers. They wanted to kill the captain and take the ship. Robinson and Friday helped the captain fight the mutineers. They won the battle, and the captain gave Robinson a place on the ship. Finally, after 28 years, Robinson left the island

One day, Robinson saw footprints on the sand. He realized he was not alone! After some time, he saw cannibals bringing prisoners to the island. They wanted to kill and eat them. Robinson was shocked. One prisoner managed to escape and ran towards Robinson. Robinson saved him, killed the cannibals, and took the man to his house. Robinson named him Friday, because he met him on a Friday. Robinson started to teach Friday: He taught him English. He taught him about Christianity and made him convert. He taught him to use weapons to protect himself. At first, Robinson treated Friday like a servant, not an equal. But after some time, they became friends. Escape from the Island. One day, Friday saw a new group of cannibals on the beach. Robinson and Friday attacked them and saved two prisoners—one was Friday’s father, and the other was a Spanish sailor.

The Costume

• The film is a loose adaptation of the famous novel by Daniel Defoe.

• Pierce Brosnan, known for his role as James Bond, plays a more adventurous and dramatic Crusoe.

• Shot in exotic locations to recreate the atmosphere of the desert island

• Robinson Crusoe (1997)

• Original title: Robinson Crusoe
• Director: Rod Hardy, George T. Miller
• Year: 1997
• Genre: Adventure, Drama
• Running time: 90 minutes
• Country: USA, Australia
• Main cast:

• Pierce Brosnan – Robinson Crusoe

• William Takaku – Friday

• Polly Walker – Mary McGregor

• Ian Hart – Daniel Defoe

Some Curiosities

Robinson Crusoe: The Film

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The costumes in Robinson Crusoe (1997) reflect the evolution of the protagonist: initially noble clothes of the 17th century, then worn clothes and finally rudimentary garments made of leather and natural fibers. Friday goes from tribal clothes to a mix with Western elements. The other characters, such as sailors and pirates, wear typical clothes of the period. The costumes have been aged for greater realism, emphasizing the contrast between civilization and wild survival.

The costume

Ups and Downs

In 1702, he wote a pamphlet called " The Shortest Way With Dissenters", which led him to his imprisonment for sedition and libel. After his release, he turned to writing fiction as a way to earn money. In 1719 He wrote "Robinsn Crusoe" that became more popular. He wrote more novels but he was still troubled by his old debts. He died in 1731 in poverty.

1. In "Robinson Crusoe", the main character is shipwrecked on a desert island and must work hard to surviv, relying on his own strength and faith. The novel reflects the Puritan belief that hard work and success are signs of God's blessing.
2. In "Moll Landers", the main character feces many challenges, invluding making bad choices in lofe, but she eventually redeems herself, that it is one of the most realistich theme of Defoe's works.

Main Themes and Characters

Education and interest

• Defoe went to school to become a clergyman, but after four years, he left and decided to working business.

• Defoe's education was pratical and his life experiences as a businessman and journalist influenced his writing.

• He was interested in money and economy, which shows in his novels.

At first, he felt lonely and sad. But later, he started to pray and thought that God had a plan for him. He wrote about his life in a diary. Robinson lived alone for 24 years.

Alone on the Island

Robinson swam to a deserted island. He was alone, scared, and hungry. He soon realized that if he wanted to survive, he had to work hard. He swam back to the broken ship and took food, tools, and weapons, he built a house using wood and stones, hye hunted animals and learned to fish, he planted barley and rice from seeds he found on the ship, he tamed goats for milk and meat and he made clothes from animal skins.

Daniel Defoe was born in 1660 in London.

His parents were members of a Protestant group colled Presbyterian dissenters, which did not accept the autority of the Church of England.

Works

• He is considered one of the fathers of the English novel because his realistic writing style and his ability to create enganging stories. His writing often uses the first-person narrator or diary format, making the story feel real to readers. In particular his best works are:
• Moll Flanders
• Captain Singleton
• The Fortunate Mistress
• Robinson Crusoe

Robinson returned to England but found that his family was dead. He was rich because his plantation in Brazil made money, but he felt different. He could not live a quiet life. After a few years, he traveled again, looking for new adventures.

Return to England

Professional Life.

He became a merchant, but many of his businesses failed, and he faced bankruptcy several times. Defoe also traveled a lot around Europe and worked as a spy for the government. Later, he became a journalist and wrote many pamphlets, with is most famous journal " the Review", published form 1704 to 1713.

Life in Brazil and a New Journey

In Brazil, Robinson worked on a plantation and became rich. He grew sugar and tobacco. After some years, he and other plantation owners decided to go to Africa to buy slaves for their farms. Robinson joined a ship, but during the journey, there was a terrible storm. The ship sank, and all the sailors died, except Robinson.

Robinson’s First Difficulties

During his first trip, there was a big storm, and Robinson was very afraid. He thought about going back home, but he did not. He traveled again and started doing trade between Africa and other countries. But during one trip, his ship was attacked by pirates. Robinson was captured and taken to Salé, Morocco. He became a slave and lived there for two years. He worked hard and planned to escape. One day, he and a young slave took a small boat and went into the sea. They traveled for many days, and finally, a Portuguese ship saved them. The captain was kind and took Robinson to Brazil.