Colonialism

Robinson's property

Many critics of Daniel Defoe`s novel Robinson Crusoe characterize the main character as a typical representative of the colonial era. In the first edition of the story (1719), Robinson refers to the island as “my new colony” (Chapter 20, 83%). In the novel, the adventurer claims that he has the right to rule over it and its riches: “to think that this was all my own; that I was king and lord of all this country indefensibly” (Chapter 7, 18%). Thus, like the colonists consider the territories they discover their own, he regards the island as a “blank page” and decides to claim ownership over everything that is there.

Robinson reaffirms this belief later in the narrative when Friday, Friday`s father and a Spaniard stay with him on the island:

My island was now peopled, and I thought myself very rich in subjects; and it was a merry reflection, which I frequently made, how like a king I looked. First of all, the whole country was my own property, so that I had an undoubted right of dominion. Secondly, my people were perfectly subjected—I was absolutely lord and lawgiver—they all owed their lives to me, and were ready to lay down their lives, if there had been occasion for it, for me. (Chapter 16, 86%)

He feels like the unrestricted ruler of the island and its inhabitants. He refers to his dwellings as “castle” (Chapter 11, 39%; Chapter 12, 18%; 45% etc.), “fortress” (Chapter 4, 53%), or “residence” (Chapter 17, 89%).

Arrogance and mistrust

Two qualities characterize Robinson that were also typically possessed by most European colonists: arrogan...