A landmark of English literature, Robinson Crusoe is a profound exploration of survival, self-reliance, and human resilience. The novel follows the journey of Robinson Crusoe, a castaway who finds himself marooned on a remote, uninhabited island after a violent shipwreck. Faced with isolation and the harsh realities of nature, Crusoe must confront his fears, build shelter, find food, and create a life from nothing.
As years pass, his struggle for survival becomes a deeper meditation on solitude, civilization, and faith. The arrival of Friday, a native man Crusoe saves from captivity, introduces complex questions about culture, power, and companionship.
Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe is more than an adventure narrative; it is an inquiry into the human condition and the capacity for adaptation and endurance. Its influence on literature, philosophy, and cultural thought is profound, establishing it as one of the most significant novels in the Western canon.