Daniel defoe (1661-1731)

With the advent of the 18th century, in England, as in other European countries, there sprang into life a public movement known as the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment, on the whole was an expression of struggle of the then progressive class of bourgeoisie against feudalism. The development of industry and trade in England brought to the foremen of a new stamp, who had to be typified in the new literature.

The image of an enterprising Englishman of the 18^th century was created by Daniel Defoe in his famous novel Robinson Crusoe. This book was one of the forerunners of the English 18th century realistic novel. Daniel Defoe was born in 1661 in London. His father was a well-to-do butcher. Daniel entered into the same trade he was meant to be a minister. Defoe, who never in course of an incredibly tempestuous life was to tire of excitement, plunged enthusiastically into the midst of this busy world of affairs. He also tried his luck as a tile-maker, hosier and wool-merchant but failed everywhere because he as more interested in politics than in business. Defoe did me commercial travelling in Spain, France, Holland and Italy during the eighties and took many business trips, on horseback, throughout large sections of England. Defoe has Kitten some interesting notes on the comparative manners, customs and ways of life in the various European countries he visited.

The True-born Englishman. A Satire (1701), one of Defoe's pamphlets in verse published at the time, contained a caustic exposure of the "aristocracy and tyranny of the church.

A year later when the Tories came to power Defoe anonymously published his pamphlet The Shortest Way with the Dissenters. The real nature of the pamphlet was a parody on the attitude and style of Tory political writings. The House of Commons ordered the pamphlet to be burned. Defoe was fined, arrested and made to stand in the pillory in the public square before imprisonment, but the punish­ment was made an occasion for triumph for the victim; the people took his side and enthusiastically cheered him as he stood in the pillory.

Shut up in prison Defoe continued to write and started in 1704 the publication of the political and literary magazine The Review. In this periodical Defoe, a true representative of the Enlightenment, lashed the vices of the age, censured the manners and customs of high society and derided superstitions and folly. After his release Defoe redoubled his activities as a pamphleteer and a publicist. His versatility was extraordinary. Economical essays alternated with political and historical writings revealing the author's profound erudition. Humorous essays directed against ignorance and vanity excelled in a fine sense of ridicule.

From the pages of Defoe's best essays and pamphlets there rises the bold figure of an enlightener who stood for the rights of common men, laid bare the vices of the ruling classes and expressed belief in human reason and knowledge,

In The Review for 1709 he came out against wars and proffered peace among nations. However Defoe is not devoid of certain week points. The chief one is his bourgeois narrow-mindedness which found expression in his extolling the spirit of commercial enterprise and its bearers—English merchants.

The year 1719 marked a new period in Defoe's literary career. At the age of 58 he published his Robinson Crusoe— the book on which his fame mainly rests to the present day.

A number of other novels followed in quick succession. The novels were published anonymously which led to belief that those were genuine and authentic stories. The impression was heightened by the circumstantial detail and veri­similitude of their narratives. The principal problem of the Enlightenment—influence of society on man's nature—stands in the centre of all these novels. In his novels Defoe also shows with great realism how life and social surroundings corrupt and pervert man.

The heroine of Molt Flanders is a thief and a swindler. Her character drew the following appreciation of A. M. Gorky: "The author does not for a moment forget that he portrays a victim of the perverted social system ... he lays blame I upon society for the crushing of this woman."

Introduced to a great variety of characters the reader draws the inevitable conclusion: there is no other difference between the world of thieves and vagabonds on the one hand and that of lords and ladies on the other.

Defoe reveals to the reader the development of Robin­son's character from a naive and unsophisticated boy to an ingenious and hardened man. Robinson is tempered by the numerous obstacles and difficulties he meets with in the course of his eventful life.

No calamity or mischance can destroy Robinson's faith in himself or diminish his activity. Such unusual activity and energy were characteristic of English bourgeoisie at the earlier stages of its development. Indeed, Robinson Crusoe is a typical English bourgeois. He is most practical and exact, always religious and at the same time mindful of his own profit.

Robinson's every voyage is connected with some commer­cial venture. He owns a plantation where coloured slaves are exploited. Defoe's bourgeois outlook manifests itself in the fact that he does not condemn Negro slavery in his book.

The conspicuous feature of the book which captures the interest of readers is its portrayal of Crusoe's life on the island. He struggles hard against nature and moves her bend before his will.

In describing Robinson's life on the island, Defoe glori­fies human labour. Labour saves Robinson from moral deg­radation and despair, and is a source of pride and happi­ness.

Detached from human society Robinson Crusoe finds himself placed in a singular position by virtue of which he does not exploit anyone, nor is he himself exploited. He toils for the sake of subsistence, and the fruits of his labour are singularly his own.

However, as soon as a native makes his appearance on the island Robinson assumes the role of a master. "Master" is the first word Friday learns from Robinson.

The character of Friday wins the reader's warmest sym­pathies. Friday is an intelligent, brave and generous fellow. He is endowed with a lively sense of humour. His sincerity and depth of feeling are really amazing. To Defoe's credit it must be said that he created a profoundly humane and admirable character of a native at a time when coloured people were scarcely regarded as human beings and were treated worse than animals.