Will he decide to move back to his "kingdom"?

Crusoe names his new found friend, Friday – he decided to name him this because this was the day that the found him on. Crusoe now spends his time trying to teach Friday how to speak English, and teaches him to eat goat mean instead of humans. I thought this was an interesting turning point in the novel. Crusoe has been living in fear of cannibals, yet all of a sudden he decides to take Friday in – and takes care of him by feeding, clothing, and teaching him. What gave him the courage to give Friday a chance? As the novel continues I noticed Crusoe and Friday’s relationship has grown stronger. With his new friends or slaves – whatever you wish to call them he has a chance to get off this island – to return home. He has wanted this so much and when he finally returns to his home town in Europe he hates it, and can’t stand it. When he returns he has no family, no friends, no one – he is just as isolated in the place that he deserted as he was on the island – the island that he made his kingdom. Will he return to this island?

Robinson Crusoe VS Castaway....WHAT?!

I was sitting on the couch watching what the rest of the family was watching. Then it got me thinking and I said, "HEY! This movie is a lot like Robinson Crusoe!!" I very rarely watch tv or movies, so I was totally surprised! It allowed me to see things differently.
Having been on the island for as long as Crusoe has - I definitely think he'd be emotionally messed up if more human life arrived to help them. In the movie while Tom Hanks was on the island for that time, there wasn't any talking. Except the occasional mumble or the chat with his volleyball named Wilson. It allowed me to imagine about poor Crusoe and silence that overwhelms his life. Except to the parrot or God.
After all this time, if human aid came ... would he accept it?? If he did, he would be a completely changed person. He would have a new outlook on life, and a new appreciation for things. Everything about him would be different. If he didn't accept the help and wanted to stay on the island - why? What's keeping him there BESIDES the house he made and crops he cultivated?
It still remains a mystery.

Robinson Crusoe

In this reading we see Crusoe continue to explore the island. After being on the island now for about 15 years, Crusoe has still managed to survive. On one of his many explorations he found a footprint – one that had to have belonged to a human. His initial reaction was that of excitement – who wouldn’t feel this way after being isolated from their own kind? Then feelings shifted to that of fear and nervousness. He began to wonder if the footprint may be from someone taken over by “Satan”. With this new fear he gathered as much as he could and started to think of new ways to protect his belongings. What made him think it was an evil sign? Is it simply because there has been no human interaction, no help in over 15 years? Crusoe built his own canoe – which took a lot of time because he was making it from scratch using what he had. He uses this canoe to navigate around the exterior of the island = he never was able successfully make it around because the currents kept pulling him too far out, and he didn’t want to risk it. We see his true feelings about the island, “I was removed from all the wickedness of the world here; I had neither the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, nor the pride of life. I had nothing to covet, for I had all that I was now capable of enjoying.” (126) This shows how content he was with being on the island – he was glad to escape the daily frustrations. There is also a quote that shows him reflecting on his new relationship with God, “..for by constant study and serious application of the Word of God, and by the assistance of his grace., I gained a different knowledge from what I had before.”(126) While reading this I often wonder if the opportunity to leave this island was available then would he use it? Part of me wants to say that he would want to leave the island – I mean, if I were in this situation that’s what I would do. Deep down, I think he won’t leave for awhile mainly because he has made it his home – or as he likes to call I, kingdom.

(Chapter 7-8 #2) "I ... was born to be my own destroyer"

After reading and commenting on my english teacher's blog I decided to write a post about this same quote. In response to Mrs. Clark Evans post I said:

"In a sense we all are our own destroyer – we make our own decisions, we decide on our actions which ends up as a domino effect…one decision has effects on several things. You bring up a great point, “Why do we do the things we do when we just KNOW it’s going to turn out badly for us?” This is a GREAT question it can be related many aspects of life –school, work, friends, relationships…. I was trying to give my friend advice over the weekend and we actually asked the same question. I guess we just have this goal in our mind that we WANT to achieve and will do anything to get to it OR we have this perfect picture painted in our mind…. That we often ignore reality or the negative strings that may be attached to it. Some of us just have to learn the hard way, from negative first-hand experiences. "

Mrs. Clark Evans then replied back asking:
Maybe this aspect of human nature is a reason why some cultures don't give their citizens choices (as in "A Thousand Splendid Suns" that we read last semester). Do you think that there are any benefits to having the freedom to make these mistakes? As I write the question, the answer seems obvious, but what are those benefits and do they outweigh the potential negative consequences?

This is a great point. As I look back in the book that we read last semester called A Thousand Splendid Suns, this culture did not have many choices, or freedom. As with many situations I do believe there are pros and cons in having freedom to make these mistakes. Pro's: Hopefully, people WILL learn from their mistakes, and never make them again - and be able to help others as well. Con's: the mistake has already been made. Wonder if this mistake was more damaging then others? For example, Mistake: those who didn't do their English homework. Result: they loose points, hopefully it wont happen again. But what about those who just don't seem to care, those who don't have the drive, they know the consequence but still don't learn. What can you do?

I'll have to think more about if the benefits outweigh the potential negative consequences...I want to say yes. Freedom is a great thing to have but what about those who can't handle it?

Chapters 7-8

During this reading we see the daily life of Robinson Crusoe. Stranded on an island on alone he really has to use and depend on his survival skills/instincts. He kills animals for food, he uses a cave and tent to call his home, he furnishes his new home with shelves and a desk made entirely from things on the island...a tree. Since it was getting dark around 7 he would always have to go to bed because there was nothing he could do without light. One day, he decided to make a lamp out of fluids/parts of animals that he kills for food. He got this idea from remembering to to make a candle out of wax - he just turned the materials around and used something else. It amazes me what Crusoe is able to do/make on this island with parts of animals, or things from plant life. Where did he learn these skills of survival?? Sure some of it may be luck and instinct, but DEFFINATELY not all of it. He has adapted to this island and new ways of living and so far he has adapted very well...but how?! All his hard work was damaged when an earthquake shattered his home. Crusoe had no other choice but to rebuild it. Then Crusoe got sick. Around these two events he asked God "Why me!?". But then reality hits him - God has been on his side the whole time, God has protected his life - Crusoe could have been killed along time ago. After getting over this illness his relationship with religion becomes stronger and it seems more sincere then earlier. In the beginning I feel like he turned to God and religion "just because" - he was near death, it was a quick last minute decision. Which is totally understandable. This time his feelings seem more genuine. His new faith helps him see things in a different light. Instead of seeing the island as a place of captivity he turns things around and is grateful for what he has. Shortly after, his one year anniversary came, from which he landed on this island. Crusoe keeps track of what he believes the date is by making marks on a wooden cross with the date he came a shore engraved on it. He also keeps a journal of daily events that happen, until his pen began to run out of ink - which is when he decided to save the ink and only write about the most important events that happen. I can't believe Crusoe has survived so long on this island, by himself, with almost nothing. How much longer can he last? I know I would not be able to survive on my own on a deserted island. Will he be on this island for the rest of the story?...or will a ship pass by and Crusoe go chasing after it?

Reading from pages 1-58

This first section of reading took some getting used to. I am not used to reading the style in which it is written – I found myself rereading many parts. This story starts off with finding out that Robinson Crusoe had changed his name. Crusoe also has 2 older brothers – one of them had been killed at war. Crusoe’s father had been trying to influence him to go into a certain career, a career that Crusoe wanted nothing to do with. Crusoe’s father wanted him to become a lawyer. Crusoe wanted to join the army, he wanted to go to sea. However, without his father’s consent he could not go because he was too young. His father did not want him to go to sea because he had already lost one son and didn’t want to lose another one. After a year goes by, Crusoe becomes of age and decides to fulfill his dreams and ventures out to sea….without telling ANYONE. Not even his mother or father. Crusoe from here on went on several adventures. In his first adventure we see him react to fear. They hit a storm, causing him to fear for his life. We then see Crusoe’s true feelings. “I made many vows and resolutions, that if it would please God here to spare my life this one voyage, if ever I got once my foot upon dry land again, I would go directly home to my father, and never set it into a ship again…” Crusoe often references to God for protection on these voyages. Although God “protected him” on this voyage and kept him alive, Crusoe decided to go on many more. We also see him have feelings of regret. If he feels as though he has done wrong going against his father’s wishes and if he has fear of dying – then, why does he continue on these dangerous adventures?