The epic story of Robinson Crusoe is a tale primarily concerning personal salvation and defiance to authority. Very early on in the story we learn that Crusoe’s father is vehemently opposed to Crusoe leaving him in order to travel the Sea. Despite his father’s warning, Crusoe leaves anyways as he feels that a life at home would not be fulfilling. Crusoe (like many enlightenment thinkers) wanted to expand his knowledge of the world, and in doing he defied an authoritative figure preaching that it was too dangerous to tread along new territory.
However, throughout Crusoe’s journey he constantly questions his decision to leave home primarily because his father did not give consent to his journey. In the story, the off and on stormy sea becomes a metaphor for Crusoe’s feelings about his journey, as he is constantly going back and forth with himself about his decision. An example of this: “as the Sea was returned to its Smoothness of Surface and settled Calmness by the Abatement of that Storm, so the Hurry of my Thoughts being over, my Fears and Apprehensions of being swallow’d up by the Sea being forgotten, and the Current of my former Desires return’d, I entirely forgot the Vows and Promises that I made in my Distress” (53). As can be seen, when the travel conditions were difficult Crusoe deeply questioned his decision to leave, yet when things cleared up he once again become content.
In addition to Crusoe’s personal troubles, the theme of religion also seems to play a role in his life, as there are many references to whether or not Crusoe’s shipwreck was the will of God. Crusoe also wonders why he survived, yet the rest of his crew perished in the wreck. In my belief, the tale is one of showing that whether one faces adversity such as a stormy sea, threatening beasts and savages, or solitude on an island, perseverance is always possible. Crusoe persevered by being able to survive alone on an island for many years, whereas Enlightenment thinkers persevered by challenging contemporary views of society.
