Rewriting Robinson Crusoe from the perspective of Friday
Heenaba Zala
Sejal Chauhan
respected mam ,we can says that means a marginalized group .It can use very different way like heathen,social discrimination ,gender ,culture etc.This theory we can apply on Robinson Crusoe also. In critical theory and post colonialism subaltern is the social group who is socially politically and geographically outside of the hegemonic powerstucture of the colony and of the colonial homeland.
We know that Robinson Crusoe to communicate a point regarding subaltern language upon meeting Friday,Crusoe admits that although fridays words were sweet to his ears, he could not understand them.His means of correcting this was not to learn Fridays language and there by gain another tool of communication but to teach him English. Here we see that Crusoe is a’ master’ and Friday is a’ slave ‘.Here Friday and Crusoe to be companions and yet Crusoe needed a slave, a man attendant and no one would trust the existence of a white slave .Friday would not just take orders from Crusoe ,unless they are really true friends and Crusoe isn’t just using Friday as a servant .Since the island contains only the two of them until Susan came along ,Friday would have no trouble taking over Crusoe since Friday is younger and stronger.However,I don’t understand why Friday doesn’t react against Crusoe is this because they are good friends? Or he’s the obedient servant,knowing nothing more than serving his master?
At the moment when Crusoe teaches Friday to call him “master” Friday becomes an anduring political symbol of racial injustice in a modern world critical of imperialist expansion.Friday is a key figure within the context of novel.
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devangana upadhyay
respected mam ,v Subaltern theory means a marginalized group. It can use very different way like heathen ,social discrimination, gender, culture etc this theory we can apply on’ Robinson Crouse’ also. Let’s see that how can we apply this theory on’ Robinson Crouse’.
In the novel Crouse is the central character. But if we change the center and took the central character as a Firday, so, it is a good situation for subaltern theory. Subaltern theory means a marginalized group. It can use very different way like heathen ,social discrimination, gender, culture etc. T
v Friday is an African man ,he is black man and Crouse is white man. Here colour is the symbol of their social status. Crouse is powerful man and other side Friday is marginalized. In Island Crouse save the life of Friday and he live with him. Friday cannot understand language of Crouse. In novel he has no much dialogue, he is speechless person. But his silence say every things. Crouse try to teach English Language to Friday, here we can see deep symbol. LANGUAGE is our IDENTITY, if we accept other’s language it’s mean we are surrender in that person. When Fridey and Crouse meet , Crouse behave like a friend but than slowly, slowly he become master of Friday. It is indirectly symbol of English people and colonized people. Friday is nonchristian,here he is heathen. Crouse learnt him Christian’s rules, how Christian live and every thing about Christian. Indirectly Crouse try to convert Friday into Christian.
In my point of view this is whole situation like “colonized India”. Britisher’s comes India only for business but than they colonized us. During this time they force people to learnt their ENGLISH LANGUAGE, now a days even we can see craze of English Language. Our language is our own identity but than even people give importance to English Language more then our language. During those time people like to be Christian. They proved their self to speak English rather than their language.
This is not only condition of India but all the colonized country’s condition. So we can see here that Crouse is a symbol of colonizer and Friday is a symbol if colonized people.
bhatt urvi
Respected mam,
here is,
Subaltern view in Robinson Crosoe
Defoe’s ‘Robinson Crusoe’ can be seen with various views. It’s a book of adventure like Gulliver’s Travel. Also it deals with colonialism. ‘Robinson Crusoe’ includes Religion, moral and subaltern view too. Here, I am supposed to discuss the subaltern view of the novel.
Crusoe is the narrator and character of the novel. On the way to the slave expedition, he had to become somebody’s slave. Crusoe and one boy escaped. They both were picked by a good hearted Brazilian Captain. Crusoe sold the boy to the Captain. Actually he wasn’t his slave but he was of lower class comared to Crusoe. The boy was treated as Subaltern.
Later on, Crusoe’s ship wrecks, fortunately he was saved. He reached on an island where there were no human beings for many years he lived alone. He reared some goats for meat. He got a pet peacock. He built shelter for himself. He grew grains too. He didn’t like to be alone. He thought himself to be the king of the island and rest of them were his subjects.
Some years later he found some footprints of cannibals. Cannibals visited the island how and then.one day he saved a person from cannibals. That person was given a name by Crusoe. He was called Friday by him. He was given this name as crusoe met him on Friday. Friday completely submits himself of crusoe as he saved him. Crusoe was helped by him in various chores. After some time crusoe taught Friday some exhils of Christianity. He also taught him to call him master. Crusoe was delighted to have Friday. They both rescues two other people. One of them was Friday’s father and the other was Spaniard. All of them became crusoe’s subjects. They all were considered to be lower in rank than crusoe. They all followed his orders.
Euro pens colonized various lands and became their monarchs. They considered themselves to be civilized and better than the natives of those places in all aspects. 1959- Dalailama was stayed in India 42,735 59 km land was taken by china in 1950 war.
The absolution of monarchy might be a reference to the kind of debates in England during Defoe’s time whether the king ought to be answerable to the people or parliament.
The themes of independence and the ethic of work in the novel are combined with the theme of mastery, especially in crusoe’s relationship with Friday. Crusoe masters nature- he builds a shelter against rains, knits a shirt and domesticates animals.
Defoe shoes how man is habituated to establish their control on the feeble ones. What eventually happens is that this desire for mastery also extends to humans. Crusoe’s mastery over Friday reminds us of the master-slave relationship. It is significant that the first words he teaches Friday is ‘master’ and that ‘master’ is his name! According to Defoe, Friday was the slave to Crusoe.
Like nature and the animals, everything on the island is enslaved by Crusoe. The master-slave relationship may not replicate slavery as it was practiced in the American colonies, but it does have a passing resemblance to it.
Shital Italia
Krutika Zala
jinal parmar
drashti mehta
khanjaniba gohil
Saryu Baraiya
Respected madam,
‘Robinson Crusoe’ is a novel by Daniel Defoe. But we change central figure of this novel. We put Friday as central figure. Then we have to change title of this novel. Because when Friday is first introduced, he is unnamed. So if we will change the title then we titled this novel as ‘Unnamed’, because central figure is unnamed at beginning.
Friday is name given by Crusoe to him. Friday was brought on that island by cannibals. He was almost to kill but Crusoe saved him from it. So he is very thankful to him and Crusoe is like GOD for him. So he accepts him like his MASTER. But his life is like a slave of Crusoe. Crusoe gives him new life, so Crusoe becomes master of it. It is used here specifically because slavery is reality of Friday’s life. Here we can apply Subaltern Theory. Friday thinks that Crusoe saves his life. It can happen that he is already slaved by another one and now his only master is changed. But his life is same as usual. So he never fined something new or uneasy in it.
Basically I found slavery bitterer than death. I choose death from death and slavery because my self-respect is more important than my life. But I think that it is not new for Friday.
Crusoe has a gun and Friday has fear to it. So he use to pray gun to not to kill him. Crusoe gives him cloths, food and trained him like a man. Friday is also a cannibal but Crusoe made him human. So I think that Friday has to be obliged to Crusoe for it. But we can say even that what Crusoe done is for the sake of humanity. So Crusoe has no right to make Friday a slave. Crusoe is white man and because of it he thinks that all Black and Negro people are just slave of white people but I don’t think that it is Crusoe’s fault. It is Crusoe’s society’s fault that it gives him those moral values of life.
Subaltern Theory is basically question for whit & black and upper class & lower class people. If Friday is the central figure, than this novel can con-ceder as black literature novel, too. So basically my view is that if Crusoe behaves like as lave with Friday then it is insult of humanity. It should not be happen with any one at any cost. It is not healthy for society. And because of it new generation is done the same thing and this immoral thing never throughout from the society.
Thank you
lajja bhatt
“My Lord, thou hast made me…and my master too. I am thankful to you for giving me this life. But I question to you, “Why just why you give me another chance to live? Why the master is here? Was he your angel? If yes then should I follow his way to pray you? Why you are not answering me? Up till now when I pray you, I follow my ways... According to Master you don’t exist for me… How strange it is…Force me to learn his language so that I can understand his command…Very rude and cruel…I have to follow him, don’t my conscience matters anything…Pardon me Lord. But sometimes I fed up with his ways to treat me…I feel enslaved. Generally Master is very generous… he saved my life…It’s my duty to serve him. I will be always with him…”
This may be the prayer of Friday to his own God named Benamuckee if he was aware about his enslavement. He is subaltern. He was saved by Crusoe from other cannibals. But we can see that it was just for himself, he saved him. Friday was also a cannibal. He was made a human by Crusoe. He teaches Friday his language, gives him clothes…All this for his own sake. Friday was impressed by equipment Crusoe had. He was treated and cultivated as human being.
Friday represents the third world nations who were ruled under British Government and people over there who were enslaved.. they all are marginalized. Undoubtedly, Britishers also shows the way to the development to them but all for their comfort. Friday is Carabian, may be black. And Crusoe was white. And it was the mentality that black was the slave for fair people. They are not aware about their enslavement.
So we have the book named Friday written in response to Robinson Crusoe, by the French writer Michel Tournier. He Portrays the character of Friday very well. In his book Friday teach Crusoe how to live the life, and important matter is that he doesn’t need to make him slave for teaching him….
pratiksha solanki
Thus, at the end Crusoe returns to Europe with Friday. Inshort in this novel Defoe include lots of major themes like Postcolonialism, and theme of subeltern comes from the character Friday and Crusoe, Religion, about Society and class system, about differnces between man and the natural world etc..
devendra...@gmail.com
Devendra Joshi
Bhavnagar
>> * As in the very first chapter Crusoe tells us that
>> Foe,change his name around the age of thirty-five to sound more
>> aristocratic.Like his character Robinson Crusoe was also the third child of
>> * Defoe here shows two interesting features.One
>> real.Defoe's character is an isolated individual who meets another isolated
>> individual,Friday.He calls him Friday,which may or may not be man's real
>> * Three main point here I want to discuss,first is
>> christened by Crusoe as Friday,as he had saved him on the'" Friday'',Crusoe
>> teach him to live like a human being,,he was man eater.He also teach him to
>> * The second point is Friday's name was also given by
>> result of Defoe's realism.a mode he used to powerful effect here and in his
>> * The third important point is that he also find his
>> * So for Friday ,Crusoe was God like figure.,and he
>> Crusoe not to leave him, and Crusoe also sell him to another caption,this
>> suggest Crusoe's power over him .But at last Crusoe leaves the Island
>> accompanied by Friday. This suggest that there may not be power of Upper
>> [?]
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Aug 28, 2013 at 1:45 PM, Shital Italia <shital...@gmail.com>wrote:
>>
>>> Respected
>>> Mam
>>> To answer your question first of all i would like
>>> define the meaning of suboltern .which means the marginalized group which
>>> is not accepted by the sociaty.Here the character of Friday is drawn as
>>> suboltern who had lived slavery life under the Crusoe.Crusoe is more
>>> educated than the Friday but he has not more emotion and understanding like
>>> Friday.Here he is more vibrant and coiorful than his" master".
>>>
>>> First most obvious point about Friday and Crusoe's
>>> relatoonship is that Friday is Crusoe's subordinate.he always call him
>>> 'Master".In their conversation Friday's question to Crusoe about devil
>>> which Crusoe answer only indirect way and with more hasitating manner.It
>>> shows Crusoe's less knowledge of christianity than the Friday.even we can
>>> say that due to such slavery life Friday did not get enough responce to his
>>> master.Crusoe may be bring Friday christianity and clothing but Friday
>>> bring Crusoe emotianality warmth and vitality of spirit that crusoe's own
>>> european heart lacks.
>>>
>>> The novel also shows the lake of language knowledge in Friday is
>>> a symbol of slavery .not obvious Crusoe also teach Friday but slowly he
>>> make rule over Friday.In the athor point of view that the theme of
>>> indipendence and ethic are combine with the theme of mastery esspecially
>>> the relationship of Crusoe with Friday.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Tue, Aug 27, 2013 at 4:25 PM, bhatt urvi <bhatt....@gmail.com>wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> *here is,*
>>>>
>>>> * Subaltern view in Robinson Crosoe*
jani Hetal
Respected me’m,
Here I give my opinion regard Subaltern Theory.
Robinson crusoe
Daniel Defoe written Robinson Crusoe. In this book Robinson is narrator. He tells us story. In this book Crusoe Became Savior. When the novel begins the narrator deals with family. He go for voyages and in his journey he come island where he becomes the creator of the world. And then he saved Friday. Now I gave a theory of subaltern.
Term of subaltern: Subaltern means a marginalized group.
1. Subaltern theory takes the perspective of the "Other" as the the one who has had no voice because of race, class, or gender. This theory is based on deconstruction as Derrida has proposed it. It emphasizes that norms are established by those in power and imposed on the "Other."
2. The subaltern cannot speak, not because there are not activities in which we can locate a subaltern mode of life/subjectivity, but because, as is indicated by the critique of thought and articulation given to us by Western intellectuals. ‘speaking’ itself belongs to an already well-defined structure and history of domination. As Spivak says in an interview: ‘If the subaltern can speak then, thank God, the subaltern is not a subaltern any more’
Friday as an Important character: As my view The first nonwhite character to be given a realistic, individualized, and humane portrayal in the English novel, Friday has a huge literary and cultural importance. If Crusoe represents the first colonial mind in fiction, then Friday represents not just a Caribbean tribesman. At the moment when Crusoe teaches Friday to call him “Master” Friday becomes an enduring political symbol of racial injustice in a modern world critical of imperialist expansion. Friday, emphasize the sad consequences of Crusoe’s failure to understand Friday and suggest how the tale might be told very differently from the native’s perspective.
Friday is a key figure within the context of the novel. In many ways he is the most vibrant character in Robinson Crusoe, much more charismatic and colorful than his master. Indeed, Defoe at times underscores the contrast between Crusoe’s and Friday’s personalities, as when Friday, in his joyful reunion with his father, exhibits far more emotion toward his family than Crusoe. Whereas Crusoe never mentions missing his family or dreams about the happiness of seeing them again, Friday jumps and sings for joy when he meets his father, and this emotional display makes us see what is missing from Crusoe’s stodgy heart. Friday’s expression of loyalty in asking Crusoe to kill him rather than leave him is more heartfelt than anything Crusoe ever says or does. Friday’s sincere questions to Crusoe about the devil, which Crusoe answers only indirectly and hesitantly, leave us wondering whether Crusoe’s knowledge of Christianity is superficial and sketchy in contrast to Friday’s full understanding of his own god Benamuckee. In short, Friday’s exuberance and emotional directness often point out the wooden conventionality of Crusoe’s personality.
Despite Friday’s subjugation, however, Crusoe appreciates Friday much more than he would a mere servant. Crusoe does not seem to value intimacy with humans much, but he does say that he loves Friday, which is a remarkable disclosure. It is the only time Crusoe makes such an admission in the novel, since he never expresses love for his parents, brothers, sisters, or even his wife. The mere fact that an Englishman confesses more love for an illiterate Caribbean ex-cannibal than for his own family suggests the appeal of Friday’s personality. Crusoe may bring Friday Christianity and clothing, but Friday brings Crusoe emotional warmth and a vitality of spirit that Crusoe’s own European heart lacks.
Thanks......
Riddhi Jani
Goswami Gayatri
sejal vaghela
Respected Madam,
The novel ‘Robinson Crusoe’ is written by Daniel Defoe. In his novel we apply SUBALTERN THEORY. There is an island pictured in this novel. Robinson Crusoe likes sea voyages and in a voyage his ship was trapped in hurricane and because of it ship was destroyed and Crusoe was trapped on that island where Friday was taken by cannibals.
Robinson Crusoe is civilized person and Friday is cannibal. Cannibals take Friday on that island so he meets Crusoe and Crusoe saves him so he feels that Crusoe is like GOD for him and he obliged Crusoe and thankful to him.
Crusoe named him as Friday because Crusoe gets him on Friday. Friday becomes slave of Crusoe because he thinks that Crusoe saves him but its not good for Friday. But I think we cant blame Crusoe for his this kind of behavior because he was brought up in that kind of society and atmosphere.
Thank you
shubhada parmar
Poojaba Jadeja
respected mam,
After reading summery of “Robinson Crusoe”, I tried to write about mentioned topic. Robinson Crusoe, the narrator tells a story of his sea voyages. Crusoe saved one man from cannibals in the lonely island. He gave him name – Friday. He also taught him English language and religion. He made him Protestant. He treated Friday as his servant. Even Friday called him “Master”.
Coming to the main point, the first and most obvious point about Friday's relationship with Crusoe is that Friday is Crusoe's subordinate. Friday always calls Crusoe "master," for example. Crusoe also mentions that their relationship is much like that of "a Child to a Father". Friday was handsome, intelligent, brave, and loyal. He was Crusoe’s devoted and humble servant. Crusoe converted savage into Protestant.
Subaltern means marginalized or less valuable than others. In this novel Friday is subaltern. If we change narrator and put Friday as narrator, He may tell story of his slavery. He also characterizes Crusoe’s character more truly and also present his vices also. Because Crusoe saved his life and make him protestant from savage, he may respect him but can not be slave for long time. He may become good companion, good friend of Crusoe. Even he may start rebel against his slavery. It is his goodness that he worshiped his “god” Crusoe because Crusoe teaches him many things as a slave.
At that moment, I remember one short story which we studied earlier “The Heathen” by Jack London. It can explain this point very well.
Rasila Jambucha
THANK YOU
Drashti Dave
jayshree kunchala
Here I am present my view about subaltern Thoery. "subaltern" is a British word for someone of inferior military rank, and combines the Latin terms for "under"(sub) and "other"(alter).
GOHIL NAMRATA
Chennur Amrutha Valli Reddy
Madam, here I share the link where I havebriefly rewritten the sumarry of the novel from the proapective of the Friday.
Arati Maheta
Thank You. 
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kaushal desai
Robinson Crusoe from the perspective of Friday
Respected Ma'am
First of all Robinson Crusoe is a historical fiction, which published in 25 April 1719. The story is widely perceived to have been influenced by the life of a Scottish castaway who lived for four years on the Pacific island called "Más a Tierra" in 1966 its name was changed to Robinson Crusoe Island.
~ Here we go to discuss for perspective of Friday in Robinson Crusoe. Friday, it’s a character of a realistic, individualized, and human portrayal in the this novel. Friday represents not just a Caribbean tribesman, but all the natives of America, Asia, and Africa who would later be oppressed in the age of European imperialism. Yes this is a adventure of Robinson Crusoe’s life by travelling and facing the difficulties of life as well as nature of it but the same way how Friday gives glance of him and be with him and by this he gives a good manner of the heart in this novel. Yes, we can imagine a man stood on an island who proves his ingenuity by surviving alone for many years until he is joined by a native called Friday. Friday survived by Robinson Crusoe Crusoe observes one of the Caribs, kept captive and about to be eaten, escape his captors. Crusoe ambushes two pursuers, and the others leave in their canoes without the knowledge of their counterparts' outcome. The rescued captive bows in gratitude to Crusoe, who decides to employ him as a servant. He names him Friday after the weekday upon which the rescue takes place and give him compact that be with him and help him in every way to this adventurous journey. http://www.harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=286 as by this we can better observe about our topic.
Thank You..
Riddhi Jani
Rabhadiya Vinod
Scottish castaway who lived for four years on the Pacific island
called "Más a Tierra" in 1966 its name was changed to Robinson Crusoe
Island.
The story is widely perceived to have been influenced by the life of a
Scottish castaway who lived for four years on the Pacific island
called "Más a Tierra" in 1966 its name was changed to Robinson Crusoe
Island.
thank you mam
Nilamba Sarvaiya
Respected Ma’m,
First of all I like to
write basic information of Robinson Crusoe. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
first published in 25 April 1719. Robinson Crusoe here I like to put
image of 1st book
Title page from the first edition
Author Daniel Defoe Illustrator Single engraving by John Clark and John Pine after design by unknown artist.[1] Country England Language English Genre Historical Fiction Publisher W. Taylor Publication date 25 April 1719 Media type Print ISBN N/A Followed by The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe .Theme of this novel is Fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work.
Now, in my reply for Robinson Crusoe from the perspective of Friday. In my understanding this novel that Friday is one of the main character of novel of the “Robinson Crusoe”. In this novel Robinson Crusoe give names of the man’ Friday’ because they first meet on the day of Friday. When they meet Friday he don’t communicate with Crusoe so in that time Crusoe teach him to “MASTER” and then he told him to call him Master. Then Crusoe teaches Friday the English Language and convert him to Christianity and tells him that cannibalism is wrong .Friday accompanies him in an ambush in which they save Friday’s father. Daniel Defoe reviews his life from the new perspective his conversation has given him and writes of the present and the future with the deep sense of God’s presence in his life and in the World. When Crusoe opens The Bible randomly he reads the line ”Call on me in the Day of trouble; and I will deliver and thou shalt glorify me.”He believes : “The words were very apt to my case.” Crusoe also faces ‘Crisis of Faith.’ When Crusoe alone on island his relationship with the God.
Friday is a key figure within the context of the Novel. In many ways he is the most vibrant character in Robinson Crusoe. much more charismatic and colorful than his master. Indeed, Defoe this times underscores the contrast between Crusoe’s and Friday’s personality. When Friday in his joyful reunion with his father, that time Crusoe never missing his family. Crusoe’s knowledge of Christianity is superficial and sketchy in contrast to Friday’s full understanding of his own God Benamuckee. In short, Friday’s exuberance and emotional directness often point out the wooden conventionality of Crusoe’s personality. Despite Friday’s subjugation, however, Crusoe appreciates Friday much more than he would a mere servant. Crusoe does not seem to value intimacy with humans much, but he does say that he loves Friday, which is a remarkable disclosure. It is the only time Crusoe makes such an admission in the novel, since he never expresses love for his parents, brothers, sisters, or even his wife. The mere fact that an Englishman confesses more love for an illiterate Caribbean ex-cannibal than for his own family suggests the appeal of Friday’s personality. Crusoe may bring Friday Christianity and clothing, but Friday brings Crusoe emotional warmth and a vitality of spirit that Crusoe’s own European heart lacks.
So, this is my point of view answer that Robinson Crusoe from the perspective of Friday.
Thank you.
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Bharat Bhammar
Hitesh Parmar
The end of the story also will be changed.