Robinson Crusoe And Gulliver

’s Travels: The Soldier Within Essay, Research Paper

The

characters in Gullivers Travels and Robinson Crusoe are portrayed as resembling

trained soldiers, being capable of clear thought during tense and troubled

times. This quality possessed within Robinson Crusoe and Gulliver is a result

of the author’s background and knowledge. Daniel Defoe was knowledgeable and

proficient in seamanship, he understood the workings of a ship and the skills

required for its operation. Daniel Defoe, an intelligent man who is

knowledgeable in self defense and military tactics, which is reflected in the

actions of Robinson Crusoe who insists on always one step ahead of his

opponent, wether it be an enemy, nature or himself. Robinson Crusoe is the know

all, does all type of person. He becomes stranded on a desolate island and does

whatever is necessary to survive. After being on the island for several years

Crusoe learns to adapt to his surroundings (an important feature in becoming a

good soldier) and lives with what he has.In the

17th century, the Catholic reform was sweeping through many parts of Europe.

The period from 1600 to about 1750 is known as the Baroque Era. Throughout this

period the Catholic Church was fighting back against the effects of the

Renaissance. The people of the Renaissance society started to question their

beliefs in the church and tried to rationally explain the world around them.

Several crusades were fought throughout this period and in the end England and

France became "Christianized." Robinson Crusoe was published during

the Baroque Era and it contained a great amount of Catholicism. Crusoe becomes

a good Christian during his lonely stay on the deserted island and converts his

companion Friday when he arrives on the island from cannibalism to

Christianity. Crusoe has been placed on this barren island as a punishment for

his sins (disobeying his father) and for leaving his middle station of life.

Being lonely, home stricken and afraid has allowed Robinson Crusoe to fill his

desire for company by allowing God into his life through his nightly readings

of the Bible. Defoe is a

strong believer in God. He believes that God’s providence shapes the lives of

all men and that any unusual circumstances or misfortunes that occur happen

because that is the way God wanted it. The psychological condition of Robinson

Crusoe was not totally imagined by Daniel Defoe. Defoe was not a stranger to

the life of solitude. In the early 18th century, Defoe was imprisoned for about

six months. He was thrown in jail because of a controversial pamphlet that he

wrote called The shortest Was With Dissenters. In this pamphlet Defoe

humorously implied that all people who were not members of the Church of

England should be killed. This imprisonment may have given Defoe several

inklings of what it is like to be totally cut off from civilization. Robinson

Crusoe survives on his island and adapts very well to his surroundings, but his

companionship with God is not enough. In desperation he trains a parrot to

speak to him just to hear another voice, even though the irony is that, the

voice is just a repetition of his own.Years

later he discovers a footprint on the beach and totally flips his lid. He

becomes terribly paranoid and very careful. Crusoe covers any tracks that would

give the owner of the foot print an idea that he lives on the island. Crusoe

becomes totally enraged with the thought of another human on the island that he

prepares his house for war by surrounding it by an impenetrable fence, arming

all his weapons and is ready to kill anyone that comes near his sacred home,

grain, and animals. His condition is now evident: the strengths of his

character that has made him flourish in isolation has now distorted all his

social instincts and civilized manners. He only feels comfortable with himself,

his animals, and the Lord in which he can trust. Crusoe lives in fear of the

footprint for the next couple of years. Crusoe has become confused, at first he

dreams for someone to come and save him, then he feels that someone may destroy

him. He has been isolated form civilization for more than 15 years and it has

driven him to the point of uncertainty, paranoia and slight lunacy. During the

stay on the island, Robinson Crusoe became an architect, a carpenter, a baker,

a tailor, a farmer, an umbrella maker, a preacher and even a man. But most

important he learnt to respect fate.Swift, a

wise and educated man, cleverly gains the readers respect during the

progression of the novel. The first thought the reader has is that Swift does

not even take Gulliver very seriously. For instance, his name sounds much like

gullible, which suggests that he will believe in anything. Gulliver, an

ordinary, good man, not rich and the son of a small country holder poses the

drive fo

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