Analyzing of “The journal” - Daniel Defoe


The extract is taken from the second section of the novel, that is Robinson’s journal, the diary he takes during his voyage. It deals with Robinson Crusoe’s adventures on a mysterious island. Indeed, Robinson finds himself on a desert island and begins to keep a journal.

Narration is in first person since the narrator and the protagonist are the same person and the events are narrated in chronological sequences.  The journal starts with a date which is a time reference used on purpose to create the idea of realism. He probably wrote about these facts after his dramatic voyage since he uses the past form.

The first paragraph is set on the day 30 September, 1695 and Robinson is illustrating his dramatic condition. The first word of the text underlines the central position of the individual. He reveals to the reader that he is alone on an awful island which he calls “Island of Despair”. Therefore he seems to be desperate since in the first part he uses only negative words to outline his circumstances. For instance, he refers to the place saying “dismal unfortunate island and Island of Despair” while he thinks of himself as a “poor miserable” man. The expression “during a dreadful” creates a phonological level of the difficult of surviving. He arguments his negative opinion providing the reader with information about his conditions of living. He spends all the day afflicting himself for the tragic circumstances; he doesn’t have “neither food, house, clothes, weapon nor place to fly to”. Besides he declares to be in front of death since everything seems to be dangerous in this island; he could be “devoured by wild beasts, murthered by savages, or starved till death”.

The second paragraph is set on I October. Robinson again unveils his bad feeling towards what was happening to him. At the sight of the ruins of his boat Robinson thinks how to sail on board and recover some food and other necessaries  but he immediately thinks of his tragic destiny; he is alone because all the ship company is dead.

In the third paragraphs he illustrates the following days and he says that he was able to get some food from the boat. He swam to the ship to get some provisions.

The fourth paragraph is set on october 20. Robinson goes on providing information about how he live in such miserable condition.

The fifth paragraph is set on october 25.  Robinson goes on providing bad information about his life condition. His boat is definitely broken because of bad wether and he has to protect his goods from wild nature.

The sixth paragraph is set on october 26. He builds his habitation to secure himself from any kind of attack in the night (from wild beasts or men).

The seventh paragraph is set on the following days when Robinson move all his things into his new habitation.

The eight paragraph is set on october 31. Robinson looks for food; he hunts two goats in order to survive.

The ninth paragraph is set on november 1. Robinson sets up a tent under a rock.

The tenth paragraph is set on november 2. Robinson builds a fence around the place he had marked out for his fortification.
 
In the whole text the reader focuses on the protagonist’s mood and feelings that is a typical feature of the journal. Besides, the reader can perceive the difference between Robinson, who belongs to the Middle class, and aristocracy. Robinson provides an example of an active, industrious man who lived on a private income. Throughout the text, he provides a sense of depravation. He doesn’t even hope to find a possible relief, so he is in a mood that doesn’t help him to have positive expectations.

Analyzing Man Friday - Daniel Defoe

The extract deals with the characterization of the native that Robinson has rescued from a group of cannibals who came to the island to perform their rites.

Right from the start, Robinson illustrates the physical conditions of the Native from his point of view; he is a “comely handsome fellow, perfectly well made, with straight strong limbs, not too large; tall and well-shaped”. Interesting is to notice that Robinson uses the word “fellow” instead of “man” that makes the reader think Robinson believes himself superior to the native. The speaking voice makes also an hypothesis saying that he is probably 26. His physical characterization conveys the idea that the native has a strong physical power to do something. The speaking voice goes on providing information about the native’s natural behaviour: he ha a very good  expression, not a fierce and surly aspect, but he seems to have all the sweetness and softness of an European, especially when he smiles”. Such behaviour characterization makes the reader think that Robinson is making a comparison between the European men and the native. Indeed he looks quite similar to them from the behavioral point of view. Robinson looks at every particular of the man’s appearance; from his facial expression to the color of his skin. He notices that he doesn’t look as the other “natives of America” because he has “in it something very agreeable, thou not very easy to describe”. Therefore, here the speaking voice makes a comparison between the native and all the other American natives.
Robinson goes on saying how the native behaves in from of me. From Robinson’s point of view, the native behaves humbly giving to him an impression of a thankful disposition through “antick gestures”. He interprets his gestures as sins of his subjection and loyalty to him. Therefore Robinson takes this occasion to subdue him starting from his name: he calls the native “Man Friday”, because Robinson believes that he has saved the native in Friday. On the other hand, Man Friday has to call Robinson “Master”. Soon they become bond to each other; Robinson teaches him how to behave and how to speak, so they can understand each other.