The economic framework of the novel
Robinson Crusoe is the essential dimension of it. Defoe portrays Crusoe
as a ‘homo economics’ or an economic man. The action and movement of
Robinson’s voyage seems to be the work of a businessman, who involves in
the transaction of money and wealth. His life both begins and ends as a
tradesman. The economic implication of the novel will come out, if we
discuss the major events of Crusoe’s life.
Robinson Crusoe pursues money very
methodically, keeping account of his profit and loss. This is a
characteristic feature of a modern businessman. We find Crusoe’s
worldliness and monetary motive at the beginning of his voyage to
Guinea. While they were on the voyage, the Captain gave Robinson advice
to buy some toys and trifles and to earn some profits by selling them.
This voyage made Robinson both a sailor and a merchant. Robinson says,
‘This was the only voyage which I may say was successful in all my
adventures and which I owe to the honesty and integrity of my friend the
Captain.” The speech is evident of Crusoe’s interest in money. He buys
goods, sells those, and finally earns profit. He acts like a trader.
Robinson Crusoe abandons his parents’
advice and chooses the seafaring, life. He desires to be a prosperous
and wealthy man. In this way, he wants to rise above the middle status
of his life. The novel states the miserable condition of then middle
class family of England. Crusoe is trying to be well off in economic
aspect of his life and it is the general tendency of the bourgeois
family of England. This is the reason Karl Mark attacks the novel in his
Das Kapital. Robinson Crusoe possesses a
capitalistic tendency in his life. He becomes a true materialistic man.
His economic individualism prevents him from paying heed to the familial
ties.
Again, Robinson’s economic motive makes
him a commercial traveler. Whenever he gets opportunity, he involves in
trade and commerce as a means of profit. When he escapes from the Moors,
the Portuguese captain sets him up with a little capital, with which
Crusoe intends to run his trade. Even, he becomes heartless in selling
his slave Xury to the captain. He becomes the owner of above 5000
pounds.”These are the examples of the economic implications of the
novel.Robinson considers his voyage to Brazil
an economic success. He learns about sugar plantation there. He finds
that sugar-planters grow rich, so he becomes a planter. He imports
labours from Guinea. Crusoe’s activates in Brazil becomes typical of a
white colonizers who were used to set up plantation in a far off land.
The only aim of these planters was to make money in a very short time.
Thus, the voyage of Robinson Crusoe illustrates the economic aspect of
colonialism.
Even in his desolate condition in the
remote island, Crusoe does not forget his monetary consideration. He
regards himself as the master of the island and a rich man. This
materialistic note is evident when Crusoe says, “The Island was now
peopled, and I thought myself very rich in subjects.”
When Robinson reaches Lisbon and meets
the Spanish captain of the ship, he takes all the account of his
property from him. He declares that he will give one-third of his wealth
to the king and two third to St. Augustine, which will be spent for the
benefit of the poor and the conversion of the Indians to the Catholic
faith. Crusoe becomes ecstatic for lots of money all around him.
Thus, materialism and capitalism lie at
the heart of the novel Robinson Crusoe. Robinson seems to be a
capitalist and an ‘economic man’. Certainly, the novel conveys an
economic implication.
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