By definition. a barbarian is person who is natural or of nature. Today’s definition of a barbarian is besides any individual. group or behavior that is distinguishable from civilisation. In the novel. Robinson Crusoe. the character Friday does non suit this description. Defoe describes Friday. non in footings of a barbarian but in European footings. Clearly Friday is non European. yet his characteristics are non consistent with the description of barbarian. Throughout the novel. Crusoe attempts to educate Friday. In making so. Crusoe shows us his ain negative traits and the darker side of his ain personality which makes us oppugn the thought of “civilized” being better than “savage” . Friday is a merchandise of the civilisation that surrounds him where he comes from. His visual aspect. behavior and beliefs are that of all the others in his folk. Yet. he seems non to be barbarian in any manner. Defoe describes Friday non being barbarian or ugly but more softened like a European. “And yet he had all the sugariness and softness of an European” ( Defoe 219 ) . Except for his cannibalism. Defoe does non picture Friday as being savage-like. Crusoe preconceives an thought of a barbarian. but it is non evident in Friday.
When they foremost meet. Friday uses gestural linguistic communication to pass on with Crusoe. which is an indicant that Friday is civilized to some grade. He is speedy to larn Crusoe’s linguistic communication and tidal bore to larn more. This clearly shows that Friday is more civilized than what Crusoe thinks of as barbarian. particularly by the eighteenth century criterions. It is evident that Friday has some spiritual beliefs. which are besides a mark of civilisation. When Crusoe saves him from those who want to devour him. Friday is highly thankful and offers himself as an ageless retainer to Crusoe. This shows that he has a sense of higher order. Subsequently. when Crusoe teaches Friday English. they have a treatment about God and Friday’s God Benamukee. Friday inquiries Crusoe about the Satan and why Crusoe’s of all time powerful God did non merely kill the Satan. ( Defoe 220-230 ) This inquiry shows Friday’s openness and willingness to encompass a new faith every bit good as his mind. Crusoe does non hold an reply for Friday. Later. Crusoe comments that Friday is larning Christianity so good that he may be better than him ( Defoe 233 ) .
Religion is besides a mark of civilisation. Friday is wholly loyal to Crusoe. an honorable human feature. After a piece Crusoe is cognizant of this but still does non swear him. He thinks Friday will go forth the island and may try to kill and eat him. He shows Crusoe that he is a wholly loyal retainer. “for ne’er Man has a more faithful. loving. sincere retainer. than Friday was to me without passions. moroseness or designs. absolutely oblig’d and engag’d ; his very fondnesss were ty’d to me. like those of a kid to a male parent ; ” ( Defoe 222 ) . Later. a group of indigens land on the island with three canoes and captives. Crusoe is afraid that Friday may non be loyal to him. Friday says. “Me dice. when you bid decease. Master” ( Defoe 241 ) . This reveals Fridays complete trueness to Crusoe. Friday’s simplistic and honest attack to life goes against Crusoe’s beliefs of humanity. Bing able to larn so rapidly. it is apparent that Friday is non every bit crude as Defoe reveals. During three old ages they are together. Friday teaches Crusoe many things that are utile. Friday explains the currents environing the island. He tells Crusoe that the current goes one manner in the forenoon and another in the afternoon. ( Defoe 227 ) .
This account clearly shows that Friday is knowing in pilotage around this island. Friday. explains to Crusoe about the cannibalism of his folk. In explicating this to Crusoe. Friday discloses that cannibalism is a ritual they merely perform on enemies of other folks. This ritual by his folk is merely one little portion of Friday’s former tribal imposts. This apprehension of his environing environment shows us that Friday is non a true barbarian but knows much more of the universe than Crusoe believes. Friday shows an array of emotions. During a trip to the top of Crusoe’s hill overlooking the island. Friday sees a position of his fatherland for the first clip since geting on Crusoe’s island. He jumps and dances with joy at seeing his state. ( Defoe 235 )
In another case. Friday discovers that one of the three captives is his male parent. “how Friday kiss’d him. embrac’d him. hugg’d him. cry’d. laugh’d. hollow’d. jump’d about. danc’d” ( Defoe 247 ) He shows enormous elation and felicity at seeing his male parent. These Acts of the Apostless of love and felicity are the emotions of a lovingness. compassionate adult male which is a really desirable trait of a human being. Friday comes from a really crude folk. Defoe depicts Friday with features of a civilised adult male. Friday is spiritual. quick to larn. emotional. and loyal. These are all really existent and honest qualities of a civilized individual. This comparing of Friday’s honestness and artlessness non tainted by civilisation are qualities that are beyond Crusoe. It seems that civilisation is non what it should be and a “savage” has more good qualities than those that a civilised adult male should hold.
Plants Cited
Defoe. Daniel. Robinson Crusoe. 1719. Ed. Evan R. Davis. Peterborough: Broadview. 2010. Print
