Thinking Activity | "Foe"
In this blog post I will be doing comparative and critical analysis of Daniel Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe" and J. M. Coetzee's "Foe".
Introduction
"Robinson Crusoe" by Defoe is one of the widely recognized earliest realist novels published in England. This novel was published in 1719 and captures the euphoria and imagination surrounding the widespread colonialism of European countries, especially England. It is considered a prototype of English colonialism.
The story is about the castaway Englishman Robinson Crusoe's adventures and his subsequent colonization of a man named Friday (a native) who lives on that uninhabited island. This work is a prime example of how European countries carried out their project of mass colonization all over the world, whether in the East, the Caribbean, Africa, or America.
Robinson Crusoe and Colonialism
Daniel Defoe's 'Robinson Crusoe' has influenced many generations, especially because it has been widely adapted as a book for young readers in comic books and cartoon stories. Daniel Defoe's 'Robinson Crusoe' can be seen as a clear reflection of the time in which it was written. In the story, Robinson takes control of the island, transforming it into a livable place, and the relationship between him and the (non-white) Friday mirrors the mindset of colonialism. The novel suggests that white European men, by using their intelligence and hard work, could turn foreign lands into productive environments. When Friday, a native, is saved by Robinson, he becomes his servant out of gratitude. Robinson, as the "kind master," teaches him European language, culture, and Christian religion, reinforcing the colonial idea of European superiority. Meanwhile, native people's own culture, language, tradition, customs, and habits are neglected and marginalized as inferior or evil in comparison to that of their white masters.
Today, if we see the novel very critically because we have passed through that horrible phase of colonialism, but at that time people who read this book were very much inspired to such things and inspired by the character of Crusoe, and seen him as quintessential of every English men.
Defoe sparked the national imagination of the English people and helped define the idea of "Englishness" through the character of Robinson Crusoe. His work also played a major role in promoting Euro-centrism, stressing on the European values and superiority over other cultures.
Characters And Deconstruction in "Foe"
"Robinson Crusoe" and "Foe" feature the same characters, but "Foe' introduces an additional female character, Susan Barton, who also serves as the narrator for the first four chapters of the story. Coetzee also adds a character named Mr. Foe, who is modeled after Daniel Defoe. Mr. Foe is portrayed as a writer and publisher, adding a new layer to the narrative.
Robinson Crusoe's name is slightly changed in Foe by removing 'e' from the name. It makes it like 'Cruso' in Foe. By doing this J. M. Coetzee also makes a point that how written language can lead to construction of identity and words can serve authors purpose in constructing particular ideology as in the case with Robinson Crusoe and Colonialism.
Moreover, Coetzee also removed the initial two letters from Defoe's name and introduced the character of Mr. Foe. It is important to note here that "Defoe later added the aristocratic sounding 'De' to his name, and by changing "Defoe" back to "Foe" in his novel "Foe", J.M. Coetzee symbolically returned Defoe to his original name. This act can be seen as a deconstruction of Defoe’s self-fashioned identity, questioning and undoing the meaning behind his constructed name and social aspirations.
"I knew he knew something, though what he knew I did not know"
- Susan Barton
In contras with male castaway in Robinson Crusoe, female castaway Susan Barton is there in the Foe.
She came on the same island where Cruso and Friday are living, and started developing pity for Friday after witnessing his condition as tongueless African slave. She wanted to publish the story of Friday but the publisher Mr. For wants to alter the story.
Robinson Crusoe and Friday
Friday has lived with me for many years. He has known no other master. He follows me in all things.
- Cruso
It is obvious that Crusoe and Friday's relationship is that of master and slave. From the very first moment Crusoe came on the 'virgin' island he started to cultivate the island and Friday. Crusoe grew wheat to make his own bread and gathered fresh grapes from a nearby valley to make raisins for extra nutrition. He also tamed and domesticated wild animals, enclosing goats to get milk and relying on the meat of wild animals for food. This highlights how he took control of the natural environment for his survival.
He also changed he food habits of cannibal Friday and offered him milk and bread and subsequent goat meat. Friday was very much subservient to Crusoe from the beginning when he see him shooting a wild animal with pistol.
As long as our desires are moderate we have no need of laws.
- Cruso
Crusoe was the sole God like master and ruler of island and of Friday. What Crusoe thinks is the law and order for Friday. He also converted Friday into Christian religions stripping him from his own religion.
Major Difference Between Crusoe and Cruso
In J.M. Coetzee’s "Foe", the character of Robinson Crusoe is deconstructed as "Cruso," and this transformation changes in how we view colonial heroes. Unlike the original Crusoe in Daniel Defoe’s "Robinson Crusoe", who is often seen as a strong and God like colonialist figure, Cruso’s character challenges this idea.
In Coetzee's version, Cruso is portrayed as more vulnerable and flawed, and superstitious. This shift suggests that the image of the colonial hero is not as clear-cut as it once seemed. By rethinking Cruso, Coetzee critiques the traditional ideas of colonialism and questions the values associated with the original Crusoe.
Robinson Crusoe in Defoe's novel
- Rational and relied on reason
- Well-educated and civilized
- Strong-willed and God-like colonizer
- Enterprising and adventurous
- Optimistic and lucky
- Omnipotent and capable (created a "miracle" on the desert island)
- Consistent and reliable in his narrative
- Represented wisdom, power, and British superiority
Cruso in Coetzee's Foe
- Foolish and superstitious (relies on superstitious practices rather than reason)
- Old and impotent
- Passive and stubborn
- Uncertain and inconsistent in telling his history (gives contradictory accounts)
- Narrow-minded from isolation
- Shows little vitality and has slovenly appearance
- Unreliable narrator (stories vary and are hard to reconcile)
- Has no desire to be saved or escape the island
Coetzee deliberately made Cruso the "complete antithesis" of Robinson Crusoe to deconstruct the idealized English colonial hero that Defoe created. This was done by Coetzee to challenge Euro-centrism and European superiority and the idea that it was not innate but rather fabricated by writers like Defoe. The stark contrast between the two characters serves to deconstruct the "national characteristics" or "Englishness" that Defoe's original novel helped establish.
Thank you...
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