How Robinson Crusoes Reactions in the Novel Explain European Attitude towards Native Americans - Essay Example

In the novel, his characters are represented as intelligent, hardworking, curious, risk-taking and independent individuals according to DiBattista. Robinson’s character depicts him as a European trader who is a Native Americans States. Robinson's spiritual awakening in isolation from American society depicts the Europeans subordination and conversion of non-Europeans to Christianity during colonialism.

The venturing personality of Robinson Crusoe depicts Europeans’ great desire to adventure the globe and thus bring the corresponding expansion which is not easy to achieve in a civilized society like America. Thus as a result Crusoe turns out to be violent and engaged in attacks in order to achieve his desires. This illustrates the Europeans colonization of the Americans so that they can enforce their policies on them despite their civilization. Moreover, Crusoe slowly learns to assert himself to people in a land where he does not belong and becomes more assertive to an extent of attacking traders. This shows the Europeans colonization when they would assert their policies in other countries and remain authoritative than the natives.

In the novel, Defoe presents Crusoe at first as a violent person which boosts his exploration as well as development. This character portrays the violent attitude of the Europeans towards their colonies in native America and in Africa. Crusoe goes against his parents’ advice of not going to the sea hence this shows how violent and determined he is just like the Europeans in the colonies. Crusoe’s inhuman and violent character towards African slaves shows how the Europeans were pessimistic of African people and how they were contemptuous about them. He engages in the slave trade which shows how Europeans are inhuman towards Africans. The immoral nature of Robinson is also of concern in this novel as suggested by Defoe and Chalmers. For instance he and his friend Friday attack the feasting cannibals. This in particular depicts the Europeans as immoral people who do not value the well-being of other people especially the Africans.

The fact that Crusoe sold Xury, one of his best friends, portrays him as a betrayer. This is a reflection of how Europe treated other countries by inventing them and taking control of everything. For instance in Africa, the Europeans would take away their land and use the landowners as their own slaves. Crusoe’s belief in his personal superiority over the slaves and illustrates the Europeans superiority over their colonies. The European countries considered themselves as superior to any other country in native America, America and Africa hence the colonization.

Robinson Crusoe’s strong belief in Christianity is portrayed by his ability to remain a protestant despite living in a state dominated by Catholics. This is reflective of the Europeans’ spread of Christianity in most parts of the world including African and American states. The Europeans viewed people from these countries as far from God and that they engaged in unchristian life and that is why they were suffering. This is further illustrated by Robinson’s action of converting Friday to Christianity. Thus the novel portrays the rules of claims of the aspect of the relation between Christianity and England.

This is reflective of the Europeans attitude towards others as being unable to use their land for productive business as the colonization upon Africans and the Native Americans. Crusoe’s attitude towards nature is business-oriented and so is the Europeans attitude towards nature. AS result he exploits the island for personal; sustenance and his own comfort. Same way, the Europeans exploit their African and American colonies for their own advantage leaving the countries wrecked. This novel presents Robinson’s attitude towards non-Europeans as unpleasant and this is important in understanding European Imperialism. Crusoe’s intelligence trait is portrait in this novel when he is able to use other people to work for him in a way that seems harmless for them according to Defoe. This is reflective of how the Europeans used Africans as slaves in their own land and African would comply with this without. In conclusion, the character of Robinson Crusoe in this novel portrays how the novel is shaped by European colonialism.