The Plot Structure of Robinson Crusoe
The plot of Robinson Crusoe can be understood as a journey of disobedience, punishment, redemption, and eventual prosperity, structured in several key phases. The novel is a first-person narrative that follows the protagonist through a "chronicle of ups and downs".
1. Rebellion and Early Misadventures:
The novel begins with Robinson Crusoe, an arrogant and disobedient young man from a well-off family in York. He ignores the earnest advice of his father, who advocates for a safe, middle-station life, and runs away to sea.
His initial voyages are marked by disaster, including a shipwreck where a man presciently warns him he "will meet with nothing but disasters and disappointments". True to this prediction, he is later captured by pirates and becomes a slave in Sallee.
2. Escape and Prosperity in Brazil:
Crusoe escapes his slavery with a young boy named Xury, whom he later sells into slavery—an act he regrets only when he needs a slave to help him work.
He makes his way to Brazil and establishes himself as a planter. He begins to prosper, ironically entering the very "middle station" of life his father had praised.
However, his "foolish inclination of wandering abroad" and desire to rise faster than his circumstances allow lead him to embark on a slaving expedition to Guinea.
3. Shipwreck and Survival on the Island:
A violent storm shipwrecks his vessel, and Crusoe is the sole survivor, cast away on a desolate island. This event, on the 30th of September 1659, marks the beginning of his 28-year ordeal.
The first phase on the island is focused on survival. He salvages tools, food, weapons, and other supplies from the wrecked ship over numerous trips. He builds a fortified dwelling, which he calls his "castle," learns to hunt, domesticates goats, and discovers how to plant and harvest corn. He progresses from a state of despair to one of competence, learning "the rudiments of civilization" through practical application.
4. Spiritual Transformation and Mastery:
Crusoe's time on the island is not merely about physical survival; it is also a story of "atonement" and religious awakening. Initially irreligious, his experience with sickness, a terrifying dream, and reading the Bible lead to a profound spiritual conversion. He begins to see his ordeal as both a punishment and a reward, transforming his island prison into a kingdom.
He masters his environment and himself, moving from seeing himself as a prisoner to a king or "Generalissimo" of his domain. He reflects on the futility of money and learns that the "good things of this world are no farther good to us, than they are for our Use".
5. Encounter with Others and Colonisation:
The plot shifts dramatically with the discovery of a single human footprint in the sand, which ends his period of total solitude. This is followed by the discovery of human bones, revealing that cannibals visit the island.
Years later, he rescues a prisoner from the cannibals, names him Friday, and teaches him English and Christianity. With Friday's arrival, Crusoe's role evolves into that of a ruler and coloniser.
He and Friday later rescue two more captives: a Spaniard and Friday's father. Crusoe plans a voyage with them to the American colonies.
6. Rescue and Return:
Before they can leave, an English ship arrives, crewed by mutineers who have marooned their captain. With the help of the ship's captain, Crusoe quells the mutiny and seizes the vessel.
After 28 years on the island, he is finally able to return to England. There, he discovers his family is gone but his wealth from the Brazil plantation has grown immensely.
The narrative concludes with Crusoe settling his affairs, getting married, and eventually revisiting his island to see how his "colony" is faring.
A New Title for Robinson Crusoe
If I were to give the novel a new title based on the themes presented in the sources, I would call it:
The Kingdom of One: A History of Providence and Self-Reliance
Here is why:
"The Kingdom of One": This phrase captures the central paradox of Crusoe's experience. He is utterly alone, the ultimate solitary individual, yet he transforms his prison into a personal kingdom. The sources repeatedly mention his self-perception as a king, with "an undoubted right of dominion" over his island. This title reflects his journey from a castaway to a self-styled monarch who governs his environment, his subjects (Friday, the Spaniard), and ultimately, himself.
"A History of Providence": The novel is presented as a "just history of fact," and its plot is driven by what Crusoe and the preface's "editor" interpret as the direct intervention of Divine Providence. Crusoe's survival, his spiritual awakening, and his eventual deliverance are all framed as part of a divine plan. The title highlights the religious and moral dimension that Defoe intended, positioning the story as a justification of "the wisdom of Providence".
"Self-Reliance": A core theme of the novel is Crusoe's ingenuity and tireless work. Starting with no skills ("I had never handled a tool in my life"), he becomes a "master of every mechanic art" through labour and application. He learns to build, farm, bake, and make pottery, creating an entire world for himself from scratch. This aspect of the story is so powerful that it has been interpreted as a "myth of modern individualism". The title underscores that Crusoe's success is achieved not just through divine aid, but also through his own remarkable efforts and rationalism.
