Robinson Crusoe as a Reliable Narrator

Question:

Do you think Robinson Crusoe is a reliable narrator? Can we trust his version of the story completely? Explain why or why not.

Answer:

It is highly debatable whether Robinson Crusoe is a reliable narrator whose version of the story can be completely trusted. The narrative is deliberately presented as fact, but Crusoe's own biases, self-deception, and changing perspectives suggest that while his account of events may be plausible, it is not necessarily objective or entirely trustworthy.

Here is an explanation of why we should question his reliability:

Reasons to Trust the Narrator

• Plausible Detail and "Unliterary" Style: The story is filled with an immense amount of persuasive detail. Crusoe's first-person narrative is described as "defiantly unliterary," which makes it feel more believable as the genuine account of an ordinary man's ordeal. He meticulously documents his struggles, such as the 42 days it took him to make a single shelf, lending an air of authenticity to his tale.
• Intention of Factual Reporting: Daniel Defoe, the author, explicitly presented the novel as a "just history of fact" with "no appearance of fiction in it". He wore the "mask of editor" to frame the story as a true account, a popular technique at the time to make a work seem more authentic and important. This authorial intent was so successful that many original readers in 1719 believed the story was true.

Reasons to Question the Narrator's Reliability

Despite these points, several aspects of Crusoe's narration reveal him to be unreliable, shaping the story to fit his own moral and psychological needs.

• Self-Serving Rationalisations: Crusoe often justifies his morally questionable actions. A clear example is his treatment of Xury, the boy who helps him escape slavery. Crusoe sells Xury into slavery himself, yet he only expresses regret later when he is a planter in Brazil and realises he "could use a slave to help him in his work". This reframing of regret from a moral failing to a practical inconvenience suggests a narrator who reinterprets his past to lessen his own culpability.
• Conflicting Self-Perception: Crusoe frequently presents himself as an average, incompetent man, stating, "I had never handled a tool in my life". Yet, through his own account, he becomes a "master of every mechanic art". He also calls himself a "congenital bumbler" who becomes competent only through circumstance. While this can be seen as a journey of growth, it also highlights a potential contradiction: he downplays his innate abilities to emphasise the transformative power of his ordeal and Divine Providence, fitting the structure of a morality tale.
• Retrospective Moralising and Religious Framing: Much of the story is told with the benefit of hindsight, coloured by Crusoe's later religious conversion. He frequently interprets events not as they happened, but as he later understood them through a religious lens. For instance, he initially reacts to the miraculous growth of barley with awe, believing it to be a direct sign from God, but his "religious thankfulness" abates when he remembers he shook out a bag of chicken feed there. Still, he later reinterprets this as a work of Providence anyway. This shows a narrator actively shaping his story to "justify and honour the wisdom of Providence," as the preface suggests, rather than simply reporting events as they occurred.
• His Account of His Own Character: Crusoe describes himself at the beginning as "disobedient and hubristic". He consistently frames his misfortunes as divine punishment for this original sin of leaving home against his father's wishes. While he is self-critical, this criticism always serves the larger narrative of sin, punishment, repentance, and deliverance. His story is less a neutral recounting of events and more a "memento" or a "vivid warning" to others, which means the events are likely selected and framed to serve this moral purpose.
• The Unreliable Nature of First-Person Narration: As the sole narrator of his 28-year ordeal, there is no one to corroborate his story. Everything we know is filtered through his perspective. His descriptions of Friday as a "faithful, loving, sincere servant... without passions, sullenness, or designs" and his immediate submission are entirely Crusoe's interpretation. Given Crusoe's self-appointed role as "king" and "Generalissimo," his portrayal of Friday's devotion conveniently reinforces his own status as a benevolent ruler and coloniser, an image that serves the imperialist undertones of the novel.

In conclusion, while Robinson Crusoe's narrative is designed to appear factual and reliable, we cannot trust his version of the story completely. He is an inherently subjective narrator whose account is shaped by self-interest, hindsight, and a desire to present his life as a powerful moral allegory of divine punishment and redemption. His story is more "plausible" than it is objectively true.

Revolution Twenty 20 by Chetan Bhagat

This blog is a response to the task assigned by Dr Dilip Barad, and it focuses on the novel Revolution Twenty20. The blog's specific objective is to investigate how the novel can be read and studied from various perspectives, such as its thematic concerns, social realism, and narration. By considering these novel elements, one can gain a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the themes and issues addressed in the story. It is important to note that approaching the novel from various perspectives can provide valuable insights and aid in further appreciation of the subject's complexities and nuances.

Introduction:

“Once upon a time, in small-town India, there lived two intelligent boys.

One wanted to use his intelligence to make money.

One wanted to use his intelligence to start a revolution.

The problem was, they both loved the same girl.”

“Revolution 2020 – a story about childhood friends Gopal, Raghav and Aarti who struggle to find success, love and happiness in Varanasi. However, it is not easy to attain these in an unfair society that rewards the corrupt. As Gopal gives in to the system, and Raghav fights it, who will win?” (Blurb on the last cover-page)

Chetan Bhagat's Revolution Twenty 20 is a novel that explores the theme of social realism, depicting the harsh realities of Indian society and the struggles of the lower socio-economic classes. Set against the backdrop of contemporary India, the novel follows the lives of two young men, Gopal and Raghav, who come from impoverished backgrounds and work in a factory. Despite their hard work and determination, they are faced with gruelling working conditions and low wages, with little opportunity for advancement. In addition to addressing issues of class, the novel also explores themes of corruption and the abuse of power, as well as the stark inequality that exists within Indian society. Through its portrayal of these pressing issues, Bhagat's Revolution Twenty20 serves as a thought-provoking commentary on the realities of contemporary Indian society.

Social Realism in Chetan Bhagat's Revolution Twenty20

What is Social Realism:

Social realism is the term used for work produced by painters, printmakers, photographers, writers and filmmakers that aims to draw attention to the real socio-political conditions of the working class as a means to critique the power structures behind these conditions. (Todd Jr)

Chetan Bhagat's Revolution Twenty20 is a novel that explores the theme of social realism, depicting the harsh realities of Indian society and the struggles of the lower socio-economic classes. The story follows the lives of two young men, Gopal and Raghav, who come from impoverished backgrounds and aspire to rise above their circumstances through hard work and determination.

One of the key themes of social realism in Revolution Twenty20 is the exploitation of the working class. The novel depicts the gruelling working conditions and low wages faced by Gopal and Raghav as they labour in a factory, with little opportunity for upward mobility. This is a common experience for many members of the lower socio-economic classes in India, who are often trapped in low-paying, menial jobs with little chance of advancement.

In addition to the exploitation of the working class, Bhagat's novel also addresses issues of corruption and the abuse of power. Gopal and Raghav are repeatedly thwarted in their efforts to better their lives due to the corrupt actions of those in positions of authority. The character of Raghav, in particular, faces numerous obstacles as he tries to start his own business, including bribery and intimidation from government officials. The character of Raghav's struggles to start his own business are a poignant depiction of the corrupting influence of power and the ways in which it can be used to protect the interests of the wealthy and privileged. This theme is particularly relevant in the Indian context, where corruption is a widespread problem that disproportionately affects the poor and marginalized. According to a report by Transparency International, India ranks 85th out of 180 countries in the 2021 Corruption Perception Index, indicating a high level of perceived corruption in the country (Transparency International, 2021).

Another key theme of social realism in Revolution Twenty20 is the stark inequality that exists within Indian society. Bhagat's portrayal of the lavish lifestyles of the wealthy characters in contrast with the struggles of Gopal and Raghav serves to highlight the deep-seated divides within the country. This inequality is further exacerbated by the corrupt actions of those in positions of power, as the wealthy are able to use their resources to maintain their privilege and protect their own interests. This is a pressing issue in India, where the gap between the rich and the poor is widening (World Bank, 2020).

Overall, Bhagat's Revolution Twenty20 is a poignant and powerful depiction of social realism in contemporary India. Through its portrayal of the struggles of the working class, the corrupting influence of power, and the stark inequality that pervades Indian society, the novel highlights the pressing issues facing the country and serves as a call to action for social and political change.

Significance of the title 'Revolution Twenty20

The title of Chetan Bhagat's novel Revolution Twenty20 is significant in a number of ways. One way in which the title is significant is in its reference to the year 2020. The year 2020 is a futuristic date at the time the novel was published, and the use of this date in the title suggests that Bhagat is envisioning a future society in which the issues and struggles depicted in the novel are still relevant. This serves to emphasize the ongoing nature of the social issues addressed in the novel and the importance of addressing them in the present. Another way in which the title is significant is in its reference to the concept of revolution. The word "revolution" suggests a radical change or upheaval, and the use of this word in the title suggests that Bhagat is envisioning a society that is in need of significant change. This could refer to the need for change in the way that the lower socio-economic classes are treated, the need for an end to corruption and abuse of power, or the need for greater equality and justice. Overall, the title of Revolution Twenty20 is significant in its reference to both the future and the need for change, highlighting the enduring nature of the social issues addressed in the novel and the importance of addressing them in order to create a better society.

Do you think that an opportunity of a good novel is wasted because the story is told from Gopal's perspective? Can it be better if narrated from Raghav or Aarti's perspective? How would it be better if it was narrated from Raghav or Aarti's perspective?

Changing perspectives could be an effective strategy in studying novel narratives since it provides for more in-depth knowledge and meaningfulness of many characters, topics, and opinions within the story. By looking at the narrative from several angles, readers may obtain insight into the experiences, motives, and obstacles that different characters confront, and gain a more complete understanding of the events and topics portrayed in the text.

By depicting the narrative solely from Gopal's point of view, a chance for a deeper and more nuanced investigation of the issues and characters in Chetan Bhagat's Revolution Twenty20 may have been overlooked. Changing perspectives may bring various insights and comprehension of a narrative, and changing the perspective of a character like Raghav or Aarti might possibly provide a better and more well-rounded picture of the novel's events and considerations.

Gopal's character represents the corrupt side of the education system. Students face many hardships to get admission into college/academic institutes, there are many criteria set for them if we put donations aside. When Gopal was learning this side of the system it can be seen when Sunil asked him to open a college.

‘You want me to open a college? I haven’t even been to college,’

“Most people who own colleges in India haven’t. Stupid people go to college. Smart people own them.” Sunil replied

If the novel had been narrated from Raghav's perspective, the reader might have gained a deeper understanding of the challenges and motivations of a character who is trying to start his own newspaper and navigate a corrupt and unequal society. Similarly, if the novel had been narrated from Aarti's perspective, the reader might have gained insight into the experiences and struggles of a woman navigating a male-dominated society and trying to find her place in the world.

Furthermore, shifting the perspective to that of a character like Raghav or Aarti may have allowed for a more complex representation of the characters' interactions and dynamics. Gopal's viewpoint is restricted to his own experiences and perception of the world, and moving to the viewpoint of another character may have provided a unique perspective on the characters' connections and interactions.

Works Cited

Bhagat, Chetan. Revolution Twenty20 : Love . Corruption. Ambition. RUPA PUBLICATIONS INDIA PVT Limited, 2014. 

“Gini index - India | Data.” World Bank Data, https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI?locations=IN.

Todd Jr, James G. “Social realism | Grove Art.” Oxford Art Online, 2003, https://doi.org/10.1093/gao/9781884446054.article.T079466. 

“2021 Corruption Perceptions Index - Explore the… - Transparency.org.” Transparency International, https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2021

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