How far is ‘Robinson Crusoe’ in the ‘picaresque’ tradition?
‘Robinson Crusoe’ is a novel written very much in the ‘picaresque’ tradition, though it would be quite unfair to label it exclusively as a picaresque novel. It is as much as allegory, a spiritual search, a novel of considerable psychological rendering, narrative and many other things.
The most important condition of a picaresque novel is certainly the aspect of adventure. The element of adventure certainly takes the central place in the novel. We know that it is based on the real life experience of Alexander Selkirk who was marooned in a lonely island of Juan Fernandez. This adventure of Alexander Selkirk is certainly the background for this momentous work. It is also inter fused with a number of remarkable and incredible facts which naturally do not find the parameter of belief.
Crusoe involved while narrating the events that is another feature of picaresque novel. The humorous example of this included of how he learned the earth of hunting, his different survival tragedies, how he manufacturers a trap, how he builds his agricultural projects– all give a realistic touch to the novel.
Two more things are common in a picaresque novel; realism and specificity. When it comes to place, names and dates. The realism factor has already been discussed. Crusoe was born in 1632 at York. He got marooned on 30th September, 1659. He left the island on 19th December, 1686, arrived in England on 11th June in 1687 and embarked upon and then journey in 1694. Further the maintain of the diary gives the novel a further realistic picture.
Another crucial element in the framework of the picaresque novel is that the hero starts from scratch and ends up in big. Crusoe starts from a very humble beginning, but to the end of the novel he has a lot of wealth. Crusoe is the typical capitalist who has invested time and would get money in return. The economic doctrine is very clear. The empirical character is clear in Crusoe who colonizes the island and projects his intention to subjugate the kingdom in economic crisis. The word ‘crusoe’ itself comes to the word ‘crusade’ which gives the religious framework in the novel which makes it so interesting. The mystical finding of Crusoe also fits in its framework.
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