Question : Essay-type
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.
In a picaresque novel we find an adventurous framework. The word ‘picar’ literally means ‘pirate’. In this story there is a hero who embarks upon a journey or journeys and goes from place to place. During the journey he meets with a number of adventures and conflicts which he overcomes at the end. He meets with fame, name and a good deal of wealth and also in most cases a wife. Most picaresque novels are also modelled on the rages to riches pattern that is a rather poor man meets with lot of fortune and ends his life in a rather big way. Robinson Crusoe meets this condition in a very significant manner.
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.
In the true picaresque tradition the novel starts with an adventure of Robinson Crusoe’s ship marooned in an island and he tried to save himself which he does successfully. He makes an habitat for himself. He makes his own cave, builds his own boat, a chair and a table for himself and spends twenty eight long years in this island. Robinson Crusoe has now become a metaphor for man’s undying spirit. His agricultural projects are really remarkable feats of human stamina.
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.
Another important aspect of picaresque novel is an assistant or a friend or a servant to the hero. In this case we have Friday. Defoe spends a lot of details as to how Crusoe found Friday and his growing relationship. Friday is a slave, faithful to his master and also a friend to Crusoe. He even helps in Crusoe’s encounters with the cannibals.
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.
The picaresque tradition has become the most popular trend over the near hundred years or so. It maintains the spirit of the true picaresque spirit and has more than a message to convey while perusing this novel the would say to himself, “If I had been Crusoe, I would have been acted and behaved in the same way.”