Robinson Crusoe

Robinson Crusoe

        Daniel Defoe wrote Robinson Crusoe at the age of fifty nine and it was an immediate success. The story of Robinson Crusoe that has delighted the young, and the old for that matter, for over two hundred years was actually based on an experience in the life of a seaman, Alexander Selkrik, who spent four years on the deserted Island of Juan Fernandez. 

 

                   Most of the dialogues and scenes are covered in the film. Robinson Crusoe, a third son with few prospects, goes to sea against his father's wishes. On a voyage from Brazil to Africa to collect slaves, a storm forces him to abandon ship. He swims alone to a deserted Island somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean on September 30,1659.
               
               To his delight, the abandoned ship turns up on an offshore rock,  allowing him to salvage food, tools, firearms and other items before it sinks. He herds goats, hunts game, makes clothes, and builds a home with only the company of a dog, rex, and a cat.

                  

 After 18 years,  Crusoe discoveres that cannibals are visiting his Island with their victims. The next time he spots them with his telescope,  he sees a prisoner make a break for it, pursued by two cannibals. He knocks out one and shoots the other; when the first one ragains consciousness, the escape kills him with Crusoe's knife. Crusoe takes the man back to his stockade.

                   

            He names him Friday. Crusoe teaches him English and Western customs and turns Friday into a servant. Crusoe does not trust him at first, believing Friday to also be a cannibal who would kill him if given the chance. He builds a door to the cave in which he takes to sleeping.  When Friday enters without permission late one night to get an axe, Crusoe puts leg irons on him. The next day, however, Crusoe relents and takes them off. He comes to trust his new companion completely. 

 

                  After 28 years, Friday saves Crusoe's life from a cannibal sneaking up behind him. Seeing a large group, they flee back to their stockade. The cannibals, however, are driven off by white men with guns. Captain Oberzo and his bosun are the victims of a mutiny ; the mutineers have landed to get fresh water and to maroom the two,Crusoe and Friday rescue the men and get away undetected.

 

                 Crusoe leaves for home with Friday, having spent 28 years, two months, and 19 days on the Island. As they row for the ship, Crusoe imagines he can hear his dog, rex, barking in the distance.