A Study Of Robinson Crusoe And The Further Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe From A Post-colonial Perspective

This thesis analyzes and interprets the colonial ideas in Daniel Defoe's novels Robinson Crusoe and The Further Adventures of Robinson Crusoe. Based on a systematic close study of the texts, with the interpretation of the image of Robinson Crusoe as the main clue, this thesis aims to reveal characteristics of the early European colonialists'invasion and expansion in the following aspects: Robinson Crusoe's colonial activities on the island and in China, his reform of the savage Friday and his criticism of China. To Robinson Crusoe, whether the nature (such as the island), other people (like Friday) or other countries (like China) all exist based on his colonial ambition. This post-colonial interpretation of the two texts shows how early European colonialism proceeded, and it currently plays a role in maintaining our national characteristics and national identity and provides a new perspective to read classic literary works.Apart from its introduction and conclusion, this thesis consists of six chapters.The introduction is about the objective, significance, approach and organization of the thesis.Chapter one is literature review of Robinson Crusoe and The Further Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, including the current situation, the developing tendency of the research and the imperative problems which need to be resolved.Chapter two introduces colonialism and post-colonial theory, providing a theoretical preparation for the literary texts Robinson Crusoe and The Further Adventures of Robinson Crusoe. At the same time, consideration on current cultural hegemony from the perspective of post-colonialism is made. Chapter three is a macro-study of the author Defoe's time and his colonial ideology. Through the introduction of the social transformation in Britain at that time and the early British colonial expansion, it helps the readers to get a general idea of the society in which the works were written.This introduction of Defoe's colonial ideology will also be helpful toward understanding the two novels.Chapter four and chapter five are a micro-study of Crusoe's colonial activities in the two texts. Crusoe is a colonist because he has all of the characteristics that an early colonist has. His colonial activities involved not only the economy and material world, but also the culture (religion) area. Chapter six reveals that under the context of globalization, there is no obvious and visible colonialism in Defoe's works. However, in the process of cultural permeation and cultural plunder, potential post-colonialism appears here in place of colonialism.The conclusion summarizes how this thesis provides a creative and comparatively comprehensive interpretation of Robinson Crusoe and The Further Adventures of Robinson Crusoe and reveals the history and nature of European colonialization. This interpretation is in hope of shedding light on the maintenance of national characteristics and national identity and the promotion of exchange and integration of Chinese culture and western culture.