Character Of Friday
Paper Number :02 The Neo -Classical Literature
Prepared By : Sima Rathod
M.A. Sem: 01
Batch :2019 - 21
Email Id :rsima144@gmail.com
Enrollment No :2069108420200034
Submitted To : S. B. Gardi English Department, MKBU
Introduction :
Daniel Defoe was born in 1660 in London, England. He became a merchant and participated in several failing businesses, facing bankruptcy and aggressive creditors. He was also a prolific political pamphleteer which landed him in prison for slander. Late in life he turned his pen to fiction and wrote Robinson Crusoe, one of the most widely read and influential novels of all time.Having always been interested in politics, Defoe published his first literary piece, a political pamphlet, in 1683. He continued to write political works, working as a journalist, until the early 1700s. Many of Defoe's works during this period targeted support for King William III, also known as "William Henry of Orange." Some of his most popular works include The True-Born Englishman, which shed light on racial prejudice in England following attacks on William for being a foreigner; and the Review, a periodical that was published from 1704 to 1713, during the reign of Queen Anne, King William II's successor. Political opponents of Defoe's repeatedly had him imprisoned for his writing in 1713.
Defoe took a new literary path in 1719, around the age of 59, when he published Robinson Crusoe, a fiction novel based on several short essays that he had composed over the years. A handful of novels followed soon after—often with rogues and criminals as lead characters—including Moll Flanders, Colonel Jack, Captain Singleton, Journal of the Plague Year and his last major fiction piece, Roxana (1724).
In the mid-1720s, Defoe returned to writing editorial pieces, focusing on such subjects as morality, politics and the breakdown of social order in England. Some of his later works include Everybody's Business is Nobody's Business (1725); the nonfiction essay "Conjugal Lewdness: or, Matrimonial Whoredom" (1727); and a follow-up piece to the "Conjugal Lewdness" essay, entitled "A Treatise Concerning the Use and Abuse of the Marriage Bed."
Character Of Friday In Robinson Crusoe :
He is one of the main characters in Daniel Defoe’s novel. The man was a savage from the cannibal tribe. He was rescued by Robinson Crusoe on the twenty-fourth year of living on the island and named after the day it happened.
Robinson describes him as a man of twenty-six years with a pleasant appearance and kind look. From the pages of the book, we learn that he was a Caribbean native with dark eyes, hair, and tone of skin. Crusoe teaches him English and makes him a loyal servant for himself. Robinson treats his like his own child, who needs to be taught how to speak, behave and be obedient.
The image of Friday became one of the most popular among writers of that time. He learns fast and helps Crusoe in everyday life, solving many problems, that are hard to cope with alone.
Indeed, Friday is a vibrant character in the novel, who is even more charismatic and colorful than his master. Though Robinson doesn’t appreciate intimacy with other human beings, he shows sympathy to his servant, who, in his turn, demonstrates his devotion to the rescuer.
At the end of the story, Robinson takes Friday with him, and they both leave the island.
Though Crusoe left him alive and gave him clothes and food, Friday rewarded him with his loyalty, emotional warmth and vitality of spirit.
The relationship between Crusoe and Friday has been examined eagerly by a number of critics, especially in recent times post colonialists.
Their relationship certainly seems to be ambiguous and open to interpretation. There are times when it appears to be almost based on a father-son type of intimacy, but others suggest that there is a clear master-slave element to their relationship. This latter perspective is reinforced throughout the text. For example: "I made him know that his name was to be Friday... I likewise taught him to say Master". The naming of slaves by their masters was key in Defoe's times, and the fact that Friday never knows the true name of his master indicates an attitude of extreme superiority.
Friday, however, appears to be incredibly grateful to his servitude to Robinson Crusoe, and places Robinson Crusoe's foot on his head in a manner that "seems was in token of swearing to be my slave forever." just like in the movie Bahubali Kattapa does the same.Thus Friday's "slavery" might have been in gratitude for being saved by Robinson Crusoe. Crusoe certainly seems pleased to have Friday with him: "I took him up, and made much of him, and encourag'd him all I could..." yet we are left unsure whether this is due to any essential goodness in his nature or just sheer relief at having someone else to talk to, for "they were the first sound of a Man's voice, mine own excepted, that I had heard, for 25 years."
Thus there are two main views: the master - servant relationship, as evidenced by the authoritarian way in which Crusoe treats Friday, and the father - son relationship, in that Crusoe does seem to genuinely care for Friday's well-being.
Friday is the first person Crusoe introduces into the social order of the island. His name, of course, isn't Friday by birth, but this is the name that Crusoe gives him after saving him from the hands of the cannibals. Crusoe also teaches Friday to speak English, encourages him to eat goat instead of eating human flesh and aids in his conversion to Christianity.
The first and most obvious point about Friday's relationship with Crusoe is that Friday is Crusoe's subordinate. Friday always calls Crusoe "master," for example. Crusoe also mentions that their relationship is much like that of "a Child to a Father" .Why does Crusoe not see Friday as his equal, even after Friday converts to Christianity?
Crusoe's dominant relationship to Friday produces a pretty interesting dynamic between the two of them. See, for example, Crusoe's description of Friday as he is sleeping:
He was a comely handsome Fellow, perfectly well made; with straight strong Limbs, not too large; tall and well shap'd, and as I reckon, about twenty six Years of Age. He had a very good Countenance, not a fierce and surly Aspect; but seem'd to have something very manly in his Face, and yet he had all the Sweetness and Softness of an European in his Countenance too, especially when he smil'd. His Hair was long and black, not curl'd like Wool; his Forehaed very high, and large, and a great Vivacity and sparkling Sharpness in his Eyes. The Coulour of his Skin was not quite black, but very tawny; and yet not of an ugly yellow nauseous tawny, as the Brasilians, and Virginias, and other Natives of America are; but of bright kind of a dun olive Colour, that had in it something very agreeable; tho' not very easy to describe.
Crusoe spends a great deal of time describing Friday's body, to be sure, especially the ways in which he resembles a Europe.
Conclusion :
Friday is a native who is saved from the cannibals by Robinson Crusoe. He becomes a willing servant, eager to learn English and do Crusoe's bidding. He also stands in emotional contrast to Crusoe. Whereas Crusoe shows little emotion, never seeming to miss his parents or wanting close ties to others, Friday displays strong emotions. He jumps and cries and laughs when he finds his father. And he becomes closely attached to Crusoe, volunteering to die for Crusoe whenever he bids. Friday is also intelligent and learns quickly. He is brave and willingly follows Crusoe into combat with the cannibals. He is more vibrant and colorful character than Crusoe. There is nothing wrong in calling Friday the Hero of the Novel.
Thank You...
No comments:
Post a Comment