Topic started by outsider (@ 202.125.140.162) on Fri Oct 18 09:35:57 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

All inputs are welcome about this unsung English writer.

Responses:

• From: :) Punnahai (@ d150-35-51.home.cgocable.net) on: Fri Oct 18 11:20:38
  
  Robinson Crusoe was one of my childhood favourites, it is still is.
  
  
• From: outsider (@ 202.125.140.162) on: Sat Oct 19 02:07:42
  
  And what a sensible, common sense writer Defoe emerges a in "Robinson Cruse". Each and every word of this great book is laden with sensibility and sensitivity. In fact, it is the only work of Defoe that I have come accross so far. And this masterpiece has really filled me with admiration for this man with strong common-sense and sensibility.
  I would like to know about the other works of Defoe as well.
  
  
• From: outsider (@ 202.125.140.162) on: Sat Oct 19 02:08:54
  
  Slip:
  to be read as "emerges as" in the forst line.
  
  
• From: hi (@ 203.195.215.1) on: Sat Oct 19 06:15:23
  
  and first and not forst in last line :):)
  
  
• From: outsider (@ 202.125.140.162) on: Sat Oct 19 07:28:06
  
  off course, hi.
  
  
• From: outsider (@ 202.125.140.162) on: Sun Oct 20 11:44:01
  
  So, anyone who recognises the real worth of Daniel Defoe?????
  
  
• From: :) Punnahai (@ d150-35-51.home.cgocable.net) on: Wed Oct 23 07:54:21
  
  outsider, why don't you start by saying what you think Daniel Defoe's greatest contribution is. I will come back later today with more.
  
  
• From: :) Punnahai (@ d150-35-51.home.cgocable.net) on: Wed Oct 23 10:15:00
  
  How true these words sound even today!
  
  QUOTE
  that mine was the middle state, or what might be called the upper station of low life, which he had found, by long experience, was the best state in the world, the most suited to human happiness, not exposed to the miseries and hardships, the labour and sufferings of the mechanic part of mankind, and not embarrassed with the pride, luxury, ambition, and envy of the upper part of mankind. He told me I might judge of the happiness of this state by this one thing - viz. that this was the state of life which all other people envied; that kings have frequently lamented the miserable consequence of being born to great things, and wished they had been placed in the middle of the two extremes, between the mean and the great; that the wise man gave his testimony to this, as the standard of felicity, when he prayed to have neither poverty nor riches.
  END QUOTE
  
  
• From: :) (@ d150-35-51.home.cgocable.net) on: Wed Oct 23 16:50:21
  
  Outsider,
  are you still here?
  
  
• From: outsider (@ 202.125.140.162) on: Thu Oct 24 06:36:55
  
  Yes, outsider is of course here.
  Yesterday I had compiled a detauled post, but due to the fault (halt) in the computer could not post it, and it was wasted, for I had not copied and saved it.
  I will try to re-compile it, God willing, soon.
  
  
• From: outsider (@ 202.125.140.162) on: Thu Oct 24 06:37:48
  
  Yes, outsider is of course here.
  Yesterday I had compiled a detailed post, but due to the fault (stopped responding) in the computer system, could not post it, and it was wasted, for I had not copied and saved it.
  I will try to re-compile it, God willing, soon.
  
  
• From: outsider (@ 202.125.140.162) on: Thu Oct 24 06:37:56
  
  Yes, outsider is of course here.
  Yesterday I had compiled a detailed post, but due to the fault (stopped responding) in the computer system, could not post it, and it was wasted, for I had not copied and saved it.
  I will try to re-compile it, God willing, soon.
  
  
• From: outsider (@ 202.125.140.162) on: Thu Oct 24 06:38:49
  
  And sory for the multiple posts.
  
  
• From: outsider (@ 202.125.140.162) on: Fri Oct 25 07:00:17
  
  Plaese ignore the spelling slips.
  Thanks.
  
  
• From: outsider (@ 202.125.140.162) on: Fri Oct 25 07:01:19
  
  I would have definitely felt pleasure to incorporate some quotes, but,
  unfortunately I don't have the book with me now. However, here are a
  few aspetcs which I will like to share.
  In the preface to that edition of "Robinson Crusoe" which I read, the
  critic or whatsover was he, comments that the reason "Robinson Crusoe"
  is interesting and appealing to a 20th century person is its stress on
  individuality. He implies, When Crusoe is all alone in the uninhabited
  island, he is like a monarch of his own world. No compulsion by society
  is applicable to him. As the modern man does not like to share his life
  and resources with anyone, Robinson too is in a similar state. He lives
  a life of "individuality" on the island, and to this aspect the modern
  man relates himself readily.
  This view however does not seem convincing at all. This will become
  obvious in the latter part of this input. The same critic had the
  insensitivity to remark that the book holds interest of the 20th
  century man despite its "crude moralising" time and again. Now, here is
  what he calls "crude moralising." When Robinson Crusoe is ship-wrecked,
  he is left stranded on the lonely island, with all his fellow sailors
  having parished. After the initial unbearable desperation and pain, he
  is able to accept his fate, though with pain and reluctance. He, most of
  the time muses at his traumatic fate and holds, at times God and at times
  himself, responsible for it. In this context are those reflections
  which hurt the modern Western sensibilities and are "crude". Crusoe
  meditates that through all his young life he has never sincerely accepted
  the will and authority of God. For him life was a manifestation of material
  cause and effect. In fact he had never thought about God and His existence
  in the first place. Now, in this most isolated state, Crusoe feels that
  it is Creator's will that he is being punished thus for his aloofness.
  These are the reflections of a common human being. Any one going
  through such circumstances and desperations will have the same sort of
  thoughts. He will be preoccupied with his trauma, and ascribe it to at
  times his own follies, and at others to Fate (God).
  
  There is a very truthful and sensitive depiction of the state of
  of a common man when he is struck with a terrible tragedy. After the
  ship-wreck, when Robinson comes to realise the true magnitude of his tragedy,
  that most probably he will not be able to see a human being for the rest
  of his life, he runs here and there in great consternation. He screams,
  sobs and tears at his hair. He wrenches his hands in agony, and again again
  looks up to heaven, wailing his fate. He fervently asks God as why he
  has kept him alive while all the others perished.
  
  
  

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