Robinson Crusoe: literature and religion

Abstract

The essay discusses Daniel Defoe´s novel Robinson Crusoe , in relationship to the way that the it reflects some of the more important ideas of the eighteenth century English thoughts which provided the climate for the issues it raises. It will examine the historical context of the novel, and discuss the philosophical ideas which had gained so much appeal to men in this new “age of enlightment” and its focus on the nature of man. In Robinson Crusoe, Defoe takes the opportunity to explore the relatioship between “natural man” and man as he is shaped by civilization.

Keywords

• “Hombre natural”
• “el salvaje natural”
• la naturaleza del hombre
• “Viernes”
• “el salvaje natural”
• “ la ley natural”
• “razón civilizada”
• “hombre racional”
• los ingleses del siglo XVIII
• el pensamiento del siglo XVIII
• el hombre caido en el pecado
• Dios,