Robinson Crusoe Essay -- essays research papers

The Progression of the Eighteenth hundred Novel Shows How Society Takes everyplace the Role of theology The progression of the Eighteenth Century novel charts the transformation of the role of God into the role of society. In Daniel Defoes early Eighteenth Century novel, Robinson Crusoe, God makes the laws, gives out the punishments, and creates the terror. By the end of the century, the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror announce to the world that society is taking over the role of God and now people will make laws, give out punishments, and incite terror. Early Eighteenth Century novel, Robinson Crusoe, shows the development of a red-hot self, one conflicted with the base of both relying on Gods Providence while also realizing their own power to make things happen. The novel shows the development of Homo Economico, the economic man. With the voyages to the new colonies, many unhorse and middle class men prove able to create their own fortunes overnight. The concept of the Great Chain of Being becomes lost when members of the lower classes become wealthier than many of the upper class aristocrats. Now many men from the lower classes buy land and/or titles. When lower class members become landowners, the desire of Divine Right to rule over the land no longer proves valid. Defoe illustrates societys changes through Crusoe, who battles with the notion of Gods Providence. At sealed moments he thanks God for His Providence, but then later conceives that actually God did not cause the ...