LITR / CRCL 5734: Colonial & Postcolonial Literature

Student Text-Dialogue Presentation, 2003

Presentation: Dialogue between Robinson Crusoe and Lucy

Leader: Jessica Hayman
Respondent: Ginger Hilton
Recorder: Cynthia Garza

There is very little that is NOT socially constructed. That is to say that how religion is practiced, who is appropriate to love, and even something as seemingly simple as the body (what function the body has and how it operates) are all  determined in part by the culture and circumstances we are apart of. 

What does this have to do with Crusoe and Lucy?

In each story the protagonist is not only taken out of their culture, but they also bring part of their culture with them. This retention of culture affects the relationships between Friday and Crusoe and Mariah and Lucy. For example:

Crusoe bring all the equipment off the ship. He in effect ‘brings England with him to the island (or at least part of it):

I had the biggest magazine of all kinds now that ever were laid up, I believe, for one man, but I was not satisfied still; for while the ship sat upright in that posture, I thought I ought to get every thing out of her that I could. (40).

He brings from the ship food, run ammunition and tools. The things he brings help him to survive.

When Friday come to the island, Crusoe immediately sets about to impart his culture on him. Friday embraces Crusoe’s teaching and begins to assimilate.  During his conversion of Friday, Crusoe brings his religion and even his way of eating. He teaches Friday to eat goat meant rather than human flesh and even tries to get him to use salt although Friday obviously does not like it.  Friday attempts to assimilate.

                        When we had done this, we came back to our castle, and there I fell to work for my man Friday;  and first of all, I gave him a pair of linen drawers, which I had out of the poor gunner’s chest I mentioned, and which I found in the wreck and which with a little alteration fitted him very well; then I made him a jerkin of goat’s skin … it is true, he went awkwardly in these things at first; wearing the drawers was very awkward to him … and using himself to them, at length he took to them very well  (152).

Crusoe also teaches Friday about England

I described to him the country of Europe, and particularly England, which I cam from; how we lived how we worshiped God, how we behaved to one another; and how we traded in ships to all parts of the world. I gave him an account of the wreck which I had been on board of, and showed him as near as I could the place where she lay; but she was all beaten to pieces before, and gone (163).

Friday does not seem to question Crusoe’s teaching, however Lucy does. The relationship between Crusoe and Friday seems to work but fails with Lucy and Mariah

                        Mariah spoke to me harshly all the time now, and she began to make up rules which she insisted I follow; and I did for after all, what else could she do It was a last resort  -- insisting that I be the servant and she the master. She used to insist that we be friends, but that had apparently not worked out very well (143).

Especially interesting was her question of how Jesus prepared the fish in the loaves and fishes stories. She even remarks that where she is from, this is an important question.

Also interesting seeing the curtains that would fit in her climate look vulgar in the one she is in.

Question:

Why one relationship work and the other does not? Is it because Friday was willing to give up his culture and Lucy cannot? What does that say about colonialism today and yesterday? How does this effect the third wave of colonialism, is such a thing possible? Do Friday and Lucy present the only options, either take on new culture or retain and be out of place and unhappy.

Ginger: Friday DOES question. “Why doesn’t God kill the devil?” Friday seem more willing to comply with change.  Lucy is conflicted but she came on purpose because she hated where she came from, never going to be happy.

Rosalyn: She is exerting her freedom. She is 19.

Dr. White: Friday is adapting to circumstances.

Rosalyn: Lucy has not options for her future because domestic is what her mother does only way to get way form it is to leave. It is the master/slave dichotomy. Anyone is going to look like a mother. Mariah feels guilty for getting personal servant. Crusoe felt no such guilt.

Jessica: He wished he had someone to serve him and regretted giving up Xury.

Kayla: Seems Mom – Seem God. Mom is creator, must get rid of to find self. It is a crisis of identity and culture a multi-crisis.

Dr. White: They are inseparable, she keeps running them together.

       -the relationship between her and Mariah.

Dr White: Mariah to create a bond by telling Lucy she was part Indian.

Rosalyn: If you are white you don’t care.  Native American friends how do the vanquiesor get to be the vanquished. Skin color comes down to what you see.

Dr. White: Doesn’t depend on skin color. Comes down to ownership, who owns who? Mariah is sympathetic; it is a game she can play.