Civility on a Desert Island: Crusoe and His Quest for Individuality

In his introduction to the novel Robinson Crusoe, John Richetti writes,

Crusoe lives in what philosophers of the time called the state of nature,which in his case has the advantages of teaching him about the superiority of simple use values and natural subsistence living over the artificial surplus production and consumer values of society but also many disadvantages… [namely] the lack of essential manufactured goods… So in spite of its virtuous simplicity, his island existence is no idyll, and its most troubling feature is its lack of civil order. (p. xxiv)

Richetti is entirely correct by saying that this island of despair is far from idyllic, however a number of dynamics come into play with Crusoe's deliverance from civilization. Although Crusoe is indeed in the ultimate state of nature, regardless of his man-made supplies, this desolation is not what teaches him 'simple use values.' In fact, if Crusoe relied on this perspective to survive, the journey of the novel would be nothing more than an ill-fated camping trip; if he was only 'roughing it' in this newfound territory, the story wouldn't pass chapter three, with Crusoe starving to death next to an unlit pile of wood.

Perhaps if Richetti had mentioned the civility that Crusoe carried onto the island, in both explicit and implicit forms-the items, especially tools, from the boat and his Puritan sense of Duty-then his viewpoint would be more accurate. Without these initial aids, Crusoe would never have developed. Crusoe, on the island, utilized his man-made tools for all they were worth and, although he never succumbed to 'artificial surplus production' or 'consumer values of society,' he really had no choice to do so in the first place. Even this is arguable itself because, after years of solitude, Crusoe still managed to make his setting quite comfortable and convenient. Aside from that, Crusoe manufactures goods. Of course he cannot sell them because money is valueless.
Yet the aforementioned Puritan sense of Duty is what proves to be most important to Crusoe in terms of transcending this 'state of nature.' Crusoe immediately recognizes his situation as a God-given post and gets to work. He subdues the land and focuses on barricading himself from unknown enemies and, although he's troubled by the 'lack of civil order,' he finds that his greatest enemy is himself. Crusoe, as an individual, is plunged into the existential dilemma: all is barren, and he alone must rationalize his faith in God.

However, Crusoe quickly overcomes this conflict. Not only is he armed with his religion, but he's actually brought a bible onto the island with him. Therefore, island life is not the sole catalyst in Crusoe's progression; Crusoe, as a deeply religious character, already had the seeds of religion planted. He already knew of modest living, only he never was able to adopt the lifestyle in a consumer society.

Perhaps Defoe saw the island as somewhat of an idyllic escape for himself while he was writing through Crusoe. Defoe was deeply in debt 'thanks to serious losses of cargo at sea,' and probably would have preferred a meager life with God [on a desert island] to one plagued by creditors and consumerism (p. xi). Also, Crusoe's life was far beyond lonely but he never had to deal with politics or imprisonment, unlike Defoe's. Defoe considered becoming a clergyman but settled for business (p. x). Maybe Robinson Crusoe was an examination of Defoe's own preference for God over civilization.