Coetzee Vs. Defoe

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Mike Brautlacht Turkkan Modern World Literature 10 October 2011 Coetzee vs. Defoe Both of these passages from Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe and Foe by J.M. Coetzee were significant to the overall plot and story in each novel. While both books had similar stories with similar characters they were also different in many ways. Involved in both of these stories and the passages given are examples of individualism, civilization, oppression, authorship, gender and race. Individualism is defined in the dictionary as a social theory advocating the liberty, rights, or independent action of the individual. This is present in both Robinson Crusoe and Foe. Defoe made Robinson Crusoe very independent on himself because he was stuck on an island all by himself. He had to make a shelter, feed himself and protect himself all alone, until he discovered Friday. This is why the passage is important because after Crusoe saved Friday he didn’t have to rely on himself to survive anymore. Friday was able to work for Crusoe and help him by doing different jobs for Crusoe. Friday also kept Crusoe company so he didn’t go crazy. Throughout Foe by Coetzee, there several examples of individualism. Friday had to be independent because he could not communicate with anyone so he if he wanted something he had to do it for himself. Also Susan had to be independent because even though Friday was always with her she couldn’t talk to him or at least couldn’t have a conversation with him. This was hard for Susan because she could not get help from Friday to do anything because he could not understand her. The dictionary defines civilization as an advanced state of human society, in which a high level of culture, science, industry, and government has been reached. I don’t totally agree with that definition though because in Robinson Crusoe and Foe there examples of civilizations that are

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