Succinct Synopsis of Robinson Crusoe 1719

Succinct Synopsis [səˈnɒpsəs] of Robinson Crusoe

Robinson Crusoe is an adventurer of about eighteen years old. He lives in England. He has two brothers; one of whom was a lieutenant-colonel [lefˈtenənt ˈkɜːnl] who turned up his toes in the army. Although his father prepares him to take up law, Crusoe dreams of being a sailor disregarding his two brothers’ adversities. His father wisely cautions that a middle-class existence is the most stable. Robinson ignores him. When his parents refuse to grant him their consent and to let him take at least one journey, he runs away with a friend heading for London.

For Crusoe, misfortune lurks obstinately and ubiquitously ahead of him, behind him and with him; now in the form of a rough sea. The ship is forced to land at Yarmouth. When Crusoe's friend gets in the know, he becomes angry and tells him off. They turned to be at loggerheads with each other and consequently they part. This is his second isolation. Crusoe makes his way to London by land. He regurgitates briefly about going home, but cannot stand to be humiliated by his townspeople; proverbially Crusoe would cut off his nose to spite his face.

Sticking out his misery, Crusoe gets along to find another voyage heading for Guiana [ɡiˈɑːnə]. Once he gets there, right off the bat Crusoe wants to become a trader. On the way, the ship is attacked by Turkish pirates, who bring the crew and passengers into the Moorish port of Sallee. Robinson is ironically made a slave. For two years he plans to break loose or cut and run. An opportunity is presented to fly the coop when he is sent out with two Moorish youths to go fishing. Crusoe [ˈkruːsəʊ] throws one overboard, and tells the other one, called Xury [zjuːrɪ], that he may stay if he is faithful. Crusoe and his friend slipped away. They anchor on what appears to be uninhabited land. Soon they see that black people live there. These natives are very friendly to Crusoe and Xury. At one point, the two see a Portuguese ship in the distance. They manage to paddle after it and get the attention of those on board. The captain is kind and says he will take them aboard for free and bring them to Brazil.

Robinson goes to Brazil and leaves Xury with the captain. The captain and a widow in England are Crusoe's financial guardians. Now living in the new country reflecting on how wealthy he will become from plantations, Crusoe resolves to buy one for himself. By time, he has some partners, and they are all doing very well. Crusoe is made a new offer of business. These men want to trade slaves, and they want Robinson to be the master. A terrible shipwreck occurs and Robinson is the only survivor. He manages to make it to the shore of an eerie island.

Robinson remains on the island for about twenty-seven years or so. He is able to take many provisions from the ship. In that time, he partly restores his English life, building homes, necessities, learning how to cook, raising goats and crops. He is at first very miserable, but embraces religion as a balm for his unhappiness. He is able to convince himself that he lives a much better life here than he did in Europe. He comes to appreciate his sovereignty [ˈsɒvrənti] over the entire island. One time he tries to use a boat to explore the rest of the island, but he is almost swept away and bungles, and does not make the attempt again. He has pets. There is no appearance of man until about 15 years into his stay.

He accidently sees a human-like footprint, and later observes cannibalistic savages eating prisoners. They don't live on the island; they come in canoes from a mainland not too far away. Robinson is filled with outrage, and resolves to save the prisoners the next time these savages appear. Some years later they return. Using his guns, Crusoe scares them away and saves a young savage whom he later names Friday.

Friday is at first cautious and perplexed, but later he becomes extremely grateful and becomes Robinson's devoted servant. He learns some English and takes on the Christian religion. Then, another ship of savages arrives with three prisoners. Together Crusoe and Friday are able to save two of them. One is a Spaniard; the other is Friday's father. Their reunion is very joyous. Both have come from the mainland close by.

After a few months, they leave to bring back the rest of the Spaniard's men. Crusoe is happy that his island is being peopled. Before the Spaniard and Friday's father can return, a boat of European men comes ashore. There are three prisoners. While most of the men are exploring the island, Crusoe learns from one that he is the captain of a ship whose crew mutinied. Robinson says he will help them as long as they leave the authority of the island in his hands, and as long as they promise to take Friday and himself to England for free. The agreement is made. Together this little army manages to capture the rest of the crew and retake the captain's ship. Friday and Robinson are taken to England.

Even though Crusoe has been gone marooned thirty-five years, he finds that his plantations have done well and he is very well-off. He gives money to the Portuguese captain and the widow who were so kind to him. He returns to the English countryside and settles there, marrying and having three children. When his wife dies, he once more goes to the sea.

Mohammed Al Daqs
Independent Lecturer & Freelance Translator
British Council
University of Aleppo - Edleb Campus
English Department

مشكور اخ محمد على مشاركتك لطيبة ويا ريت تقرا ايميلي ببريدك الخاص

عفوا منك بس يا ريت تحزف الايميل الموضوع لاني ممنوع بقانون المنتدى وشكرا لتعاونك

I am so sorry. I have just told you that I have a smattering of how forums are processed and governed here in Syria but not elsewhere.
Thansk for tip.

ur welcome anytime sir