On and island of my own: Robinson Crusoe book review and personal reflection

Creature of the uninhabited 

As a creature of habit, I tend to have periodic obsessions with very specific things. It could be a menu item, a workout, a TV series, a show, an artist, a gallery, a philosophy, or even a scent—As long as it deeply interests me, I’m hooked.

During one of my obsessive periods, I would frequent a used bookstore and look for classic literature twice a week. At the time, I was trying to find a book called “Nostromo” but no matter how many hours I spent digging in that store, I never found it. (I have the book now but I  purchased it from Amazon.)

On my second week of searching for Nostromo, I gave up and decided to browse the bookstore for something else. As I grazed the aisles, a tiny blue book with pages yellow from age caught my eye. I gently pulled it from between two larger books and looked at the cover. A man in a brown parka who looked eerily similar to a hybrid of caveman SpongeBob and Tom Hanks in “Castaway”, sat beneath the words “Robinson Crusoe”.

I’d heard of Robinson Crusoe but I had never read the novel. So, I decided to give it a shot, not knowing the impact this book would have on my life and worldview. 

Setting sail: Escaping small town “misery”

That night, I rushed home, layed in my bed, cracked open the book, and started reading.

 “I would be satisfied with nothing but going to sea; and my inclination to this led me so strongly against the will, nay, the commands of my father, and against all the entreaties and persuasions of my mother and other friends…”

Robinson’s decision to set sail was deeply opposed by his family and friends who saw the trip as a suicide mission. But, Robison’s stubbornness made him push ahead with his plans. Young Robinson wanted nothing more than to see the world, and no one was going to stand in his way.

Personal anecdote:

Like Robinson, after graduating from college during the pandemic, I dreaded the idea of staying back in my hometown. I grew up in a small, conservative, and deeply religious Texas town; so like the rebellious hippie child I am, I formulated a plan of escape. 

Now, this escape plan started out as attending dental school, but since I hardly studied for the DAT and in turn did not pass it, I decided to take a new course of action. 

Get a master's in health technology and live in a metropolitan city while studying. 

Like Robinson, I was off to a major city, by myself, with nothing but savings and my parents' grace to pull me through. 

A rocky first voyage

As Robinson’s luck has it, his initial voyage ends in a shipwreck. Robinson and his crew members barely escape with their lives, and the ship is obliterated. But did this stop Robinson?

Absolutely not.

He saw his survival as a divine message from God, telling him to take a second voyage. So, he sets sail again, only this time his entire crew and ship capsize, leaving him the sole survivor on an uninhabited island.

Personal anecdote 

I fixated on two different locations for my master’s program. The first program in Dallas, had a curriculum perfectly aligned with my interests; but the second program in Houston matched my bachelor’s degree. 

I applied for both and waited. After a couple of weeks, I didn’t hear back from the first program, so I  decided to go with the second one. I signed a lease, confirmed my enrollment, and applied for financial aid. 

A week after signing my lease and preparing for my move to Houston, I heard back from the first program. In the email, the advisor asked me why I never confirmed my admission. Confused, I relentlessly searched through my spam and trash folders to see if their email was hiding in the rubble. After an hour of searching, I responded, “I never received an email”.

 The advisor checked and sure enough, the program forgot to send me a confirmation email. At that point, it was too late, and like Robinson, I took it as a “sign” that I should move to Houston.

Trapped on an island of my own

Robinson finds himself shipwrecked on a private island completely alone. He spends the first couple weeks learning survival skills like hunting, farming, pottery, and fortress building. These activities keep him busy for a while, but the weight of being alone on the island without any help in sight weighs on him psychologically and emotionally. 

Robinson experiences bouts of paranoia, lamenting, guilt, and self-flagellation as he spends his days alone. 

Personal anecdote:

I moved to Houston a couple of months after the pandemic started, so I took a lot of my classes remotely and spent the majority of my day alone. I would sit in my room, take a zoom class, then go for a walk by myself. 

This isolation was fine for the first 2 weeks, but after not having a conversation with another person in real life, I began to lose my hold on reality. There were moments when I thought of canceling my lease, but I didn’t want to pay the penalty. My savings were dwindling and my parents were tired of sending me money constantly to cover the random parking tickets, apartment fees, and toll bills. 

I tried my best to look for work, but could only find part-time gig-like work that was dependent on whether my employer had “enough business for the day” to allow me to work. I was tired of the uncertainty and became extremely anxious and depressed. 

After 3 months I felt like I had made a massive mistake and bit off way more than I could chew. During this period, I spent a lot of time writing and reflecting on my feelings in a little journal and beating myself up for the mistake I made.

Longing for home

Robinson feels the largest amount of his guilt sway towards his family. He thinks of never seeing them again after spending years on the island and deeply regrets not listening to their advice and warnings. 

He thinks about what his parents thought of his decisions and laments the possibility of never seeing them again. The loneliness and pain Robinson suffers are only placated by his time spent rearranging his personal philosophy and building two manors, 25 years before encountering Friday, his first companion.

Personal anecdote:

During my stay in Houston, I longed to spend time with my family and regretted taking them for granted before I left. My greatest regret was not seeing my father before leaving. 

After three months alone, I decided to take my final exam early so I could go home for the holidays and spend time with my family. The day after I arrived, I received news that my father had just died from COVID. 

In an instant, my world shattered, and everything came crumbling down. I stopped all my classes, quit the remote job I worked so hard to get, and moved back home where I stayed for three years.

Getting off the island

In the novel, Robinson tries all sorts of modalities to escape the island and even devises a plan of escape after a crew of seamen lands on his shores. After rescuing the captain and his crew from “pirates”, he takes over the ship and is brought back home to England with Friday and a crew of men at his side.

The irony of this tale is, that after 28 years on the island, he is a completely different person, and can no longer relate to the people around him. His worldview, religion, and mindset are vastly different from the average English man, which pushes him into a new form of isolation. 

The social isolation makes Robinson crave his days in solitude on the island that once felt like a prison.

Personal anecdote:

After coming home, I was unemployed for nearly two years. I worked some odd jobs here and there, but nothing longer than two months. I was depressed and desperate to be a part of the working world and to make money. After 2 years of unemployment and grief, I finally landed my first full-time job, but I felt oddly out of place. 

I never truly felt like I belonged where I was and found myself craving isolation because of the comfort that came with it. I learned that I was an introvert in the truest sense of the word, and felt the most at peace in my own company. I realized I didn’t like letting people into the sacred world and safe space I had built for myself. 

Like Robinson, I craved the island.

Why Robinson Crusoe

This book doesn’t have a complex plot, diverse characters, or poetic writing. Its beauty comes from its simplicity, straightforward approach, and  Robinson’s personal metamorphosis. This book made me realize, that when things happen outside of us, sometimes it can truly be a catalyst for self-actualization. 

Personal anecdote:

Through isolation, I found my true passion. I created Kenny’s Raspberry Cloud, began writing, started making videos, and even started my own business. Through my time alone, I decided what I wanted out of life and fought like hell to give myself the life I always wanted.

Though I have some ways to go (I still work a 9-5), I feel like a beautiful, big, and bright future lies ahead.

Aside:

During this period, I obsessively listened to “Charmander” by Amine. This song is a little risqué, but I listened to it RELENTLESSLY during my morning walks.