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The book tells the story of a young man who, despite his father's warnings, sets out to sea and faces numerous challenges and dangers. He is shipwrecked and stranded on a deserted island, where he must rely on his wits and resourcefulness to survive. The narrator spends 28 years on the island, during which time he builds a shelter, finds food and fresh water, and tames wild animals. He also undergoes a significant transformation, becoming more humble, grateful, and faithful. The arrival of a savage, Friday, who becomes his servant and companion, marks a turning point in the narrator's life. Together, they work to improve their lives on the island and eventually devise a plan to escape. The narrator is finally rescued and returns to England, where he is welcomed back and discovers that he has become a wealthy man. The book is a classic tale of survival, self-discovery, and redemption, exploring themes of solitude, faith, and the human condition. Through the narrator's journey, the book shows how adversity can lead to personal growth and transformation, and how the power of faith and determination can help overcome even the most daunting challenges.
The narrator recounts his early life, born in 1632 in York to a family of moderate means. His father, a wise and experienced man, advises him against pursuing a life at sea, warning of the dangers and hardships that come with it. Despite his father's counsel, the narrator is determined to go to sea and eventually runs away from home to do so. He faces numerous challenges and dangers on his first voyage, including a terrifying storm that puts the ship in peril. The narrator is forced to confront the consequences of his decisions and the reality of his situation, but ultimately decides to continue on his path, ignoring the warnings and advice of those around him. As he navigates the aftermath of the storm and the loss of his ship, the narrator is met with words of caution and warning from the ship's master, who tells him that he should never go to sea again. However, the narrator remains resolute in his decision, driven by a sense of obstinacy and a desire for adventure, despite the risks and uncertainties that lie ahead.
The narrator's voyage to Africa ends in disaster when his ship is captured by a Turkish rover, and he is taken as a slave. He is kept by the captain of the rover as his personal prize and made to do various tasks. After about two years, the narrator sees an opportunity to escape when his master takes him and a young boy, Xury, on a fishing trip. The narrator overpowers the Moor who is with them and sets off to sea with Xury. They sail down the coast, facing numerous dangers, including wild beasts and the risk of being captured by savages. Along the way, they catch fish and find fresh water, and Xury even kills a large creature, possibly a lion. The narrator and Xury continue on their journey, hoping to find a safe haven and possibly encounter English trading vessels that can rescue them.
The narrator's journey continues as he sails with a Portuguese ship to the Brazils, where he becomes a successful plantation owner. However, he becomes restless and decides to embark on a new voyage to Guinea to trade for slaves, despite having a thriving plantation and a good life. The ship encounters a violent storm, and the narrator is swept away and washed up on the shore of a deserted island. He survives the ordeal but is left with nothing but a knife, a tobacco pipe, and a little tobacco. With no food, water, or shelter, he is forced to confront the harsh reality of his situation and must rely on his wits to survive. The narrator's thoughts turn to his past mistakes and the foolish decisions that led him to this point, and he begins to realize the gravity of his situation. As night falls, he finds a tree to shelter in and tries to rest, but his mind is filled with worries about his future and the dangers that lurk on the island.
The narrator, stranded on a deserted island, begins to settle into his new life. He starts by exploring the island, searching for food and fresh water, and establishing a habitable area. He uses materials from the shipwreck to construct a tent and a fence, creating a secure enclosure to store his provisions and protect himself from potential dangers. As he works, he reflects on his situation, considering both the positive and negative aspects of his isolation. He keeps a journal, initially recording his daily struggles and emotions, but eventually using it to track his progress and note his accomplishments. The narrator also starts to think about the long-term, considering how he will survive on the island and what he can do to make his life more comfortable. He begins to create tools and furniture, such as a chair and a table, using the resources available to him. Despite the challenges he faces, the narrator starts to find a sense of purpose and comfort in his new surroundings, and he begins to see the island as a place where he can survive and even thrive.
The narrator continues to work on building a safe and secure home on the island, using materials from the shipwreck to construct a fence and a fortification. He also starts to keep a journal to track his progress and note his accomplishments. As he works, he faces numerous challenges, including the loss of his tools and the difficulty of making new ones. Despite these setbacks, he perseveres and eventually completes his wall, which provides him with a sense of security and comfort. However, his peace is short-lived, as he experiences a terrifying earthquake that forces him to reconsider his living situation. The earthquake is followed by a violent hurricane, which further complicates his life on the island. The narrator must now think about building a new hut in a safer location, surrounded by a wall to protect him from wild beasts and potential enemies. He begins to make plans for this new project, but it will require careful consideration and hard work to bring it to fruition.
The narrator's health begins to decline, and he becomes ill with a violent fever, experiencing intense pain and frightening dreams. As he struggles with his illness, he starts to reflect on his past life and the mistakes he has made, realizing that he has been given a second chance. He begins to pray and read the Bible, seeking comfort and guidance. With the help of tobacco and rum, he manages to recover from his illness, and his thoughts turn to his spiritual well-being. He becomes more serious about his faith, praying and reading the Scripture regularly, and starts to see his situation in a different light. He comes to understand that deliverance from sin is a greater blessing than deliverance from his physical circumstances, and his condition becomes more bearable as he finds comfort in his faith. As he regains his strength, he resumes his daily activities, exploring the island and working on his shelter, but now with a newfound sense of purpose and appreciation for his life.
The narrator has been on the island for over ten months and has secured his habitation. He decides to explore the island and discovers a brook, savannahs, and various plants, including tobacco, grapes, and citrus trees. He finds a way to dry and preserve the grapes, which become a valuable source of food for him. As he continues to explore, he discovers more of the island's resources, including a valley with a spring and a variety of fruit trees. He builds a bower in the valley and surrounds it with a fence, but eventually decides not to move his habitation there, preferring to stay by the seaside where he may have a chance of being rescued. The narrator experiences a rainy season, during which he is confined to his cave, and he uses this time to work on his journal and to experiment with planting seeds. He learns to divide the year into rainy and dry seasons and takes steps to prepare for these seasons. He also finds a way to make baskets using the twigs of a tree and employs himself in making wicker-ware. Additionally, he works on solving the problem of having no vessels to hold liquids and no pot to boil food, and he eventually finds a contrivance for smoking tobacco.
The narrator sets out to explore the other side of the island, taking his gun, hatchet, and dog with him. He travels across the island, discovering new landscapes and wildlife, including parrots, hares, and goats. Along the way, he catches a young parrot and a kid, which he decides to tame and keep as companions. As he explores, he reflects on his situation and the providence of God, feeling a sense of gratitude and contentment with his solitary life. He returns home after a month, feeling refreshed and renewed, and begins to focus on his daily routines, including reading the Bible, hunting, and working on his shelter. He also starts to think about his crop of barley and rice, which is in danger of being eaten by wild animals and birds. He builds a hedge to protect it and uses scarecrows to keep the birds away, eventually reaping a successful harvest. However, he faces new challenges in processing and baking his grain, and must use his ingenuity and patience to overcome them. Despite the difficulties, he feels a sense of accomplishment and gratitude for the comforts and advantages of his island life.
The narrator continues to thrive on the deserted island, finding ways to make his life more comfortable. He spends his time farming, hunting, and crafting tools, including a spade, earthen vessels, and a stone mortar. He also reflects on his past life and the mistakes he made, feeling a sense of gratitude for the providence of God. The narrator becomes determined to build a boat to explore the surrounding waters and potentially escape the island. Despite the challenges and setbacks he faces, he perseveres and eventually builds a large canoe. However, he soon realizes that he cannot launch it into the water due to its size and weight. The narrator is forced to abandon his plan and instead focuses on making the most of his life on the island. He creates new clothes from animal skins, makes an umbrella, and continues to live a comfortable and peaceful life, resigned to the will of God and trusting in His providence.
The narrator continues to live on the island, and after a series of events, including a perilous boat journey, he decides to give up on attempting to escape by sea. He then focuses on improving his life on the island, learning new skills such as making earthenware and wicker-ware, and finding ways to make his daily life more comfortable. As his ammunition runs low, he sets out to catch goats to breed and provide a sustainable source of food. He successfully traps several goats and begins to tame them, eventually creating a flock of over forty goats. With his new source of food and milk, the narrator is able to set up a dairy and make butter and cheese, and he reflects on the mercies of his Creator in providing for him even in the midst of difficulties.
The narrator is living a comfortable life on the island, with a routine that includes farming, hunting, and crafting tools. One day, while out on a journey, he discovers a print of a man's naked foot on the shore, which fills him with terror and confusion. He is unable to explain how the footprint got there and becomes convinced that the island may be inhabited by savages. The narrator's fear leads him to question his own sanity and he begins to doubt his previous confidence in God's providence. He starts to take measures to secure his home and possessions, including building a second fortification and planting stakes around his wall. As he works on his defenses, he reflects on the unpredictability of life and the way that fear can overwhelm reason. Despite his fears, the narrator eventually begins to feel more secure and starts to think more clearly about his situation, considering the possibility that the footprint may have been his own or that the island may be visited by casual travelers rather than established inhabitants.
The narrator continues to live on the island, and after discovering the print of a man's foot, he becomes increasingly concerned about his safety. He decides to secure his goats in a separate enclosure to protect them from potential harm. While exploring the island, he discovers a cave, which he believes will provide a safe retreat in case of an attack. He begins to move his essential items, including his ammunition and spare arms, to the cave. The narrator also reflects on his previous desire for revenge against the savages and realizes that it was misguided. He comes to understand that he has no right to judge or punish them and that his priority should be to protect himself and his property. As he settles into his new routine, the narrator becomes more cautious and vigilant, always carrying his gun and pistols with him. He also discovers a natural cave, which he believes will be a secure hiding place, and begins to use it as a retreat. The narrator's experiences and reflections lead him to appreciate the importance of gratitude, humility, and trust in Providence.
The narrator has been living on the deserted island for 23 years and has grown accustomed to his solitary life. However, his peace is disrupted when he sees a ship in distress and hears gunshots, indicating that the ship is sinking. The narrator is filled with a mix of emotions, including pity for the sailors and a desire for human companionship. He decides to venture out to the wrecked ship to see if he can find any survivors or useful supplies. After overcoming his initial fears and navigating the currents, he reaches the ship and finds a dog, some chests, and other goods, but no survivors. He takes the dog and some of the supplies, including money, clothes, and tools, and returns to the island. The narrator reflects on the irony that the ship's wreck, which was a disaster for the sailors, has provided him with some useful items, but he also realizes that the money is of little use to him on the island. Despite this, he is grateful for the supplies and the companionship of the dog, which has brought some comfort to his solitary life.
The narrator has been living on the island for many years and has grown accustomed to his solitary life. However, he still longs for human companionship and devises a plan to escape the island by obtaining a savage as a servant or companion. After waiting for over a year, he finally sees an opportunity when he observes a group of savages on the shore, and one of them escapes and runs towards the narrator's habitation. The narrator intervenes, killing two of the pursuers, and saves the life of the escaping savage, who becomes his servant and companion. He names the savage Friday and teaches him to speak and understand English. Friday proves to be a faithful and loving servant, and the narrator is delighted with his new companion. The narrator reflects on the nature of humanity and the similarities between Friday's people and his own, and he begins to teach Friday everything he needs to know to be useful and helpful. The narrator's life becomes easier and more pleasant with Friday by his side, and he starts to feel a sense of contentment and happiness on the island.
The narrator continues to educate and civilize Friday, teaching him about Christianity and the concept of a single, all-powerful God. Friday proves to be a quick learner and soon becomes a devout Christian, showing a deep understanding of the faith. The narrator also begins to teach Friday about his own history and the world beyond the island, including the concept of gunpowder and the existence of other countries. As their relationship deepens, the narrator starts to consider the possibility of escape from the island, and Friday reveals that he has knowledge of a group of white men who are living with his people on the mainland. This sparks the narrator's interest in potentially joining forces with these men to escape the island. The narrator and Friday start making plans to build a boat to travel to the mainland, with Friday expressing his desire to return to his people and spread the teachings of Christianity. Despite initial reservations, the narrator becomes more confident in Friday's loyalty and begins to see the potential benefits of working together to achieve their goals.
The narrator and Friday prepare to defend themselves against a group of savages who have arrived on the island, intending to feast on three prisoners. The narrator and Friday attack the savages, killing and wounding many of them, and rescue two prisoners, a Spaniard and Friday's father. The narrator and Friday then care for the rescued prisoners, providing them with food, water, and shelter. As the narrator reflects on the events, he realizes that he has become a kind of king on the island, with Friday, his father, and the Spaniard as his subjects, each representing a different religion. The narrator allows for liberty of conscience and works to provide for the needs of his new subjects, while also taking steps to secure their safety and defend against potential future attacks from the savages.
The narrator is preparing for the potential arrival of the Spaniards he had sent for, but instead, he sees an English ship approaching the island. He is cautious and observes the ship's crew, who appear to be mutineers, and sees them set three men on shore as prisoners. The narrator decides to reveal himself to the prisoners, who are the ship's captain and two others, and they explain their situation. The captain and his men are grateful for the narrator's help and agree to follow his orders. Together, they devise a plan to defeat the mutineers, and after a confrontation, they are able to overpower them. The narrator and the captain then discuss their circumstances, and the captain is amazed by the narrator's story and the provisions he has accumulated on the island. They begin to plan how to recover the ship, but the captain is uncertain about the best course of action, given the large number of mutineers on board. The narrator suggests staving the boat that the mutineers had used to come ashore, to prevent them from escaping or returning to the ship, and they set about doing so.
The narrator and the captain devise a plan to seize the ship from the mutineers. They use a stratagem to lure the mutineers away from their boat and then attack them, killing the boatswain and wounding another. The rest of the mutineers surrender and are taken prisoner. The captain and his men then set out to take the ship, using the element of surprise to overpower the remaining mutineers. The ship is secured, and the narrator is finally able to leave the island after 28 years. The captain brings the narrator gifts, including food, clothes, and other supplies, and the narrator is overjoyed to be rescued. The narrator then decides to leave the two most incorrigible mutineers on the island, giving them firearms, ammunition, and directions on how to survive. The narrator stays on the island one more night to prepare his things and then sets sail on the ship, finally escaping the island after so many years.
The narrator sets sail on the ship that rescued him from the island, taking with him his parrot, goat-skin cap, and umbrella as relics. After a long voyage, he arrives in England, where he is met with surprise and curiosity. He is given a handsome compliment and a present of almost £200 sterling by the owners of the ship he had saved. The narrator then travels to Lisbon, where he meets an old captain who had previously helped him. The captain informs him about the state of his plantation in the Brazils and the amount of money he is owed. The narrator is overjoyed to discover that he has become a wealthy man, with an estate in the Brazils worth over a thousand pounds a year. He decides to settle his affairs and travel to England, where he can secure his wealth and make plans for the future. Along the way, he faces challenges, including a treacherous journey through the Pyrenees, where he and his companions encounter snow, wolves, and other dangers. Despite these obstacles, the narrator perseveres and eventually arrives in England, where he can finally enjoy the fruits of his labor and reflect on the many adventures he has experienced.
The narrator and his companions, including Friday, are traveling through a forest in the Pyrenees when they encounter a massive bear. Friday, feeling confident, decides to engage the bear in a fight, using his wits and cunning to outmaneuver the beast. The bear is eventually killed, but not before Friday puts on a show, dancing and teasing the bear, causing the narrator and the others to laugh. After the bear's death, the group continues on their journey, but soon finds themselves surrounded by a pack of over 300 wolves. The narrator and his companions use a combination of gunfire and a clever stratagem involving a train of powder to fend off the wolves, ultimately killing around 60 of them. The group eventually makes it to the town of Toulouse, where they find a warm and welcoming climate, and the narrator reflects on the dangers they faced and the lessons they learned about survival and perseverance. The narrator then settles his affairs, sells his plantation in the Brazils, and returns to England, where he marries, has children, and eventually sets out on a new voyage to the East Indies, visiting his old colony on the island and learning about the struggles and triumphs of the people he left behind.