Let us remember that Robinson Crusoe has been left
shipwrecked on an island which he knows nothing about. Although he has scouted the
territory and does not see any sign of other humans or of dangerous wild beasts, he is
very unsure of his position, and, understandably, feels rather vulnerable as he is
alone, isolated and stranded. Therefore perhaps we can understand why he feels the need
to do everything he can to protect himself. Note what he says when he begins to think of
the kind of shelter he needs to build himself:
My thoughts were now wholly employed about
securing myself against either savages, if any should appear, or wild beasts, if any
were in the island; and I had many thoughts of the method how to do this, and what kind
of dwelling to make - whether I should make me a cave in the earth, or a tent upon the
earth; and, in short, I resolved upon both; the manner and description of which, it may
not be improper to give an account
of.
He is trying to protect
himself from unseen dangers as well as seen dangers, and therefore, because of this,
perhaps we can understand the lengths that he goes to in order to accomplish this. After
all, if we were in a similar situation when we face so much that is unknown, we would
want to take every measure to defend and protect ourselves from threats that are perhaps
unseen but nevertheless potential worries to us. The peace of mind that such defensive
fortifications would give us would be immeasurable in such a vulnerable
position.
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