[Victorian Web Home —> Visual arts —> Illustration —> Illustrating Robinson Crusoe —> Next]

Passage Illustrated from the Original Text

But now, when I began to be sick, and a leisurely view of the miseries of death came to place itself before me; when my spirits began to sink under the burden of a strong distemper, and nature was exhausted with the violence of the fever; conscience, that had slept so long, began to awake, and I began to reproach myself with my past life, in which I had so evidently, by uncommon wickedness, provoked the justice of God to lay me under uncommon strokes, and to deal with me in so vindictive a manner. These reflections oppressed me for the second or third day of my distemper; and in the violence, as well of the fever as of the dreadful reproaches of my conscience, extorted some words from me like praying to God, though I cannot say they were either a prayer attended with desires or with hopes: it was rather the voice of mere fright and distress. My thoughts were confused, the convictions great upon my mind, and the horror of dying in such a miserable condition raised vapours into my head with the mere apprehensions; and in these hurries of my soul I knew not what my tongue might express. But it was rather exclamation, such as, “Lord, what a miserable creature am I! If I should be sick, I shall certainly die for want of help; and what will become of me!” Then the tears burst out of my eyes, and I could say no more for a good while. In this interval the good advice of my father came to my mind, and presently his prediction, which I mentioned at the beginning of this story—viz. that if I did take this foolish step, God would not bless me, and I would have leisure hereafter to reflect upon having neglected his counsel when there might be none to assist in my recovery. “Now,” said I, aloud, “my dear father’s words are come to pass; God’s justice has overtaken me, and I have none to help or hear me. I rejected the voice of Providence, which had mercifully put me in a posture or station of life wherein I might have been happy and easy; but I would neither see it myself nor learn to know the blessing of it from my parents. I left them to mourn over my folly, and now I am left to mourn under the consequences of it. I abused their help and assistance, who would have lifted me in the world, and would have made everything easy to me; and now I have difficulties to struggle with, too great for even nature itself to support, and no assistance, no help, no comfort, no advice.” Then I cried out, “Lord, be my help, for I am in great distress.” This was the first prayer, if I may call it so, that I had made for many years. [Chapter VI, "Ill and Conscience-stricken"]

Facing Page of Text

. . . with remorse, he exclaimed "Oh! I have richly merited all I suffer!"

In vain did he endeavour to set his mind at ease and compose himself to rest; wherever he turned, the dreadful phantom was before him; on whatever object he endeavoured to fix his thoughts, they constantly returned to the errors of his life and his terrible dream. Not knowing what to do, in a transport of violent agitation, he seized a book which he had placed on a chair near his bed, for the purpose of raising his lamp; it proved to be a Bible; he opened it and with eager eyes glanced over several pages; but his attention was soon arrested by the following words, which seemed to have been placed there expressly for his consolation: — "Call upon me in the "day of trouble, and I will deliver thee, "and thou shalt glorify me." These words reminded Robinson Crusoe that the God whom he had offended was a merciful God; they relieved his affliction . . . . [Page 68]

Commentary

In his patient resolution and his maintaining a positive outlook in the face of isolation and adversity, the protagonist serves as a model of fortitude for British children in the nineteenth century, a model colonist and builder of empire. Unlike the biblical Job, depression never compels Crusoe as an English Puritan to question God's design. In this illustration, the protagonist's posture and activity exemplify his personal piety as he submits himself to the will of Providence and awaits whatever God has in store for him. Thus, the illustration fulfills the promise of the subtitle: "interspersed with reflections, religious and moral." The bible-reading scene, accompanied by ill-health (likely a tropical fever) in the illustrations of other editions, prepares the reader for the celebrated moment when Providence brings him the companionship he has so desired over a dozen years on the island.

Parallel Scenes by Stothard (1790), Cruikshank (1831), and Cassell's (1863-64)

Left: Stothard's 1790 realisation of Crusoe's patiently working at mechanical tasks during the rainy season, Robinson Crusoe at work in his cave (copper-engraving). Centre: Cruikshank's more dramatic interpretation of Crusoe's Bible-reading, "Jesus, . . . give me repentance" (wood-engraving). Right: A later interpretation dramatising Crusoe's struggling with his religious convictions and his suffering from a malarial-disease, Crusoe ill reading the Bible (1863). [Click on images to enlarge them.]

Many thanks for the assistance of the staff at Special Collections and University Archives, particularly John Frederick, Library Assistant, McPherson Library, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Reference

Defoe, Daniel. (adapted). The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe. A New and Improved Edition, interspersed with Reflections, Religious and Moral. Adorned with Engravings. London: J. Harris, St. Paul's Church Yard, 1818.

---

Victorian
Web

Daniel
Defoe

Illus-
tration

Illustrating
Cruose

Next

Last modified 15 February 2018