Robinson Crusoe’s legacy of colonial hierarchy still thriving 300 years on
Not just a fictitious account of a shipwrecked man, this contender for first English novel has served as a template of modern master-slave relations in the world’s economies to date
On April 25 Robinson Crusoe would have been 300 years old. Had he lived, of course, rather than being a literary character created by Daniel Defoe. Most people in the English-speaking world have known Crusoe from childhood. Only the Bible has been translated more than this story of the bearded castaway making the best of things on a desert island. Less appreciated is that Crusoe has played a major symbolic role in economies from the global to the local. His story set up the myth of the entrepreneurial self-made man, which in turn engendered the countless rip-offs and derivatives called Robinsonades, all centred on economic thrift and technological ingenuity. It is a central concept in the British colonialist and eventually imperialist project, in all its purported glory and undeniable devastation. The irony is supreme, as April 25 might have turned out to be close to Brexit, when Britain would retreat to its island, there to fend for itself against the barbarians intent on breachin...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.