Customer Reviews

Friday

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Rewriting Robinson Crusoe? Tournier tells an entirely different story, although the outward details are mostly the same as in Defoe's novel. The interest has shifted to what's going on inside Crusoe. And instead of the self-confident Christian who steadily builds up a colony, Tournier shows us a man of radical twists and turns. At first he even seems to have given up completely, letting himself sink into the mud. However, when he pulls himself together and starts colonizing the island, that turns out to be just a stage in his development, too.

This is a very witty and original novel, with many things to enjoy for those who are familiar with Defoe's book. At long last we find out that Crusoe did have some kind of sexuality after all...

In this story, it is Friday who teaches, and Robinson who has everything to learn. The castaway's stay on a desert island turns into a journey of self-discovery and transformation. A mythical, poetic, and adventure-filled novel that will be hard to put down

I read this book for the first time many years ago. I loaned out my copy and never got it back. Bought another (finding it in a used book store) - same thing happened. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. Etc. Descriptions of life on the island are lyrical. Process Robinson goes through is amazing. Resolution with Friday only possible ending. Beautifully written. One of my most favorite books ever.

Tournier uses his novel Friday to show a transition from environmental justification to one of self-justification. Tournier uses both Friday and Robinson to develop and contrast themes of environmental versus self-justification. It is obvious that the triumph of Friday's methods show Tournier's support of the self-justification model. Regardless of the conclusions drawn by the author the tools and mechanisms used to portray this conflict of life choices is effective. I do not believe that the conclusions are as important as the examination of the conflicting and mutually exclusive options. It should be noted that Tournier never uses the term environmental justification or self-justification.

These terms are my constructs and are used to more easily convey the concept entailed then otherwise would be possible. Tournier was more concerned with Colonialism but Colonialism and justification are tied closely together. Justification if merely the rational the individual uses in order to create and or react to the social constructs around him or her.

There are five stages in Tournier's examination of the two competing models of justification. The first stage is the period when Robinson is first on the island and he is lost and desolate. During this period Robinson is spiraling emotionally and has not direction or reason for any action of thought. The second stage is Robinson's discovery and usage of the environmental justification model. Robinson uses a set of strict rules to give himself justification. The third stage is the introduction of Friday and his self-justification model. In this stage Robinson and we are introduced to a person who subscribes to a diametrically opposed view of life then does Robinson. The fourth stage is the conflict of two ideas and Robinson's gradual migration to Friday's mode of thinking. This is begun with the catalyst of the explosion of Robinson's storage depot in the cave. The fifth and last stage is the reflection on the end result of the choices made on the island. Little is said or shown of this stage. We are merely shown Friday running off with the visiting sailors and Robinson's adoption and reaction of the ships boy Sunday.

The two models of justification clash in the persona of Robinson and Friday. Neither individual understands why the other does what he does. Robinson thinks that Friday is a savage who needs to be taught and reformed. Ironically Robinson's idea of reform is a form of servitude to him by Friday.

This novel shows us the benefits of self-justification versus environmental justification. I do not believe that the novel makes a definitive case for one method of thinking or the either. I do believe that the novel shows conclusively that the extremes of environmental justification are less desirable then the extremes of self-justification. This is true at least when a small number of individuals are involved. The novel does not address, nor is it capable of addressing, the best mixture of the two modes of thought. A balance between the two is inevitable for successful coexistence but the answer does not lie in Tournier's Friday.

what will white man do on an island when he is alone?he would probably try to be the master of the island ,try to build a house ,try to create the western civilization again Tournier is brilliant when he aims to make you see what way the white man thinks

this is a very moving book, a adult view of the classic tale

This is the Robinson Crusoe story rewritten in the style of Jean Jacques Rousseau. The savage life is the hero, civilization the villain. The author does not seem to notice that he has Crusoe saving Friday from death at the hands of his own people (a change from Defoe's Crusoe), therefore proving that not everything was so paradisiacal in Friday's "free" life style.
When Crusoe tries to use agriculture to provide for his food, he is accused of "avarice" by the author. How much better to do it Friday's way, just lying on a hammock under a tree and getting fruit by throwing stones to the branches! No work to get food, just living with nature. As though this method of providing for our needs could be used by all but a few privileged! If this were done by everyone, millions would starve. It is the typical ecologist mistake, wanting to get back to a mythical past that never happened except in their imaginations.
Defoe's original Robinson Crusoe was much better than this unnecessary remake.