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Robinson Crusoe
Part Two
Tilretteleggelse/illustrasjoner:
Øyvind Olsholt/Clipart.com
Filosofiske spørsmål:
Øyvind Olsholt
Sist oppdatert: 20. januar 2004
Loneliness
Thus years and years passed away. Although I had, to some extent,
become contented
with my solitary
lot, yet at times a terrible sense
of loneliness and desolation would come over me. Many times
I would go to the top of a hill where I could look out to sea in
hopes of catching sight of a ship. Then I would fancy that, at a
vast distance, I spied
a sail. I would please myself with the hopes of it, and after looking
at it steadily, till I was almost blind, would lose it quite, and
sit down and weep like a child, and thus increase my misery
by my folly.
A footprint
But
one day I saw a sight which turned my thoughts in a new channel.
It was the print of a naked foot upon the sand near the shore. It
filled me with fear, for it showed that the island must sometimes
be visited by savages.
Robinson interrupts the cannibal feast
One
morning, going out quite early, I could see the light of a fire
about two miles away. I went to the top of the hill and looked in
the direction of the fire. I saw that five canoes were drawn up
on the shore, while a swarm
of naked savages were dancing about the fire. Presently they dragged
two poor wretches
from the boats. One of them was knocked down at once, and several
of the savages set to work to cut him up. They were evidently cannibals,
and were going to hold one of their horrible feasts on their captives.
The other captive was left standing for a moment, and seeing a
chance to escape,
started to run. I was greatly alarmed when I saw that he was coming
directly towards me, but when I saw that only two pursued
him, and that he gained
upon them, I made up my mind to help him. When they were near
enough, I took a short cut down the hill, and placed myself between
pursuers and pursued. Then I advanced
on the foremost, and knocked him down with the stock of my gun.
The other took his bow and was going to shoot me, when I fired at
him and killed him.
Then
I made signs to the poor runaway
to come to me, and he did so in fear
and trembling, kneeling at my feet and setting my foot upon
his head, as a sign that he was my slave.
Friday
I had now a companion, and in a short time I began to teach him
to speak to me. First I let him know that his name was to be Friday,
for that was the day I saved his life. Then I taught him everything
that I thought would make him useful, handy, and helpful. I clothed
him in a suit
made of goatskins, and he seemed to be greatly pleased to be dressed
like myself.
A ship in sight
After some time had passed over, Friday came running to me one
morning to say that there was a ship in sight. Welcome as this news
was, I thought I would not show myself until I could learn what
had brought the ship there, and it was well that I did not. I watched
in
concealment and saw a boat leave the ship and make
for the shore.
Eleven men landed, and I saw that three of them were bound as captives.
They were laid upon the ground while the rest dispersed
about the island. I approached
the captives and questioned them, and found they were English, that
one was the captain, and the others were the mate
and a passenger, and that there had been a mutiny
on the ship, and that the men, as a favour,
instead of killing them, were going to leave them on the island.
Robinson leaves the island
I offered to aid
them to recover
the ship, and going back to the castle, I brought guns and gave
them to them. When the men returned to the boat we shot two, who
the captain said were the leaders, and the rest, taken by surprise,
yielded
to us. The captain made them swear
that they would obey
him faithfully, and then returned to the ship. Those on board
were equally surprised at the turn affairs had taken, and when one
of the worst was killed, were glad to return to their duty.
Then the captain came back to the island, and told me that the ship
and all that he had was at my service, in return for what I had
done for him. I told him that all I asked was a free passage
for Friday and myself back to England. To this he gladly
assented. He provided me with clothing from his own wardrobe,
and after I had arranged all my affairs, Friday and I went aboard.
Thus, I left the island, twenty-eight years, two months, and nineteen
days after I had landed upon it.
The death of Friday
Three days after we set sail, we saw a great fleet
of small boats, full of savages, come paddling towards us as if
to attack us. I told Friday to go on deck and speak to them in his
own language; but he had no sooner spoken than they let fly a cloud
of arrows at him, three of which hit him, and the poor fellow
fell dead. In a rage,
I ordered the ship's guns to be fired into the fleet. Half of the
canoes were destroyed, while the rest scoured
away so fast that in a short time none of them could be seen.
Poor honest Friday we buried
in the sea, with all the honour
possible. So ended the life of the most grateful,
faithful,
and affectionate
servant that ever man had.
Final words
And now there is little more to tell. I arrived safely in England,
glad to be back in my old home once more, and desiring nothing but
to spend the rest of my days in peace
and quietness.
Suggested topics for philosophical discussion
- Robinson discovers the savages as they are about to kill and
eat two prisoners. One of them is killed immediately, but the
other one (Friday) tries to escape and succeeds because Robinson
shoots one of his pursuers.
Did Robinson do the right thing in saving Friday this way? Is
he entitled to interfere with (har han rett til å gripe
inn i) the age-old rituals of the savages? If so, what gives
him such a right?
If someone were to say that it is forbidden to kill animals,
what would you answer? For the sake of the argument, let's agree
that it is forbidden. Have you then got a right to kill animals
who kill other animals?
- After Robinson had freed the captain of the ship, the captain
made the rebels swear (sverge) that they would obey him. But
how could he trust them this time? Do you think he let them
walk freely about on the ship or do you think he locked them
up until they arrived safely in England? Do you trust people
when they swear not to do something? Is it impossible to go
back on an oath? Why, why not?
- When Robinson is back in England, he wants nothing but "peace
and quietness". Isn't that a bit strange considering that
he had been twenty-eight years alone (with Friday) on an isolated
island? Why would he want even more peace and quietness when
he came back to the pulsating English civilisation? Because
he missed the quietness of the island perhaps?
Do you want peace and quietness sometimes? When is that? When
do you not want peace and quietness? Would you like to live
your whole life peacefully and quietly? Why, why not?
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