Themes

One of the common themes in the novel Robinson Crusoe is Fear;  Robinson Crusoe is forced to overcome fear throughout the many trials and troubles he must face in order to survive.  He must learn to be self sufficient and must try hard to remain sane.  He often faces fear of the unknown, which in turn helps him in exploring the island and becoming more self sufficient.  He turns fear into productivity and energy and overcomes  obstacles.  The book also teaches the theme of  Human Condition;  This was particularily hard for Crusoe because he had to remain sane and conscious for years being alone.  He faces many spiritual fits on his journey and has to overcome and repent of his sins.  He eventually triumphs over panic and fear and becomes productive.  Money is also another theme represented in Robinson Crusoe; among all the things that Crusoe possesses,  money was not always one of them.  His money while living on the island, lost it's value and became useless.  He sometimes talks in his journal about how futile money is and what drug it can be.  The book teaches us that money isn't everything and it isn't as important as your spiritual worth.  Industrialization is one of the remaining themes in Robinson Crusoe.  While on the island, Crusoe realizes how easy people have it, how easy it is to just be able to go to the store or market to buy things rather than make them yourself.  He slaves away building and baking and thinks about how people take all these necessities for granted.  He appreciates the help of tools and such that he is able to construct.  

Setting

The Novel, Robinson Crusoe takes place between 1651 and 1694.  Throughout the book, many places are described, some being; England: York, Hull, Yarmouth, London, Dover, Africa: Guinea and coastal regions to the south, South America:  Brazil and an island off northeast Venezuela, near the mouth of the Orinoco River, Continental Europe:  Lisbon, Portugal, Madrid and other Spanish cities, Toulouse, Paris, and Calais, France.