A dictator is someone that appoints themselves into a role of total power over a group of people. Dictators maintain their power by force through planting fear into the people that they have rule over. Dictators have a tendency to force their views on the people as well. In Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, Crusoe presents himself as a generous and beneficent governor of the island that he is stranded on, when in reality he exercises a dictatorship rule by using might rather than right.
Throughout the novel, Crusoe places himself in authority over anyone, both animal and person, that comes onto the island. The first instance of claiming authority over someone is before he is on the island, and this is when he sells Xury, his slave, to the Portuguese …show more content…
When Friday arrives on the island Crusoe believes that it is his duty to teach Friday about Christianity. Even though Friday had his own religious views that he learned from his own culture Crusoe believed that Christianity was superior and that Friday must change his views. Crusoe appointed himself to be Friday’s religious teacher and he made it his job to educate Friday on Christianity. “I was greatly delighted with him and made it my business to teach him everything that was proper and useful.” (Defoe 165) It may seem a little odd that Crusoe believed he had authority over Friday’s religion because Crusoe was new in his religion, but that did not prevent him from teaching Friday. Now, Crusoe may have been in a sense of enlightenment about religion, but this does not mean that he can force his religious views onto someone who already has a set of beliefs. At one point in the novel Friday and Crusoe discuss their views on cannibalism, and they realize that their views conflict. Friday suggests that they eat the bodies of the savages, but Crusoe strongly protests to this idea. It is evident that Crusoe believed his views were superior to Friday, and this resulted him in pressing his beliefs on Friday. If Crusoe was not a dictator, then he would not have had the authority to force Friday to learn about
Throughout the novel, Crusoe places himself in authority over anyone, both animal and person, that comes onto the island. The first instance of claiming authority over someone is before he is on the island, and this is when he sells Xury, his slave, to the Portuguese …show more content…
When Friday arrives on the island Crusoe believes that it is his duty to teach Friday about Christianity. Even though Friday had his own religious views that he learned from his own culture Crusoe believed that Christianity was superior and that Friday must change his views. Crusoe appointed himself to be Friday’s religious teacher and he made it his job to educate Friday on Christianity. “I was greatly delighted with him and made it my business to teach him everything that was proper and useful.” (Defoe 165) It may seem a little odd that Crusoe believed he had authority over Friday’s religion because Crusoe was new in his religion, but that did not prevent him from teaching Friday. Now, Crusoe may have been in a sense of enlightenment about religion, but this does not mean that he can force his religious views onto someone who already has a set of beliefs. At one point in the novel Friday and Crusoe discuss their views on cannibalism, and they realize that their views conflict. Friday suggests that they eat the bodies of the savages, but Crusoe strongly protests to this idea. It is evident that Crusoe believed his views were superior to Friday, and this resulted him in pressing his beliefs on Friday. If Crusoe was not a dictator, then he would not have had the authority to force Friday to learn about