Murasaki Shikibu , “The Tale of [Hikaru] Genji”, 1008 was the earliest novel in the World (Japanese) of writing. Similarly here I present: Daniel Defoe (1661-1731), “Robinson Crusoe”, 1719 which was the earliest novel in the English language.
Jonathan Swift (1667-1745), “Gulliver’s Travels”, 1726 was a parody, and the topic of an earlier blog post.
The protagonists “Robinson Crusoe” & “Lemuel Gulliver” characters are “sailors”; and, I will use “Gulliver’s Travels” to explain “Robinson Crusoe”. Jonathan Swift’s character Lemuel (“gullible”) Gulliver is humorous as the story a satire.
Satirical is “not” Robinson Crusoe as the protagonist sailor; and, Daniel Defoe has not written “jokes”. The problem of the character Robinson Crusoe is that he should “not take life seriously”. “Serious identity” is laughable to many readers of Robinson Crusoe the sailor. Robinson Crusoe as the “Master of Friday” (foil character) is laughable. Daniel Defoe’s story is identity of the foil character “Mister Friday” by reflection on the protagonist “Master Crusoe”.
In contrast, “kidnapping slaves” is Robinson Crusoe the protagonist sailor who becomes shipwreck. The 26 year shipwreck Robinson Crusoe is a moral-wreck. Robinson Crusoe has no morals, and has no humanity as a character. Lemuel Gulliver is gullible a character; however, he has moral value.
