Robinson Crusoe Man and the Natural World Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Page Number). We used the 2008 Oxford World Classics edition.

Quote #4

At the end of this March I came to an Opening, where the Country seem'd to descend to the West, and a little Spring of fresh Water which issued out of the Side of the Hill by me, run the other Way, that is due East; and the Country appear'd so fresh, so green, so flourishing, every thing being in a constant Verdure, or Flourish of Spring, that it looked like a planted Garden. (85)

Here, the lush island serves as a metaphor for the Biblical Garden of Eden.

Quote #5

Accordingly I dug up a Piece of Ground as well as I could with my wooden Spade, and diving it into two Parts, I sow'd my Grain; but as I was sowing, it casually occur'd to my Thoughts, That I would not sow it all at first, because I did not know when was the proper Time for it; so I sow'd about two Thirds of the Seed, leaving about a Handful of each. (88)

Crusoe's goal is to cultivate the land so it will yield crops for his survival. Again, the natural world is something to be developed and tended by humans.

Quote #6

I descended a little on the Side of that delicious Vale, surveying it with a secret Kind of Pleasure, (tho' mixt with my other afflicting Thoughts) to think that this was all my own, that I was King and Lord of all this Country indefeasibly, and had a Right of Possession; and if I could convey it, I might have it in Inheritance, as completely as any Lord of a Mannor in England. (85)

Though he's a (rather vulnerable, we'd say) castaway, Crusoe still sees himself as lord and proprietor of the island.