What is the master-slave relationship in Robinson Crusoe?

Answer 1

The 'Master-Slave dialectic' as proposed by Hegel remains prominent throughout the novel. Slave trade and the concept of Master and slave is projected to have persisted prominently in Crusoe's time. The master-slave relation in the novel, first of all is displayed when Robinson Crusoe is taken captive by the Moors and made a slave to a certain master. He however, manages to escape from there with a boy called Xury.

The kind of relationship the two of them have is the second place where master-slave dialectic is portrayed. Xury chooses to remain obedient to Crusoe even until he is sold to a certain pirate.

Later when he reaches Brazil and owns a plantation he decides to accompany the group to the Guinea Coast of Africa to deport the slaves from there. This is another instance which shows us the extent to which slave-trade has remained embedded in the culture of that time. Further, Crusoe remains ignorant of the vices of such trades although he projects himself to be religiously inclined.

The kind of relationship Crusoe shares with Man Friday is the most essential instance that depicts the Master-Slave relationship. Critics are of the view that Robinson Crusoe, in the island can be compared to the whole European Citizens and Man Friday, the whole African slaves. The novel is in fact, a microcosmic representation of the whole concept of Master-Slave culture that persisted during those times in Europe.