Alexander Wilson
Dr. Victoria Myers
GSHU III
10 November 2011
Crusoe’s Island as an Allegorical Expression of Locke’s
Theories on Property and Government
Two prolific writers captured what was pressing to the economic and political zeitgeist of 18th century England. John Locke’s ideas on property influenced readers like Thomas Jefferson who would be a prolific politician involved in the founding of the United States. Locke’s views on an individual’s right to property is discussed in his Second Treatise of Government. But what also are compelling to readers at the time were issues of independence in regards to morality. Reading Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe, issues like these are discussed in a story about a prodigal son who becomes
When Crusoe is cast on the island he has many resources that are available to him, but require his labor to make them useful. For Crusoe to own the property that is at his disposal, in a Lockian viewpoint, he must put his labor on them. Crusoe labors on the island for his survival, salvaging the shipwreck, and cultivating grain, grapes, and other goods. The shipwreck by default becomes his own property because it belongs to no one at that point, and his labor upon it makes it rightfully his own. To have meat, Crusoe domesticates goats, and designates a specific area for his farming. Crusoe is also self-sufficient, which through a Lockian lens, further justifies his ownership of property. Crusoe crafts various tools and builds his own fortresses. Crusoe works as much of the island as he can, but is unable to utilize the entire island because of its size. The fruits of Crusoe’s labor provide him with sustenance, and through a Lockian lens, this is a satisfactory employment of his strengths and virtues. An example of this is Crusoe’s hoarding of the gold left on the ship, which rightfully is his since it could claim no other owner. Crusoe proclaims when finding gold on the shipwreck: “’O drug!’ said I aloud, ‘what art thou good for? Thou art not worth to me, no, not the taking off of the ground; one of those knives is worth all this heap; I have no manner of use for thee; e’en remain where thou art and go to the bottom as a creature whose life is not