Daniel Defoe was an English writer, journalist and pamphleteer who was born in c. 1659. He died on April 24, 1731. He authored more than 500 books, pamphlets and journals on various topics.
“Robinson Crusoe”
– society has to believe that the individual is important
– enough variety in the society to write about
– new trades -> industrialization
His works shows the rise of:
– individualism
– modern capitalism
– Calvinism
– the puritan individualism
– Crusoe develops absolute individualism
– The importance of solitude
“Moll Flanders”
– modern individualism
– ruthless individualistic person
Style
– writes a confessional kind of novel
– his plots are weak
– ‘The Plain English Society’
– Defoe is a journalist -> writes simply
– ‘a patchwork of brilliant episodes’
– ‘he flanks the orderliness of literature’
