'Foe' J M Coetzee

This blog is written as a task assigned by Megha ma'am, Department of English(MKBU).This blog will analyze the similarities and differences between the two works, highlighting how Coetzee’s 'Foe' serves as a critical response to Defoe’s novel.

Foe

'Foe' is a novel published in 1986 by J.M. Coetzee, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature. The story is based on the plot of 'Robinson Crusoe' but is told from the viewpoint of Susan Barton, a woman who washes up on the same island where "Cruso" and Friday are already having their adventures. Like 'Robinson Crusoe', it is a story within a story, narrated by Susan as she tries to persuade the writer Daniel Foe to turn her story into a popular book. The novel mainly explores themes of language and power. When it was released, it faced criticism in South Africa for being seen as politically unimportant. Coetzee also discussed 'Robinson Crusoe' during his Nobel Prize acceptance speech in 2003.

Robinson Crusoe

'Robinson Crusoe' is an adventure novel written by Daniel Defoe, first published on April 25, 1719. The book is a mix of different styles, including letters, confessions, and lessons. It tells the story of Robinson Crusoe (originally named Robinson Kreutznaer), who is shipwrecked and spends 28 years on a deserted tropical island near Venezuela and Trinidad. During his time there, he encounters cannibals, captives, and mutineers before being rescued. The story is believed to be inspired by the real-life experiences of Alexander Selkirk, a Scottish castaway who lived for four years on a Pacific island called "Más a Tierra," which was later renamed Robinson Crusoe Island in 1966. Another real-life castaway, Pedro Serrano, may have also influenced the novel.

Write a blog on comparative and critical analysis of Daniel Defoe’s ‘Robinson Crusoe’ and J. M. Coetzee’s ‘Foe’.

Both Daniel Defoe’s 'Robinson Crusoe' and J.M. Coetzee’s 'Foe' explore themes of colonialism, identity, and the power dynamics of storytelling. But they do so from very different perspectives and contexts. 

Narrative and Voice:

In 'Robinson Crusoe', the story is narrated by Crusoe himself. This first-person perspective offers an intimate look at his thoughts and experiences on the deserted island. But it also reinforces a Eurocentric view, where Crusoe’s perspective dominates the narrative. 

The character of Friday, who is a native of the island, is largely voiceless and serves primarily as a companion to Crusoe, showing the colonial attitudes of the time. Coetzee’s 'Foe' changes the narrative focus. It is told through the voices of Susan Barton, a character not present in Defoe’s original, and her interactions with Crusoe and Friday. By giving Susan a voice, Coetzee critiques the lack of agency given to characters like Friday in Robinson Crusoe. In Foe, Susan emphasizes the importance of multiple perspectives and challenging the authority of the original storyteller.

Colonialism and Power:

'Defoe’s novel reflects the colonial mindset of the 18th century, where European powers saw themselves as civilizing forces in the "New World." Crusoe’s relationship with Friday can be seen as Martinized, as Crusoe takes on a role of authority over him, teaching him English and converting him to Christianity. 

This change shows the idea of the colonizer vs. the colonized, where the native is made as an "other." Coetzee reinterprets this relationship in 'Foe', where Friday is not just a silent figure but a complex character with his own identity and voice. Susan's desire to tell Friday's story and give him power that shows the injustices of colonial narratives. Coetzee critiques the way colonial histories are often told from a single perspective, advocating for a deep understanding of the colonized subjects.

The Role of Storytelling:

Storytelling in 'Robinson Crusoe' serves to assert Crusoe’s control over his environment. His detailed discription of survival and adventure shows his individualism and self centeredness. But the story also silences the voices of others, particularly that of Friday, whose story remains untold. In 'Foe', storytelling becomes a tool of resistance and empowerment. Susan’s struggle to narrate her own story and that of Friday challenges the idea of a singular authoritative voice. Coetzee emphasizes that stories are not neutral; they carry power and influence. By reclaiming the narrative, Susan confronts the colonial power that shown through silence and erasure.

Identity and Representation:

Crusoe's identity is made through his achievements and his dominance over nature and the other characters. His European identity is tied to notions of progress and civilization. On the other hand, Friday’s identity is reduced to that of the "savage," lacking complexity and depth. Coetzee’s work complicates identity by exploring the themes of representation and authorship. 

Susan's case on telling Friday's story challenges lesser part of his identity to mere "otherness." By bringing Friday’s voice into the narrative, Coetzee allows for a richer, more complex representation of identity that goes beyond colonial powers.

Gender Roles: 

The narrative is made by male characters, with women mostly absent or understood to secondary roles. This shows the patriarchal values of Defoe's time. Coetzee’s 'Foe' introduces Susan Barton as a central character, allowing for a feminist critique of the original narrative. Susan not only seeks to gain her own story but also highlights the gender dynamics at play in colonial settings, giving more importance that both colonialism and patriarchy play a vital role in the silencing of marginalized voices.

Concept of Freedom:

Robinson Crusoe, Crusoe’s freedom is shown as the ability to dominate and control his environment, it deals with individualism and self-reliance. But this freedom comes at the expense of Friday’s autonomy. In 'Foe', Coetzee challenges this tradition of freedom. Susan's struggle to tell Friday's story put focus on that true freedom cannot exist without knowing and raising the voices of the oppressed. The new definition of freedom is important for liberation.

Language as Power:

In 'Robinson Crusoe', language plays a vital role in control and domination. Crusoe teaches Friday English, symbolizing the imposition of colonial language and culture. In 'Foe', language takes on a more derogatory role. In Susan telling her and Friday's stories gives the importance of language in shaping identity and going against oppression. Coetzee shows that gaining language is a crucial step in challenging colonial narratives and understanding one’s own identity.

Legacy of Colonial Narratives:

Both 'Robinson Crusoe' and 'Foe' have had a graet ipression on literature, particularly in how they address issues of colonialism and identity. Defoe's work is a groundwork for the adventure and colonial novel, while Coetzee's response has influenced post-colonial literature and critiques of imperial narratives. The dialogues between these texts invite readers to reflect on the ongoing debate of colonial power in contemporary society and literature.

Both 'Robinson Crusoe' and 'Foe' engage with themes of colonialism, identity, and storytelling, Coetzee’s novel gives as a critical response to Defoe’s work. Through the introduction of new characters, a change in narrative perspective, and a focus on the power of storytelling, Coetzee challenges the colonial attitudes present in Defoe’s original novel.

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