Christianity played an extraordinary role in the European colonization of the New World in the 18th century, as exemplified by Robinson Crusoe. The story of Crusoe's isolation on the island, particularly regarding his "missionary" attempts with a savage named Friday, shows the importance of Crusoe's religion in his life. Christianity allows Crusoe to see many things about Friday and his fellow savages, such as the similarities between Friday's people and Europeans. But this also blinds him to other aspects of Friday's life, such as his not wanting to change his lifestyle. The following will show two sides of the effects of Christianity on Crusoe's lifestyle and thought process during his time on the island. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Christianity is a strong force in Crusoe's life, particularly during the years he spent in isolation on the island. The thirty-five years spent away from European society give him the opportunity to reflect on what God means in his life. He goes from a distant relationship with God when he was first shipwrecked on the island, to complete devotion and a desire to spread it to others who don't "know" God. He receives this chance to spread the Word of God to a savage he calls Friday. Through his “missionary” attempt, Crusoe discovers in Friday many characteristics similar to his own. For example, he believes that God “has given [Friday's people] the same powers, the same reason, the same affections, the same feelings of kindness and obligation,…and all the capacities of doing good and receiving the good, which He has given Us” (212), and this thought comforts Crusoe. He has no reason to fear Friday because of these similarities, they also broke the barrier between Crusoe and Friday. Crusoe puts aside his apprehensions and attempts to learn from Friday. By gathering information, he can better understand Friday and further their relationship. Among the similarities that Crusoe discovers is that Friday has similar religious beliefs to his own. A similar characteristic is belief in an Omnipotent being; the European version is God while Friday's is Benamuckee. Similar types of religious hierarchy also exist, and Crusoe once observes during a conversation with Friday "that there is priestly fraud even among the most blinded and ignorant heathens in the world" (219). This hierarchical structure aids Crusoe's attempts to rule Friday due to Friday's belief in his "savage" religion. Through his talks with Friday, Crusoe expands his mind and begins to see that Christianity, or elements of that religion, can be found throughout the world, and this helps various peoples understand each other. These features also help its mission of converting Friday. With the groundwork already laid, Crusoe simply needs to “Christianize” what Friday already considers truth. Friday believes that Crusoe's teachings are real and therefore wants to model his life after Crusoe's. With these new discoveries, Crusoe sees that Friday wants to learn, because "he was the ablest scholar that ever was" (213). With great care, Crusoe demonstrates Friday that the European way of thinking is the best and must therefore follow Crusoe's example. Friday takes on a submissive role, allowing Crusoe to become his master. The determination of the savage's name symbolizes Crusoe's ultimate power over Friday, as Crusoe "made him know that his name should be Friday...[and Crusoe] likewise taught him to say Master" (209). The name "Friday", given to him because that was the day he was saved by Crusoe, is generic and showshow little value it is worth to Crusoe; that is, it is only a reminder of the calendar that Crusoe keeps. Crusoe also teaches Friday to live properly, or according to European ways. This means that Friday should give up his wild ways, especially his cannibalism, since Crusoe "found that Friday still hankered after meat, and was still a cannibal in his nature... [and] somehow let him know that [he] would have killed him if he had offered [meat to him]” (210). All in all, Crusoe shows great patience with Friday, apart from the cannibalism to which Friday has a tendency, but his other characteristics and habits. This is mainly due to the fact that Friday is changing his life to fit Crusoe's and does not bother Crusoe in the slightest. Along with this patience shown by Crusoe, there is also an intolerance for Crusoe's way of thinking allows Friday to have a say in what he is taught. Crusoe takes his position as Master to Friday seriously and "[makes] it his business to teach him all that was appropriate to make him useful, practical, and useful." " (213) - appropriate, i.e. according to European rules. With Friday as Crusoe's servant, there is a great loss of freedom, freedom that he had known his entire existence. Although not a slave by formal definition, Friday feels obligated to serve Crusoe because he saved his life. This debt to his master makes Friday's conversion something he must do to please his master. This submission fits perfectly into Crusoe's life. Being European, he naturally feels superior to Friday and welcomes this opportunity to be someone's master. Since this story is written through Crusoe's eyes, there is no way to know exactly how Friday actually feels, but Crusoe never wants to know in the first place. If he had known how Friday felt, his Christian conscience would have prevented him from undertaking his missionary attempts, and he would once again have been alone on the island, with no one to control. Although Crusoe sees that there are similarities between his religion and Friday's, Crusoe wants to teach Friday the religion again. He wants Friday to learn Christianity and erase all knowledge of his beliefs, but finds that "it was not so easy to impress upon his mind right notions of the devil, as it was of the being of a God" (219). Without an already present image of European notions, Crusoe has difficulty showing Friday the European way of thinking, for example that there is a being with almost the same powers as God, a thought foreign to Friday. Friday's religious beliefs are "wrong" and Crusoe wants him to realize this and change his ways to those of a true Christian. Along the same lines Crusoe finds Friday ignorant, not only because of his wild ways, but also because Friday knows nothing about Christianity or how important it is to live a Christian life. Crusoe has found God in everything on the island and wants to see him on Friday too. This religious faith is a strong force that drives Crusoe, and he doesn't want it to leave him either. Through this strong faith in God, Crusoe belittles Friday and shows once again how he is master of this savage. Although Friday quickly learns what Crusoe is teaching him, he will never be as smart as Crusoe would like him to be. Crusoe will always seek perfection on Friday and will never be satisfied with the results. Crusoe also compares himself to God, He being the supreme Master. As a master, Crusoe wants his follower to be the best example of his authority. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom article from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay Through Robinson's Eyes.