that this inherent intelligence allows him to adapt to his long and lonely life on the island. The format of the novel itself, that of a journal, indicates that Crusoe is highly educated so that he is able to write and express his thoughts clearly.Furthermore, Crusoe’s hard working nature forces him to do more than what is strictly necessary in order to sustain himself. When unloading the cargo off the ship, he works endlessly until the task is completed although he could have taken a lighter approach to the job. Rather than being complacent about his comforts Crusoe was industrious and salvages all that he could from the ship. He labors hard to bring all the steel cables, tools, and any munitions that he could find, even though he may not need some of the items immediately. Crusoe also gathers on his twelfth and last trip little knickknacks like coins and razor blades. When he begins using the cave as his shelter, he works hard in order to create shelves so that he can organize his belongings. He fashions himself with a goatskin jacket, skirts, cap, footwear, and pouches for his weaponry. If he is not inherently industrious he would not exert himself to this degree in order to keep himself busy and comfortable.Crusoe’s optimism and motivation are more than one can expect from a person marooned on an island for so many years. There is ample evidence of his optimism in his diary in which he contrasts good against evil, and ultimately views things in a more positive light. A brief excerpt from his diary is: Evil I am cast upon a horrible desolate island, void of all hope of recovery.I have not clothes to cover me.GoodBut I am alive, and not drowned as all my ships company was. But I am in a hot climate, where if I had clothes I could hardly where them. (487-488)He overcomes the despair and disappointment he feels after staring at the horizon for a ship to pass by motivating himself to improve his habitat. He also makes...
