Journal of Molecular Genetics and Gene Research
Defoe-Crusoe and the Rise of Capitalism
Abstract
Tahir Mehmood
This research paper explores the emergence of the novel as a distinct literary form, pinpointing its genesis with Daniel Defoe’s groundbreaking work, “Robinson Crusoe,” published in 1719. The paper delves into the symbiotic relationship between the rise of the novel and the birth of capitalism, emphasizing Defoe’s protagonist as a representation of homo economicus. Examining the novel as a “bourgeois epic,” the research traces the societal and religious influences that contributed to the novel’s inception and its subsequent impact on literature. The study further scrutinizes the narrative structure, realism, and allegorical elements within “Robinson Crusoe,” shedding light on its role in reflecting the socio- economic dynamics of the 18th century.