1

MARXISM ANALYSIS
ON DANIEL DEFOE’S ROBINSON CRUSOE

THESIS

Presented to
The State Islamic University of Malang
in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree of Sarjana Humaniora

By
Agung Wiranata Kusuma
02320069

ENGLISH LETTERS AND LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF HUMANITIES AND CULTURE
THE STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY OF MALANG
2007
2

APPROVAL SHEET

This is to certify that Agung Wiranata Kusuma’s thesis entitled

Marxism Analysis on Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe has been approved by
the thesis advisor for further approval by the Board of Examiners.

Approved by Acknowledged by
The Advisor, The Head of the English Letters and
Language Department,

Sri Muniroch, SS., M.Hum. Dra. Hj. Syafiyah, M.A.

NIP. 150327257 NIP. 150246406

The Dean of
The Faculty of Humanities and Culture,

Drs. H. Dimjati Ahmadin, M.Pd.

NIP. 150035 072
3

LEGITIMATION SHEET

This is to certify that Agung Wiranata Kusuma’s thesis entitled

Marxism Analysis on Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe has been approved by
the Board of Examiners as the requirement for the degree of Sarjana Humaniora.

The Board of Examiners Signatures

1. Dra. Istiadah, MA (Chairperson) __________

2. Drs. Misbahul Amri, MA (Main Examiner) __________

3. Sri Muniroch, SS., M.Hum. (Advisor) __________

Approved by
The Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Culture
The State Islamic University of Malang,

Drs. H. Dimjati Ahmadin, M.Pd.

NIP. 150 035 072
4

MOTTO

“And among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth,
and the difference of your languages and colors.
Verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge.” (Ar-Rûm:22)
5

DEDICATION

This thesis is dedicated to

those who search for the deepest
meaning of life
6

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Praise be to Allah the Almighty and the All Merciful, who has given me,

the powerless creature, His guidance so that I can smoothly finish this thesis

entitled ” Marxism Analysis on Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe .” His mercy

and peace be upon the prophet Muhammad SAW who has brought the Islamic

norms and values to the entire world.

I should like to thank those who have helped me in writing this thesis. My

first sincere gratitude goes to the Rector of UIN Malang, Prof. Dr. H. Imam

Suprayogo, the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Culture, Drs. H. Dimjati

Ahmadin, M.Pd., and the Head of the English Language and Letters Department,

Dra. Hj. Syafiyah, M.A.

In particular, I wish to express my indebtedness to Ibu Sri Muniroch, SS.,

M.Hum. not only for her patience, but also for her excellent ideas, accommodative

criticisms, and constructive comments. I really owe much to her valuable advice

and moral encouragement. In general, I must recognize the ongoing intellectual

challenges of the following names: Pak Hamish, Bu Edna, Bu Isti, Bu Indah, Bu

Mei, Pak Langgeng, Pak Amri, Bu Umi, Bu Mamluk, and other lecturers of the

Faculty of Humanities and Culture of UIN Malang.

Above all, my families have provided a continuous spiritual and material

support for me. To my dad, my caring teacher who has implanted in me a

passionate mind and a disciplined life, to my mom, my beloved guardian who has

nurtured in me a compassionate heart and an ever generous hand, and to my

7

beloved sister Wilda Sulistyo Ning Tyas, I give you my best gratitude. May God

give me a chance to repay your enduring kindness. Furthermore, I would like to

acknowledge the invaluable assistance of my beloved little sweet Honey Bunny,

Tiya. Her pamper affection, loving smile, merciful jealousy, and benevolent anger

have beautifully adorned my life.

Last but not the least, I would like to give my gratitude to all my

colleagues, i.e. Zein, Yudi, Prapto, Walid, I’im and Miftah in kontrakan “Cettir”;

the teachers and students of MAKN I Jember; pak Robby and bu Robby, Agus,

Yunus, Mudhar, Ishom, Alwani, Ali and Haqi and all my friends in the English

Language and Letters Department. Thanks a lot for your support to me.

Finally, I modestly realize that this thesis is still far from perfection. Thus,

I will always appreciate for the coming constructive comments from the readers.

Hopefully, this work can give a valuable contribution to the field of literary

criticism.

Malang, May 24th, 2007

Agung Wiranata Kusuma

8

ABSTRACT

Kusuma, Agung Wiranata. 2007. Marxism Analysis on Daniel Defoe’s

Robinson Crusoe. Thesis. English Letters and Language Department,
Faculty of Humanities and Culture. The State Islamic University of
Malang. Advisor: Sri Muniroch, SS., M.Hum.

Key Words: Marxism, socio-economic phenomena.

Marx view of history and society is different from his predecessor and
contemporaries which emphasis it placed on the socio-economic element in any
society as an ultimate determinant of that society’s character. ‘Socio-economic’
mean the social relations created by the kind of economic production
preponderant in a given society. In capitalist society, this is the relationship
between capitalist and proletarian. It is founded on exploitation and is this
relationship of potential or actual conflict. Under a capitalist economy, these may
be a bourgeois parliament and judiciary; an education system geared broadly to
the needs of capitalist production, and the values which uphold these institutions.
These entire elements which arise on the socio-economic base call the
superstructure of society.
The story within the novel primarily takes place in the remote island near
the mouth of the Orinoco river. It tells about the journey of Robinson Crusoe to
find his ultimate drive. In this journey he experiences many incident that increase
his social consciousness, and stranded in remote island for 26 six years. This
novel also tells about his effort in surviving in this solitary island by himself.
To achieve the above objectives of the study, the researcher applies a
Marxism approach which insists on linking the novel with the socio-economic
phenomena and ideology of the writer. Since this study is emphasized on the
analysis of a literary work, it is, then, classified as literary criticism. The primary
data of this study are collected from Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe, and the
secondary data are gathered from related textbooks, journals, encyclopedias, and
other written materials printed from internet. The researcher himself becomes the
research instrument in the process of data collection and data analysis.
Based on the researcher’s analysis, socio-economic in this novel is divided
into two categories, i.e. Marxism phenomena and the opposition of Marxism
phenomena. The Marxism phenomena which found in this novel include class
struggle, class-consciousness, and theory of human nature. While opposition of
Marxism phenomena are class division, racism, exploitation, alienation, mode of
production and means of production. From the analysis researcher concludes that
the novel truly describes socio-economic phenomena. Defoe, in this novel, to
9

present the real picture of a capitalist and western model who wants to conquer
the world and the emphasizing the importance of spirit struggle in survive in this
world.
10

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INNER COVER ………………………………………………………………. i

APPROVAL SHEET …………………………………………………………. ii

LEGITIMATION SHEET …………………………………………………… iii

MOTTO ……………………………………………………………………….. iv

DEDICATION ………………………………………………………………… v

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ……………………………………………………. vi

ABSTRACT …………………………………………………………………… viii

TABLE OF CONTENTS ……………………………………………………... ix

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ……………………………………………. 1

A. Background of the Study …………………………………………… 1

B. Statements of the Problems ………………………………………… 9

C. Objectives of the Study …………………………………………….. 9

D. Scope and Limitation ………………………………………………. 9

E. Significance of the Study …………………………………………... 10

F. Research Method …………………………………………………… 10

1. Research Design …………………………………………………… 10

2. Data Sources ……………………………………………………… 10

3. Research Instrument ……………………………………………… 12

4. Data Collection …………………………………………………… 12

5. Data Analysis ……………………………………………………… 13

G. Definition of the Key Terms ……………………………………….. 14

CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF THE RELATED LITERATURE …………... 17

A. Marxism as the World Ideology…..………………………………… 17

1. Social Concept of Marxism ………………………………… 18

a. Marx’s Theory of Human Nature ………………… 18

11

i. The Determination of Human Nature by the Social

Relation………………………………….. 19

ii. Need and Drives………………………………… 20

iii. Human as Free Purposive Producers………….. 21

b. Marx’s Theory of Class Struggle…………………… 23

i. Main Class Struggle………………………… 23

ii. Minor Class Struggle………………………. 25

c. Marx’s Theory of Exploitation…………………….. 26

d. Marx’s Theory of Alienation………………………. 27

e. Class Consciousness……………………………….. 28

f. Social Class………………………………………… 29

g. Marx’s Concept of Racism………………………… 32

2. Economical Concept of Marxism...………………………. 33

a. Marx’s Theory of Economy………………….……. 33

b. Means of Production……………………………… 34

B. Marxist Criticism in Literature………………………………..……. 36

C. Previous Study……………………………………………………… 41

CHAPTER III: ANALYSIS ………………………………………………….. 43

A. Marxism Phenomena…………………………...………………….... 43

1. Social Phenomena………………………………………………. 43

2. Economic Phenomena…………………………………………... 49

B. The counter to Marxism Phenomena……………………..…...... 60

1. Social Phenomena………………………………………………. 60

2. Economic Phenomena…………………………………………... 79

CHAPTER IV: CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION …………………….. 72

12

BIBLIOGRAPHY
13

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

Literature is a written work which expresses and communicates thought

feeling, and attitudes toward life. According to Chamamah (1994:12), the term

literature is often ‘used’ to call culture symptoms that can be found in all of the

society, although socially, economically, and religiously the existence of literature

is not inevitability.

Literature is identical with life. It can be seen that literature is a true

picture or replication of human’s life. It describes what and how human life and

usually it reflects the events which happen in the society. Because literature

cannot be created in vacuum, it is not simply the work of a person, but of an

author fixed in time and space, answer to a community of which he is an

important (Wilbur, 1962:123). Abrams stated the same opinion that any literary

works are produced in a certain community so that they never separate the literary

phenomenon from its social environment in time or space. Therefore, considers

the social phenomena in any literary criticism are undoubtedly significant since

literature can be an effective way to reflect and even change a social issue in any

community around the world. Those who support this argument believe that

literature is much related to, and influenced by, the two factors of “the spirit of the

time” and “the national spirit” (International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences,

1968:47).
14

As human beings, we like to see, tell, and hear things that happen around

us. When we see movies, listen to the radio, or read novels. We consider these

things can increase our experiences of things in our imagination that might never

have a chance to do otherwise. The movie, radio, novel, or television also brings

to us a new knowledge about something beyond our imagination. Sometimes we

also can see the true reality of the phenomena surround us through movies or

novels.

Novel as one of the literature genre usually concerns with human being

and often provides valuable message for us through the given story. In reading a

novel, we will not only get enjoyment but also bring us into a vast, close, and

fresh relationship to life. It is really a truth that what has been written on a novel is

the mirror of life of human being. By reading a novel, readers are capable of

seeing “real reality of life’, not the higher, the lower, or inner reality.

Novels, according to John Peck and Martin Coyle (1986:102), present a

documentary picture of life. Along side the fact that novels look at people in

society, other major characteristic of genre is that novel tells a story. In fact,

novels tend to tell the same few stories time. Novelist frequently tends to focus on

the tension between individuals and the society in which they live, presenting

characters that are odds with that society. This focus includes the ideology,

economical system, culture that is used and exists in the fixed time and space of

the author.

Marxist literary criticism considers literature as a product of ideology of

certain time and space of a society. Marxist criticism always sees literature as a
15

reflection of the society which also makes important general statements about

culture and society in the 1890’s. Even so, it is correct to think of Marxist

criticism as a twentieth-century phenomenon. The basic tenets of Marxism are not

easy to summarize, but two well-known statements by Marx provide a sufficient

point of departure, that it is not the consciousness of men that determined their

being, but on the contrary, their social being that determines their consciousness

(Shelden, 1993:70).

Marxist criticism is different from all form of idealist, formalist, and

aetheticist criticism by itself-belief that ‘Literature’ is a social, material practice

which related to the other social practice. It differs from other historical or

sociological approaches to literature mainly it view of the nature of story itself.

For Marxism, ‘history’ does not a single category or seamless whole. It is grasped,

rather, as a field of conflicting interest and forces (Fowler, 1987:141).

There are two things which distinguish Marx view of history and society

from his predecessor and contemporaries. The first element is the emphasis of the

socio-economic element in any society as an ultimate determinant of that society’s

character. ‘Socio-economic’ mean the social relations created by the kind of

economic production preponderant in a given society. In capitalist society, this is

the relationship between capitalist and proletarian. It is founded on exploitation

and is this relationship of potential or actual conflict. This basic structure

engenders as number of social institutions and beliefs which act to regulate or

dissipate the conflict and keep the mode of production in being. Under a capitalist

economy system, this socio-economic element can be found on a bourgeois

16

parliament and judiciary, an education system geared broadly to the needs of

capitalist production, and the values which uphold these institutions. These entire

elements which arise on the socio-economic base are called the superstructure of

society (Forgacs, Http://Social.Chas.nesu.edu.2006).

The second element which bears crucial on most Marxist thinking about

literature is the concept of ideology. The term ideology generally conveys the

sense of a collective representation of ideas and experience as opposed to the

material reality on which experience based. It does not necessarily refer to the

system of values held or put in circulation by the ruling class to establish

consensus on society. It is necessarily a ‘false consciousness’, a phrase used by

Engel’s. It has, however, been used frequently by Marxist in both these senses.

Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe is a novel which describes a person

and his society. Robinson Crusoe is a work of Daniel Defoe that first published in

1719 and sometimes regarded as the first novel in English. The book is a fictional

autobiography of the title character, an English castaway who spends 28 years on

a remote island, encountering savages, captives, and mutineers before being

rescued. The novel was first published on April 25, 1719. The positive reception

was immediate and universal. Before the end of the year, this first volume had run

through four editions. Within years, it had reached an audience as wide as any

book ever written in English (http://www.w3c.org. 2006).

This novel tells us about Crusoe who leaves England on a voyage in

September 1651 against the wishes of his parents that hope him to continue their

heritage as middle class member. The ship that carries Crusoe in his first voyage
17

is taken over by Salè pirates and Crusoe becomes the slave of a Moor. He

manages to escape from the slavery of the Moor with a boat and becomes friend

of the captain of a Portuguese ship off the western coast of Africa. The ship is on

route to Brazil. There with the help of the captain, Crusoe can buy a plantation.

He joins an expedition to bring slaves from Africa, but he is shipwrecked

in a storm about forty miles out to sea on an island near the mouth of the Orinoco

river on September 30, 1659. His companions all die; he manages to fetch arms,

tools and other supplies from the ship before it breaks apart and sinks. He

proceeds to build a fenced-in habitation and cave, keeps a calendar by making

marks in a piece of wood. He hunts, grows corn, learns to make pottery, raises

goats, etc. He reads the Bible and suddenly becomes religious, thanking God for

his fate in which nothing is missing but society.

He discovers native cannibals who occasionally visiting the island to kill

and eat prisoners. At first, he plans to kill the savages for their abomination, but

then he realizes that he has no right to do so as the cannibals have not attacked

him and do not knowingly commit a crime. He dreams of capturing one or two

servants by freeing some prisoners, and indeed, when a prisoner manages to

escape, Crusoe helps him, naming his new companion "Friday" after the day of

the week he appeared, and teaches him English and converts him to Christianity.

In those days, British and Dutch whites often called colored servants and slaves

"Thursday", "Friday", "January" etc.

After another party of natives arrives to partake in a grisly feast, Crusoe

and Friday manage to kill most of the natives and save two of the prisoners. One
18

is Friday's father and the other is a Spaniard, who informs Crusoe that there are

other Spaniards shipwrecked on the mainland. A plan is devised where the

Spaniard would return with Friday's father to the mainland and bring back the

others, build a ship, and sail to a Spanish port.

The captain and Crusoe manage to retake the ship from the mutineers

who have taken control of the ship and intend to maroon their former captain on

the island. They leave for England, leaving behind three of the mutineers to fend

for themselves and inform the Spaniards what happened. Crusoe leaves the island

on December 19, 1686. He travels to Portugal to find his old friend, the Captain,

who informs him that his Brazilian plantation was well cared for and he has

become wealthy. From Portugal, he travels overland to England to avoid mishaps

at sea via Spain and France. During winter in the Pyrenees, he and his companions

have to fend off an attack by vicious wolves. Back in England, he decides to sell

his plantation, as returning to Brazil would entail converting to Catholicism. Later

in life, after marrying, having three children and becoming widowed, he returns to

his island for a last time (http://www.w3c.org:2006).

There are two reasons the researcher chooses Daniel Defoe’s Robinson

Crusoe. First, Defoe presents Crusoe, the main character, as a complex reflection

of human life. However, it is told that he arrives and lives alone in the island at

first; he is able to exist there, even dominate the island, and establish a “system”

which can be considered as a man who discovers an economic system of value

based on its use, private ownership, and individual self-interest. Second, although

there are earlier novels, the history of the English novel really begins with the
19

publication of Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe in 1719. The late arrival on the

literary scene tells us something important about genre. It is, above all else, a form

literature, which looks at people in society. Writers have of course, always been

interested in the world around them, but the development of the novel reflects a

move away from essentially religious view of life toward a new interest in the

complexities of everyday experience.

Most novels are concerned with the ordinary people and problems in the

societies in which they find themselves. This often the case even when the pattern

to be broken. Robinson Crusoe presents a man alone on the desert island. There

are some novels such as Tolkien’s the Lord of the Rings have animals as central

characters, but even these novels are dealing indirectly with man in the social

world (Peck & Coyle, 1986:102).

Exploring socio-economic phenomena on Daniel Defoe’s Robinson

Crusoe using Marxism point of view that exists on this novel, although the term

of Marxism was founded long after this novel written, is very challenging. In

addition, this will also help us to see how is the condition of the society condition

based on the reflection of the novel to the society. As this criticism is also very

concern with the ideology that exist of the novel which is the reflection of the

ideology of the author or the society.

There have been many studies on Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe

conducted by some critics. Mara’tun Nafi’ah is a student of Islamic State

University of Malang who writes a thesis with the title An Analysis on the Element

and Type of Setting in the Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe. She concerns with the
20

type and the element of setting of Robinson Crusoe that found in the novel. Other

researcher is Frederick Zackel. He, in his critical note ‘Robinson Crusoe and

Ethnic Side’, proposes the story of ‘Robinson Crusoe’ has a very large impact to

our recent literary works. He argues that the ‘Robinson Crusoe’ novel contain

racism and dehumanization. This can be seen in the way he treats his fellow ‘man

Friday’ and may be this story is just Daniel Defoe’s defense of his bourgeois

Protestantism, a puritan fable that praises the middle class and its work ethic

(Zackel, http://www.Brightsfilm.com/30/crusoe 1.html. 2006).

The next researcher is Stuart Sim, in his critical notes ‘The Life and

Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe’ proposes that Crusoe is story arguably

the most important on the native. This novel, however, was spiritual

autobiography which had come to play a critical role in the development of

religious nonconformist in the seventeenth century England: nonconformist being

the cultural tradition from which Defoe himself had sprung. Other idea he

proposes tradition of writing feeds into Crusoe that provides us with one of the

great advertisement for individualism in Western culture, with Crusoe himself

turning into the archetype of his wit and personal ingenuity. If we are looking for

a model of the self-sufficient individual, we need look no further than Crusoe

(Sim; http: //www.litencyc.com/php/. 2006).

The above previous studies convincingly show that Daniel Defoe’s

Robinson Crusoe is a literary work that attracted some critics to give a critical

comment in various perspectives. These critical notes concern with the problems

which appear in the novel, try to catch, and describes it. The first critical note
21

concerns with the structure of plot in the novel. The second critical analysis sees

the racism and dehumanization act in the novel and the last observes the religious

life and the effect to the native. All of these critical comments finally try to

observe the novel using various points of view to get the basic massage of the

novel. However, deep analysis on the novel is still needed. Due to this

consideration, the writer decides to conduct research about Marxism analysis on

Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe that focus on the socio-economic phenomena.

B. Research Problem

Based on the background of the study above, the researcher intends to

focus this research to answer the following problem: How are socio-economic

phenomena in Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe viewed from Marxist perspective?

C. Objective of the Study

In relation to the previous statement of the problem, the objective of this

study is formulated to describe the form of socio-economic phenomena in Daniel

Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe viewed from Marxist perspective.

D. Scope and Limitation

In order that the study is able to answer the question appropriately, the

researcher will limit the scope of the problem that will be discussed and

emphasized on the description of socio-economic phenomena of Marxist in Daniel

Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe. The socio-economic phenomena itself is in the form of

22

self need fulfillment, class struggle, class consciousness, and means of production

that exist in this novel. Those attitudes, in the researcher’s point of view, can

describe the socio-economic phenomena that exist in Daniel Defoe’s Robinson

Crusoe.

E. Significance of the Study

There are several significant points of consideration for conducting the

research, first¸ this research is intended to enrich the study of Marxist and the

study on Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe, especially those that are related to the

socio-economic phenomena. Second, this research is intended to develop the study

on Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe and to provide further information for the

next researchers who want to conduct a research about Marxism.

F. Research Method

The research method in this section covers research design, data source,

research instrument, data collection, and data analysis.

1. Research Design

This study is categorized into literary criticism, according to Peck and

Coyle, includes the analysis, interpretation, and evaluation of a literary work

(1984:149). It is stated in the Encyclopedia Americana that literary criticism is

intended to analyze, evaluate, justify, describe, or judge a literary work

(1978:221). Criticism does not means “finding fault with” in this literary study
23

criticism as an view of what is happening to the text of Robinson Crusoe by

Daniel Defoe.

Instead of giving evaluation, justification, or even judgment, this study is

aimed at analyzing a literary work, i.e. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, based

on the intended topic of the study i.e. socio-economic phenomena. The analysis is

the process of systematically searching and arranging the research material to

increase the researcher’s understanding of them. (Bogdan & Biklen, 1998:157)

A good analysis, therefore, should be begun with reading the text, thus,

careful reading on the novel of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe is the most

valuable starting point of the study. The reading on the novel is heavily

emphasized on finding the data related to socio-economic phenomena so that it

can fully support the objectives of the study.

To be able to conduct a literary criticism, the use of appropriate

approach is undoubtedly needed, to examine socio-economic phenomena based on

Marxism view, the researcher applies Marxism criticism which insist literature is

a social and material practice, and it differs from other historical and sociological

approaches to literature mainly in its view of history itself. Marxism also consider

that literature as a product of ideology of certain time and space of a society,

Marxist criticism always sees literature as a reflection of its society, and argues

that all mental (ideological) systems are the products of the real social and

economic existence. For Marxism, literature ‘history’ does not from single

category or seamless whole: it grasped, rather, as a field of conflicting interest and

forces. Dominant among those conflicts is the epochal struggle between social
24

classes between those who, by virtue of controlling a society’s economic

production, can usually dominate its cultural and intellectual productions as well,

and exploited classes (Fowler, 1987:141).

2. Data Sources

The primary source of this study is the literary work itself, i.e. Robinson

Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, which was a famous English writer. This 306-page novel

was an edition that published in 2004 by Tiny Tot Publication in India.

The data presented in the novel are in the form of words, phrases, or

sentences. The researcher only focuses on those indicating socio-economic

phenomena, which exist in the novel. To support the primary data, the researcher

uses some related textbooks, journals, encyclopedias, and other written materials

printed from internet.

3. Research Instrument

In this study, the human investigator is the primary instrument for

gathering and analyzing the data. Moleong quotes Lincoln & Guba in effective

Evaluation who has introduced the concept of human as instrument to emphasize

the unique role that qualitative researcher play in their inquiry. Because this

research studies human experience (the author) reflected on their work (novel), it,

them, needs instrument flexible enough to capture its complexity, i.e. the

researcher itself (2002: 121).

25

4. Data Collection

The data in this research are taken from Robinson Crusoe by Daniel

Defoe, which is related to socio-economic phenomena. Since the data are in the

form of words, phrases, and sentences within the novel, detailed reading, careful

rereading, and deep understanding are the most appropriate data collection

techniques in this study. These techniques have both comprehensive and

interpretative aspects since they are aimed at finding the characteristics and

elements of the novel based on the subject of the research.

The next step is that the researcher concentrates on the phenomenon,

which related to socio-economic. After that, the researcher highlights those

required data. The data are used in the process of data analysis to answer the

formulated problems.

5. Data Analysis

It is the process of searching and arranging the materials of the study.

The researcher accumulates to increase his own understanding and to enable him

to present his discovery. This step, according to Bogdan and Biklen, refers

generally to the process of working with the data, organizing the data, breaking

the data into manageable units, synthesizing them, searching for patterns,

discovering what is important and what is to be learned, and deciding what is

going to tell to others (1998:157).

26

In this study, the processes of data analysis include the following steps:

1. organizing the data from the novel into two categories, which reveals the first

two objectives of the study i.e. social phenomena and economic phenomena;

2. exploring the socio-economic phenomena according to the perspective of

Marxist theory;

3. finding out the similarities between the content of the novel and Marxist

theory. The researcher is able to give a critical judgment of socio-economic

phenomena in the view of Marxist; and

4. drawing the conclusion and rechecking if the conclusion is appropriate enough

to answer the stated problems.

G. Definition Key Terms

1. Marxism

Marxism refers to the philosophy and social theory based on Karl

Marx's work on one hand, and to the political practice based on Marxist theory on

the other hand (namely, parts of the First International during Marx's time,

communist parties and later states). Marxism identifies the race towards

communism in a number of stages. The first stage is feudalism; second one is

capitalism, which is then followed by socialism. The closing stages result in

communism. Marx, a 19th century socialist philosopher, economist, journalist,

and revolutionary, often in collaboration with Friedrich Engels, developed a

critique of society which he claimed was both scientific and revolutionary. This

critique achieved its most systematic (albeit unfinished) expression in his most
27

famous work, Capital: a Critique of Political Economy, more commonly known

as Das Kapital (1867). Nevertheless, there have been numerous debates among

Marxists over how to interpret Marx's writings and how to apply his concepts to

current events and conditions. The legacy of Marx's thought is bitterly contested

among proponents of numerous viewpoints who claim to be Marx's most accurate

interpreters. There have been many academic theories, social movements, political

parties, and governments that lay claim to being founded on Marxist principles.

Indeed, academic theorizing on Marxism is so widespread that there are a number

of different schools of Marxism in addition to the classical Marxism of Marx and

Engel. Similarly, the use of Marxist theory in politics, including the social

democratic movements in 20th century Europe, the Soviet Union and other

Eastern bloc countries, Mao and other revolutionaries in agrarian developing

countries have added new ideas to Marx and otherwise transmuted Marxism so

much that it is difficult to define its core (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marxism.

2006).

2. Socio-economic Phenomena

‘Socio-economic’ means the social relation created by the kind of

economic production preponderant in a given society. In capitalist society, this is

the relationship between capitalist and proletarian. It is founded on exploitation

and is this relationship of potential or actual conflict. This basic structure (or the

base) engenders as number of social institutions and beliefs, which act to regulate

or dissipate the conflict and keep the mode of production in being. Under a

capitalist economy, these may be a bourgeois parliament and judiciary; an

28

education system geared broadly to the needs of capitalist production, and the

values which uphold these institutions. These entire elements which arise on the

socio-economic base are called the superstructure of society (Forgacs,

Http://Social.Chas.nesu.edu. 2006).
29

CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF THE RELATED LITERATURE

A. Marxism as the World Ideology

This discussion starts with finding out the definition of Marxism.

Marxism refers to the philosophy and social theory based on Karl Marx's work.

On one hand, the political practice based on Marxist theory and on the other hand,

Marxism identifies that this world ideology moves towards communism in a

number of stages. The first stage is feudalism, capitalism, socialism, and the

closing stages result in communism. Marx is known as a 19th century socialist

philosopher, economist, journalist, and revolutionary. He also often collaborated

with Friedrich Engels who developed a critique of society which he claimed was

both scientific and revolutionary. Marx’s most famous work is Capital: a Critique

of Political Economy which is more commonly known as Das Kapital (1867).

Nevertheless, there have been many critics who debate among Marxists over how

to interpret Marx's writings and how to apply his concepts to current events and

conditions. The legacy of Marx's thought has been analyzed by numerous

viewpoints of critics who claim to be Marx's most accurate interpreters

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marxism. 2006).

In the next following section discusses the concept of Marxism in socio-

economic and literary criticism to get vivid understanding of Marxist theory.

30

1. Social Concept of Marxism

From the discussion above explanation a conclusion can be drawn that

Marxism is a notion which is motorized by Marx and his followers. This notion

does not only influence the political and economical life but also social life. In this

section discusses about the social concept of Marxism.

a. Marx’s Theory of Human Nature

What is human nature for Marx? Theory of human nature in Marxist, as

described in the article of Theory of Human Nature, occupies an important place

in his critique of capitalism, his conception of communism, and his 'materialist

conception of history'. However, Marx does not refer to "human nature" as such

but to Gattungswesen. This term is generally translated as 'species-being' or

'species-essence'. The article also takes a note from the young Marx in the

Manuscripts of 1844 where the term is derived from Ludwig Feuerbach’s

philosophy. The article also explains that this term refers both to the nature of

each human and of humanity as a whole.

However, Marx criticizes, which is quoted by the article from the sixth

Thesis on Feuerbach (1845), the traditional conception of "human nature" as

"species" which embody it in each individual, on behalf of a conception of human

nature as formed by the totality of "social relations.” Thus, human nature cannot

be understood as we often see in classical idealist philosophy as permanent and

universal definition. However, Marx, in the article, proposes the species being is
31

always determined in a specific social and historical formation

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marx theory of human nature. 2006).

i. The Determination of Human Nature by the Social Relations

Norman Geras claims, as quoted from the article of The Determination

of Human Nature by the Social Relations, in Marx's theory of human nature

(1983) that there is in fact that a Marxist conception of human nature which

remains to some degree but constant throughout history and across social

boundaries. Although many Marxists rejected that there was a "human nature" can

be found in Marx's words. The article also describes that Marx makes statements

where he specifically refers to a human nature which is more than what is

conditioned by the circumstances of one's life. Furthermore, the article also

includes Marx’s statement in Capital’s footnote which critiquing utilitarianism.

Marx states that utilitarians must reckon with human nature in general and then

with human nature as modified in each historical era.

In addition, the article also includes Marx argument against an abstract

conception of human nature. Marx offers instead of an account rooted in sensuous

life than as individuals express their life which quite explicit statement. Marx also

suggests hence that Individuals depend on the material conditions of their

production. He also believes that human nature will create the condition against

the background of the productive forces and relations of production the way in

which individuals express their life

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marx%27s_theory_of_human_nature. 2006).
32

ii. Needs and Drives

The young Marx, as quoted from the article of Needs and Drives, wrote

in the 1844 manuscripts that a human was directly a natural being. As a natural

being and a living natural being, a human being has natural powers and vital

powers. These forces exist in human being as tendencies and abilities or instincts.

However, a human as a natural, physical, sensuous objective being, is a suffering,

conditioned and limited creature, like animals and plants. That is to say, because

the objects of his instincts exist outside him. As independent objects of him, yet,

these objects are also objects that he needs essential objects that really needed to

the embodiment and affirmation of his essential powers.

Besides that, the article also includes Marx comments in the Grundrisse.

Marx said that his nature was a totality of needs and drives, which gave power

upon him. In The German Ideology, as quoted in the article, Marx also used the

formulation of human needs and consequence of human nature. The article also

illustrates that from Marx's early writing to his later work which conceives that

human nature is composed of tendencies, drives, essential powers, and instincts to

act in order to satisfy needs for external objectives. In addition, Marx describes, in

The German Ideology, that human nature is an explanation of the needs of humans

which together with the affirmation that they will act to fulfill those needs.

Furthermore, Norman Geras, as quoted in the article, gives a schedule of

the some of the needs. Marx proposes that characteristics of humans is need for

other human beings, for sexual relations, food, water, clothes, shelter, rest and,

more generally, for circumstances that are conducive to health rather than disease.
33

In line with the explanation above Marx also states that there is other

need of people which is included as a breadth and diversity of pursuit and

personal development. As Marx himself expresses these needs also includes all-

round activity, all-round development of individuals, free development of

individuals, and the means of cultivating gifts in all directions, and so on. Marx

says that it is true that eating, drinking, and procreating, etc., are genuine human

functions. However, when abstracted from other aspects of human activity and

turned into final and exclusive conclusion that human is like animal

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marx%27s_theory_of_human_nature. 2006).

iii. Humans as Free Purposive Producers

In this discussion, as quoted from the article of Humans as Free

Purposive Producers, Marx believes that human beings are essentially different

from other animals. He also suggests that human beings can be distinguished from

animals within consciousness within religion or anything else. Human beings

begin to distinguish from animals as soon as they begin to produce their means of

survival, a step which is conditioned by their environment. In the German

Ideology, Marx alludes, as stated in the article, to one difference that humans

creates and modifies their physical environments.

At the previous year, Marx had already acknowledged that it is true that

animals also produce. The animal also builds nests and lairs, such as the bee, the

beaver, the ant, etc. However, they only produce their own immediate needs or

those of their young. They produce only when immediate physical need forces
34

them to do so. While human beings produce even when they are free from the

physical need and truly produce only in freedom from such need. Animals

produce only for themselves while human beings reproduce the whole of nature.

Animal’s product belongs immediately to their physical bodies while human

freely produces his own product.

Animals produce only according to the standards and needs of the

species to which they belong. While human being is capable of producing

according to the standards of every species and of applying to each object

everything that he/she knows about it such as art. Thus, human being also

produces in accordance with the laws of beauty. In the same work, Marx states

that the animal is immediately one with its life activity. It is not distinct from that

activity; it is that activity. Human makes his life activity itself an object of his will

and consciousness. They have conscious life activity. It is not a determination

with which they directly merge. Conscious life activity directly distinguishes

human from animal life activity.

Finally, the article makes conclusions about something of Marx's beliefs

about humans. Human beings characteristically produce their environments and

will do so even are they not under the burden of physical need. Human beings will

produce the whole of their nature and may even create in accordance with the

laws of beauty. Perhaps most importantly, though, their creativity, their

production is purposive and planned. Human beings, then, make plans for their

future activity, and attempt to exercise their production (even lives) according to

them. Perhaps most importantly, and most cryptically, Marx says that human
35

beings make both their 'life activity', 'species', and the 'object' of their will

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marx%27s_theory_of_human_nature. 2006).

b. Marx’s Theory of Class Struggle

What is Class struggle? The article of Marx’s Class Struggle proposes a

definition that class struggle is a class conflict looked at from any kinds of

socialist perspective. According to Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, which quoted

in the article, wrote, “The written history of all hitherto existing society is the

history of class struggle.” Furthermore, the article explains that Marx's idea of

class is not related to hereditary caste. or social class in the sociological sense of

upper, middle, and lower classes which are often defined in terms of quantitative

income or wealth.

In addition, the article proposes that membership of a class is defined by

one's relationship to the means of production, i.e., one's position in the social

structure that characterizes capitalism. Marx talks, as quoted in the article, mainly

about two classes that include the big majority of the population i.e. the proletariat

and the bourgeoisie. Other classes such as the petty bourgeoisie share

characteristics of both of these main classes

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class_struggle. 2006).

i. Main class struggle

In the article of Marx’s Class Struggle, the writer considers Labor (the

proletariat or workers) includes anyone who earns their livelihood by selling their
36

labor power and being paid a wage or salary for their labor time. The article also

explains that they who belong to this class have little choice but to work for

capital. Since, they typically have no independent way to survive. Furthermore,

the article quotes Capital (the bourgeoisie or capitalists) which includes anyone

who gets their income not from labor as much as from the surplus value they

appropriate from the workers who create wealth. The income of the capitalists is

based on their exploitation of the workers (proletariat).

Besides, the article also quotes Marx statements that members of each of

the two main classes have interests in common. These class or collective interests

are in conflict with those of the other class as a whole. This, in turn, leads to

conflict between individual members of different classes. The article also gives an

example of this conflict of interest in the form of a factory which produces a

commodity. Let us say a factory that manufactures shoes. Some of the money

received from selling shoes will be spent on things like raw materials and

machinery in order to build more widgets. Similarly, some money is spent on

labor power. The capitalist would not be in business if not for the surplus value,

i.e. the money, which they receive from selling the shoes beyond that spent on

constant and variable capital. The amount of this surplus value or profits, interest,

and rent, depends on how much labor workers do for the wages or salaries they

are paid. This surplus value is higher to the degree that workers spend time at

work beyond what they are paid for and to the degree that they exert effort beyond

the cost of their labor-time. Therefore, the capitalist would like as much "free

time", unpaid labor during official lunch breaks, after official closing time, etc,
37

and as much worker effort as possible. On the other hand, the workers would like

to be paid for every minute they work under the capitalist's authority and would

like to avoid unnecessary and unpaid effort. They would also prefer higher wages

and benefits, such as health insurance, defined-benefit pensions, etc, and less of a

tyrannical attitude from employers. Working conditions must be safe and healthy,

rather than dangerous (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class_struggle. 2006).

ii. Minor classes

Marx, as quoted in the article of Marx’s Class Struggle, noted that, but

as time moved forward, these other classes would disappear and things would

become stratified until only two classes remained which would become more and

more polarized as time went on. Other classes are the self-employed which are

people who own their own means of production, and work for themselves. Marx,

as quoted in the article, also see that these people are swept away by the march of

capitalism, such as family farms being replaced by agribusiness, or many small

stores run by their owners being replaced by a supermarket, and so forth.

Furthermore, the article also describe that managers, supervisors, white-collar

staff, and security officers, these are intermediaries between capitalists and the

proletariat. Since they are paid a wage, technically, they are workers, but they

represent of the proletariat, typically serving the capitalist’s interest

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class_struggle. 2006).
38

c. Marx’s Theory of Exploitation

In Marxism, as quoted in the article of Marx’s Theory of Exploitation,

exploitation primarily concerned with the exploitation of an entire segment or

class of society by another. This kind of exploitation is seen as being an intrinsic

feature and key element of capitalism and free markets. In fact, in Das Kapital,

Karl Marx, which quoted in the article, assumes that the existence of exploitation

is purely competitive markets. In general, it is argued that the greater the

"freedom" of the market, the greater the power of capital, and the greater the scale

of exploitation. Marxist also proposes the solution to remove exploitation is the

abolition of capitalism and its replacement by a better, non-exploitative, system of

production and distribution.

In the Marxist view, which quoted in the article, ‘normal’ exploitation is

based in three structural characteristics of capitalist society:

1. the ownership of the means of production by a small minority in society, the

capitalists;

2. the inability of non-property-owners (the workers, proletarians) to survive

without selling their labor-power to the capitalists;

3. the state, which uses its strength to protect the unequal distribution of power

and property in society.

Marxist in the article also proposes that the cause of exploitation is these

human-made institutions. The workers have little or no choice but to pay the

capitalists surplus-value, profits, interest, and rent, in exchange for their survival.
39

The workers enter the world of production where they produce commodities

which allow their employers to realize that surplus value as profit. The workers

are always threatened by the "reserve army of the unemployed". In brief, the

article explains that profit gained by the capitalist is the difference between the

value of the product made by workers and the actual wage that workers receive. In

other words, capitalism, functions based on paying workers less than the full value

product of their labor (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploitation. 2006).

d. Marx’s Theory of Alienation

In Marx's early writings, which quoted in the article of Marx’s Theory of

Alienation, states that alienation refers to the separation of things that naturally

belong together, or to antagonism between things that are properly in harmony. It

refers to the alienation of people from aspects of their “human nature.” Marx

believes that alienation is a systematic result of capitalism. His theory relies on

Feuerbach's The Essence of Christianity (1841) which argues that the idea of God

has alienated the characteristics of the human being. The article also quotes Stiner

in The Ego and Its Own (1844) who declares that even 'humanity' is an alienating

ideal for the individual, but Marx criticized him in The German Ideology (1845).

The article also proposes that alienation can be seen as a foundational

claim in Marxist theory. Hegel, which is quoted in the article, describes a

succession of historic stages in the human Geist or Spirit. He explains that by this
40

spirit progresses towards perfect self-understanding and away from ignorance

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marx%27s_theory_of_alienation. 2006).

e. Class Consciousness

The article of Marx’s Class-consciousness proposes definition class-

consciousness refers to the self-awareness of a social class and its capacity to act

in its own rational interests, or measuring the extent to which an individual is

conscious of the historical tasks their class or class allegiance sets for them.

Class-consciousness, as exposed by Georg Lukács's in History and Class

Consciousness (1920), which is quoted in the article, is opposed to any

psychological conception of consciousness which forms the basis of individual or

mass psychology. According to Lukács, each social class has a determined class-

consciousness which it can achieve. He also explains that this class-consciousness

is opposed to the liberal concept of consciousness as the basis of individual

freedom and of the social contract. According to him, which quoted in the article,

Marxist class-consciousness is not an origine, but an achievement i.e. it must be

“earned” or won. Hence, it is never assured that the proletariat's class

consciousness is the result of a permanent struggle to understand the “concrete

totality” of the historical process.

Furthermore, according to Lukács, which quoted in the article, the

proletariat was the first class in history that may achieve true class-consciousness.
41

He also states that all others classes, including the bourgeoisie, are limited to a

“false consciousness” which obstruct them from understanding the totality of

history. Instead of understanding each specific moment as a phase of the historical

process, they universalize it, claiming it is eternal. Hence, capitalism is not

thought as a specific phase of history, but is naturalized and thought as an eternal

stage. Lukács also explains, as quoted in the article, this “false consciousness,”

which forms ideology itself, is not a simple error as in classical philosophy, but an

illusion which cannot be dispelled.

In addition, Lukács, as quoted in the article, describes that proletariat is

the first class in history with the possibility to achieve a true form of class-

consciousness and realize the totality of the historical process. He also explains

that both the “object” of history which is created by the capitalist social formation.

Nevertheless, it is also the “subject” of history and thus, knowledge of itself is

knowledge of the reality and of the totality of the historical process

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class_consciousness. 2006).

f. Social Class

Social class, as quoted in the article Marx’s Social Class, refers to the

hierarchical distinctions between individuals or groups in societies or cultures.

Anthropologists, historians, and sociologists identify class as universal states that

what determines class will vary widely from one society to another. Even within a
42

society, different people or groups may have very different ideas about what

makes one "high" or "low" in the hierarchy.

Furthermore, the article also explains that the most basic class distinction

between two groups is between the powerful and the powerless. Social classes

with more power usually control classes with less power while attempting to

reinforce their own power positions in society. Social classes with a great deal of

power are usually viewed as elites, at least within their own societies.

In the simplest societies, power, as is quoted in the article, is closely

linked to the ability to defend one's status through physical strength, age, gender,

and physical health which are often common description of class in early tribes.

However, as quoted in the article, spiritual charisma and religious vision also can

be at least as important. Because, these elements are so closely interrelated in

simple societies, morality also often ensures that the old, the young, the weak, and

the sick maintain an equal standard of living, although in the low class status.

In addition, as is quoted in the article, as societies expand and become

more complex, economic power often replace physical power as the defender of

the class status quo, so that the following will establish one’s class much more so

than physical power such as:

1) occupation;

2) education and qualifications;

3) income, personal, household and per capita; and

43

4) wealth or net worth including the ownership of land, property, means of

production.

The article also describes that those who can get a power position in a

society will often adopt different lifestyles to emphasize their prestige, and as a

way to rank themselves within the powerful class. In certain times and places, the

adoption of these stylistic characteristics can be as important as one’s wealth in

determining class status. These stylistic characteristics include:

1) costume and grooming;

2) manners and cultural refinement;

3) political standing opposites the church, government, and social clubs, as well

as the use of honorary titles;

4) reputation of honor or disgrace; and

5) language.

Finally, the article concludes that idea such as race and sexual

orientation can have widely vary depend on degrees of influence on class

standing. Having characteristics of the majority ethnic group and engaging in

marriage to produce children improve one's class status in most societies.

However, the article also proposes that what is considered “racially

superior” in one society is not the same as in another society, and there have been

societies, such as ancient Greece, in which familiarity with someone who in the

same gender would improve one’s social status as long as it happened alongside

opposite-gender marriage. In addition, the article explains that a minority sexual

44

orientation and minority ethnicity have often been faked, hidden, or carefully

ignored if the person in question whether they have the requirements to be high

class. Ethnicity is also still often the single most important element of class status

in some societies (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_class. 2006).

g. The Marxist Concept of Racism

The Classical Marxist analysis of racism follows this economic-

exploitation theory in explaining racial conflicts as an expression of class

conflicts, appearing as a result of exploitation, and incurable except by ending

class exploitation. Marxist theorists identify that colonialism and capitalism play

an important role in reinforcing, if not in creating, racism. They contend that racist

notions serve the economic interests of the capitalist class in four ways (Zanden,

Vander, 1990:196):

1) ideologies of racial superiority make colonialism and racist practices

palatable and acceptable to the white masses;

2) racism is profitable, since capitalists can pay minority workers less and thus

generate greater profits for themselves;

3) racist ideologies divide the working class by putting white and minority

workers against one another a tactic of divide and conquer; and

4) capitalists require minority workers as an industrial reserve army that can be

fired during times of economic stagnation and rehired when needed for

producing profits during times of prosperity.

45

2. Economical Concept of Marxism

It is known that Marxism also manipulates our economical ideology and

becomes one of major economical streams. It is become essential for us to surf the

economical concept of Marxism to get more vivid understanding of Marxism

itself.

a. Marx’s Theory of economy

Marx's major work on political economy was Capital: A Critique of

Political Economy which is better known by the German title Das Kapital, a

three-volume work, only the first volume that was published in his lifetime and

the others were produced by Engels from Marx's notes. Marx wrote other

reference on economics i.e. Critique of Political Economy which is one of his

early works that was mostly included into Capital.

Marx begins his economic analysis of capitalism ideology with an

analysis of the commodity. The first sentence of Capital Volume I states that, as

quoted in the article of Marx’s Theory of economy: "The wealth of those societies

in which the capitalist mode of production prevails, presents itself as 'an immense

accumulation of commodities,' its unit being a single commodity." This article

also explains that under the labor theory of value, the direct value of a commodity

solely based on the labor time invested in it. However, commodities also have a

use value that is the direct utility gained from an item and an exchange value

which roughly equivalent to its market price. For example, the use value of a
46

carrot lies in eating it and no longer being hungry while its exchange value might

be found in the quantity of gold which it could be sold for.

However, this article also assumes that capitalists do not pay workers the

full value of the commodities they produce. The gap between the values of a

worker produces and his or her wages are a form of unpaid labor which is known

as surplus value. To Marx, as quoted in this article, this wage slavery constitutes a

central feature of capitalism as a mode of production. Marx gives us an example

to understand surplus value. Consider a commodity that sells for $1,000 that takes

a single worker, paid $10 per hour, ten hours to produce. The worker is being paid

only $100 to produce the commodity, so the remaining $900 is surplus value,

which is being appropriated by his or her employer. He is thus said to be working

for himself for only one of every ten hours.

Moreover, Marx notes, as quoted in this article, markets tend to obscure

the social relationships and processes of production which he termed as

commodity fetishism. Consumers see a commodity only in market terms. In

looking to obtain something as private property, they consider only its exchange

value, rather than its labor value

(Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marxian_economic.2006).

b. Means of Production

The article of Means of Production proposes definition of means of

production is means of labor are the materials, tools and other instruments used by

workers to make products. This includes machines, tools materials, plant and
47

equipment, land, raw materials, money, power generation, and so on, or anything

necessary for labor to produce. The term originates with Marx, as quoted in this

article who explicitly differentiates means of production from capital. For Marx,

means of production were the instruments and materials of labor independent of

the mode of producing and making surplus. On the other hand, means of

production become capital only within a particular set of social relations. Those

means of production participate in the process of exploiting labor for surplus

value.

Means of production, as describe in this article, is sometimes confused

with factors of production. The term factors of production are usually understood

as an explanation for income that paid to owners of each means of production and

to the workers within capitalism. This article also includes the analysis of people's

relationships with the means of production as one element that stands at the basis

of Marxism. Karl Marx focused on labor questions. He considered, as explain in

this article that a reification to treat labor as just another "factor" in production.

This implied a reversal of means, so that people who were effectively used as

things. While, the bourgeoisie includes people who own and trade in means of

production and hire workers to work for them that use those means of production

as capital assets. The bourgeois as property owner can obtain a profit from the

work of his employees because the value of output exceeds the expenditure on

wages and materials. Therefore, the bourgeois obtains a surplus value from the

work of his employees.

48

In the Marxist view, as quoted in this article, this is a form of workers

exploitation. Marxists also define economic systems in terms of how the means of

production are used which social class controls them. Thus, in capitalism the

bourgeoisie controls the means of production, while in socialism the

representatives who control them and in communism, the people themselves

control them collectively (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Means_of_production).

B. Marxist Criticism on Literature

Marxist theory, according to K.M Newton in the book Twentieth-Century

Literary Theory (1985:85), starts from the assumption that literature must be

understood in relation to the fundamental historical social society as interpreted

from a Marxist point of view. The fundamental Marxist postulate in that economic

base on a society determines the nature and the structure of the ideology,

institution, and practices (such as literature) which form the superstructure of that

society. The most direct form of Marxist criticism, what has been called ‘vulgar’

Marxism, takes the view that there is straightforward deterministic relation

between base and superstructure, so that literary text seen as casually determined

by economic base.

George Lukacs, the Hungarian theorist, in Newton (1984:85) also has the

same opinion about literature, he stated that literature is a reflection of socio-

economic reality, but he rejected the view there was a simple deterministic

relation between two. He also argues that the greatest literary works do not merely

reproduce the dominant ideologies in their time, but integrate in their form a
49

critique of these ideologies. Thus in his view the realism of the realistic

nineteenth-century novel, he was most sympathetic, what he calls ‘critical

realism’, in which he assumed that literature must not merely mimetic but include

a recognition of contradictions with in bourgeois society. To achieve this, it

sometimes has to break with realism in mimetic sense, as an example of the

exaggeration of Balzac’s character. Lukac’s artistic criterion is ‘typically’ realistic

or naturalistic works which focus on the regard as the untypical or strange works

in which technique is emphasized more than content, are criticized by him. He

thus, to be unsympathetic to modernist literature as ‘critical realism and socialist

realism’ show. But Walter Benjamin has different point of view, still in Newton

(1985:86), in his note ‘The Artist as Producer’ argues that a truly revolutionary art

must break radically with traditional form since even works which use

conventional techniques to attack capitalism will tend to merely to be consumed

by bourgeois audience. Socialist artist must place the emphasized on production

rather than consumption by using radical techniques to uncover the relations of

production and make audience to adopt a political stand of point towards them.

Despite their diversity, all Marxist theorist of literature have a simple

foundation in common that literature can only be properly understood within a

larger framework of social reality. Marxist hold theory which treats literature in

isolation, for instance as pure structure, or as a product of a writer’s individual

mental process, and keeps it in isolation divorcing it from society and history, will

be deficient in its ability to explain what literature really is.

50

Marx’s statements, according to Shelden, were intentionally provocative.

By contradicting widely accepted doctrines, Marx tries to put people trough into

reverse gear. First, philosophy has been merely air contemplation. It engaged the

time with the real world. Secondly, Hegel and his followers in German philosophy

have persuaded us that the world is governed by thoughts that the process of

history is the gradual dialectical unfolding of the law of reason and that material

existence is the expression of an immaterial spiritual essence. People have been

led to believe that their ideas, their cultural life, their legal system, and their

religion were the creation of human and Devine reason which should be regarded

as the unquestioned guides to human life. Marx reverses this formulation and

argues that all mental (ideological) systems are the products of the real social and

economic existence. The material interest of the dominant social class determines

how people see human being existence, individual, and collectives. Legal systems,

for example, are not the pure manifestation of Devine reason, but ultimately

reflect the interest of the dominant class in the particular historical time periods.

In one account, Marx described this view in term of architectural

metaphor the ‘superstructure’ (ideology, or politics) rest upon the base (socio

economic relations). To say the rest upon is not quite same as the same saying ‘is

caused by’. Marx was arguing that what we call ‘culture’ is not an independent

reality but is inseparable from the historical conditions in which human beings

create their material lives. The relations of exploitation and dominations that

govern the socio and economic order of a particular time phase of human history

will, in some sense, ‘determine’ the whole cultural life of the society (1993:71).
51

A final element, which bears crucial on the most Marxist thinking about

literature, is the concept of ideology. In ordinary usage, ‘ideology’ usually means

‘political doctrine’, ‘system of ideas’, or more generally, ‘way of thinking’.

Marxist uses ‘ideology’ as a comprehensive term to cover social consciousness in

general including such areas as religion, education, the law, the economy, social

relations and culture. Ideology is total system of such ideas. Marxist argues that

ideology always represents the values of particular social class, and is based on its

economic interest.

In different language, but in the same meaning, Shelden (1989: 153-154)

quotes from an influential definition, which was proposed by the French Marxist

Louis Althusser in his book 'Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses,

conceives ideology as the imaginary ways in which people represent to

themselves their real relationship to the world. Therefore, ideology does not refer

to 'theories', or 'Political’ or ‘ideas', or any kind of consciously formulated

propositions about society. Althusser, In Shelden, believes that ideology is like the

air we breathe and is the seemingly natural discourse which makes possible our

sense of existence as human 'subjects' (socially and psychologically). Ideology is

closely related to what we call 'common sense'. Althusser's view is different from

earlier Marxist thinkers who believed that ideology was a kind of 'false

consciousness' produced by capitalism which could be dispelled by scientific

knowledge. Althusser also believes that only Marxism possesses a 'scientific'

knowledge of ideology.
52

Marxist theory of ideology is account for literature in several ways. First,

it is important to note that some Marxist explanations of literature's relationship

with ideology are highly 'reductive'. They treat literary texts as the direct

expression of the writer's ideology or of the class whom the writer represents.

Engels' discussion, which quoted in Shelden, of Balzac's realism, in a letter to

Margaret Harkness rejects such reductivism. In addition, He shows that Balzac's

novels give a remarkably accurate and dispassionate account of the rise of the

bourgeoisie in French society, despite the fact that he was a deeply committed

royalist. It seems that ideology may be represented in literature at a 'subconscious'

level. Althusser developed this insight by showing major literature that gives us a

sense of what it is like to exist within a particular ideology and produces this

sense of 'lived' ideology because literary form is capable of showing us the nature

of ideology with a sort of aesthetic detachment. Subsequently, critics of Althusser

have suggested that in making literature which superior to ideology, he destroys

the fundamental Marxist subordination of culture to social structure. Taking a

larger historical view, Marxist critics often argue that literary forms are

themselves expressions of class ideologies. For example, the novel can be seen to

have revealed in its very form a new set of social priorities (those of the middle

classes): its emphasis upon the life-like representation of the like-like

representation of the material lives ‘rounded’ individuals is the very substance of

bourgeois ideology from Marxist viewpoint. In selecting, a form in which to work

a writer is already in a sense ideologically circumscribed.

53

In the same way, a literary text, according to Macherey in Shelden, can

show the incoherence of ideology. The presence of ideology in the text is apparent

in the silences and contradictions, which the text is driven to reveal by the very

nature of the ideology it works (Shelden, 1989: 153-154).

C. Previous Studies

The following analysis is a representation of previous studies on Daniel

Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe which selected to give the descriptions of the analysis

that have been conducted on this novel.

1. An Analysis on the Element and Type of Setting in the Daniel Defoe’s

Robinson Crusoe (Mar’atun Nafi’ah, 2005)

Mara’tun Nafi’ah is a student of Islamic State University of Malang in

her thesis with the title An Analysis on the Element and Type of Setting in the

Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe. She analyzes the element and type of setting

that used in novel. She concludes in this novel the writer using neutral type of

setting and the element of setting. The setting itself is composed of four elements

i.e. actual geographical, occupations and day-today existence, time action. The

last setting, which use in this novel is the religious, moral, intellectual, social, and

emotional environment of the characters.

2. Robinson Crusoe and Ethnic Side (Frederick Zackel, 2006)

Frederick Zackel in his critical note ‘Robinson Crusoe and Ethnic Side’

proposes the story of ‘Robinson Crusoe’ has a very large impact to our recent
54

literary works. He argues that the ‘Robinson Crusoe’ novel contains racism and

dehumanization, this can be seen in the way he treats his fellow ‘man Friday’ and

may be this story is just Daniel Defoe’s defense of his bourgeois Protestantism, a

puritan fable that praises the middle class and its work ethic (Zackel, Frederick.

http://www.Brightsfilm.com/30/crusoe 1.html. 2006).

3. The Life and Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (Stuart Sim,

2006)

Stuart Sim in his critical notes ‘The Life and Surprising Adventures of

Robinson Crusoe’, he proposes that Crusoe is story arguably the most important

on the native. However, is spiritual autobiography, which had come to play a

critical role in the development of religious nonconformist in the seventeenth

century England: nonconformist being the cultural tradition from which Defoe

himself had sprung.

Other idea he proposes tradition of writing feeds into Crusoe provides us

with one of the great advertisements for individualism in Western culture, with

Crusoe himself turning into the archetype of his wit and personal ingenuity. If we

are looking for a model of the self-sufficient individual, we need look no further

than Crusoe (Sim, Stuart, http://www.litencyc.com. 2006).

55

CHAPTER III

ANALYSIS

It has been noted previously that this study is aimed at describing the

socio-economic phenomena on Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe using Marxism

perspective. Based on this objective of the study, this chapter is divided into two

main parts. In the first part, the researcher presents and analyzes the data collected

from Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe that affirmatively reflect the forms of

socio-economic phenomena viewed from Marxist theory. The data, which might

appear in the form of class struggle, class-consciousness, or theory of human

nature, are divided into two parts, i.e. social and economic phenomena.

Furthermore, the data analyzes on the phenomena which counter Marxist ideas are

presented in the second part.

A. Marxism phenomena in the novel

In this section, the socio-economic phenomena which affirm Marxist

theory are comprehensively elaborated. The data might be in the form of class

struggle, class-consciousness, and the nature of human beings.

1. Social Phenomena

Marxist ideas appear within Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe as early as

Crusoe, the main character of the novel, begins his adventure. Crusoe, as the novel

describes, was born in York. He is the third son in his family. His parents want
56

him to be a lawyer. Crusoe, however, has other plans. One of his great desires is

to be a sailor, the first foreshadow that lies ahead for a hero. Although his father

does not allow him to go over the sea, Crusoe still insists on his wish and runs

away to reach his own dream. The initial forays of a sea-life, which are disastrous,

do not deter Crusoe’s ambition to conquer it.

My father, who was very ancient, had given me a competent share

of learning, as far as house-education and a country free school
generally goes, and designed me for the law, but I would be
satisfied with nothing but going to sea; and my inclination to this
led me so strongly against the will, nay, the commands, of my
father, and against all the entreaties and persuasions of my mother
and other friends, that there seemed to be something fatal in that
propension of nature tending directly to the life of misery which
was to befall me. (Robinson Crusoe, 7-8)

At glance, Crusoe’s disagreement upon his father’s advice to stay home

is merely a kind of a young boy’s rebellion to his family rule. Thought deeply,

however, Crusoe’s disagreement can be seen as a form of class-consciousness

which is eventually resulted from class struggle.

Crusoe is aware of his potency and capacity to act on his logical interest

and self-measure the extent to which he is conscious of his historical task. He does

not want to yield as a milky-cow of the capitalists who take profit from his labor

power and drop of sweat. He realizes that every human being has his/her own free

will to realize all his/her wishes. He believes that the ideology, which exists in his

society, is just simply the capitalists’ grand scenario to maintain their status quo to

control over this world using their rules. They claim that their rules, which

regulate many world issues such as class division, racism, and slavery, are totally

valid to be applied anytime, at any places, and for any circumstances.

57

Crusoe’s class-consciousness is also apparent when he is enslaved by the

Moor, a tribe which wretchedly hijacks his ship.

…I had apprehended, nor was I carried up the country to the

emperor's court, as the rest of our men were, but was kept by the
captain of the rover 'as his proper prize, and made his slave, being
young and nimble, and fit for his business. (Robinson Crusoe, 21)

…As my new patron, or master, had taken me home to his house,

so I was in hopes that he would take me with him when he went
to sea again, believing that it would some time or other is his fate
to be taken by a Spanish or Portugal man-of-war; and that then I
should be set at liberty. (Robinson Crusoe, 21)

…So that for two years, though I often pleased myself with the
imagination, yet I never had the least encouraging prospect of
putting in practice. (Robinson Crusoe, 21)

The above quotations show that Crusoe’s effort in finding a place where

he himself can get value of his own labor without being another person’s slave is

not easy. Although Crusoe has fallen into the hands of Moor and been enslaved

and exploited, he still believes that it must not stop him to act on his logical

interest and the extent of his historical task. He is fully aware that he can be more

than he used to be. After spending two-year tiring days, he can successfully

escape from the slavery of the Moor.

The next class-consciousness in the novel is Crusoe’s father awareness of

his social class.

He bid me observe it, and I should always find that-the calamities

of life were shared among the upper and lower part of mankind;
but that the middle station had the fewest disasters and was not
exposed to so many vicissitudes as the higher or lower part of
mankind. Nay, they were not subjected to so many distempers and
uneasiness either of body or mind as those were who, by vicious
living, luxury, and extravagancies on one hand, or by hard labor,
want of necessaries, and mean or insufficient diet on the other
hand, bring distempers upon themselves by the natural
58

consequences of their way of living; that the middle station of life

was calculated for all kind of virtues and all kind of enjoyments;
that peace and plenty were the handmaids of a middle fortune;
that temperance, - moderation, quietness, health, society, all
agreeable diversions, and all desirable pleasures, were the
blessings attending the middle station of life; that this way men.
(Robinson Crusoe, 8)

Here, Crusoe’s father has a kind of self-awareness that the best part of

life is in the middle station post in which he belongs at that time. This awareness

is not acquired in a blink of eyes, but he has observed this in his whole life based

on his experience. Through his observations and experiences, he finally assumes

that the best part of life, where he can contribute much to his historical task or

allegiance, is the middle station (part) of life. From this conclusion, the father bids

Crusoe to observe the reality of life as well as expects him to realize it and

continue the father’s historical task. However, Crusoe still feels that his capacity

to carry out the historical task is aimed not only at continuing his father’s

historical task but also at actualizing his awareness that he might reach something

bigger in his future rather that what he has gained so far.

My father, who was very ancient, had given me a competent share

of learning, as far as house-education and a country free school
generally goes, and designed me for the law, but I would be
satisfied with nothing but going to sea; and my inclination to this
led me so strongly against the will, nay, the commands, of my
father, and against all the entreaties and persuasions of my mother
and other friends, that there seemed to be something fatal in that
propension of nature tending directly to the life of misery which
was to befall me. (Robinson Crusoe, 7-8)

In relation with the above data, class-consciousness, as has been implied

before, can result class struggle. From the data above, Crusoe’s rejection or

disagreement to stay at his homeland and continue his father’s historical task is a
59

kind of class-consciousness, which also results class struggle. His father’s

explanation about all possible consequences that might be faced by Crusoe if he

still tries to break the rule of class division does not stop the young boy to go on

voyage.

He told me it was for men of desperate fortunes on one hand, or of

aspiring, superior fortunes on the other, who went abroad upon
adventures, to rise by enterprise, and make themselves famous in
undertakings of a nature out of the common road; that these things
were all either too far above me, or too far below me; that mine
was the middle state, or what might be called the upper station of
low life, which he had found by long experience was the best state
in the world, the most suited to human happiness, not exposed to
the miseries and hardships, the labor and sufferings, of the
mechanic part of mankind, and not embarrassed with the pride,
luxury, ambition, and envy of the upper part of mankind.
(Robinson Crusoe, 8)

Crusoe’s father thinks that goes on voyage is not for those who belong to

the middle class. Going on voyage, according to the father, belongs to people who

are hopeless for living and very ambitious to fame their name by undertaking the

nature out of the common road. It is, of course, too far above or below Crusoe’s

position in the middle station because it belongs to the upper or the lower class.

In the father’s point of view, going on voyage, for the members of low

class, is full of hardship, over-works, sufferings, and miseries. On the other hand,

sea-voyage, for those of the high class, is embarrassed with the pride, luxury,

ambition, and envy. Nevertheless, Crusoe still believes that it is not true to divide

society into classes and he tries to break this rule.

Crusoe wants to feel the adventure of sea-voyage which combines

between the hardship and suffering of the lower class with the pride and

enjoyment of the upper one. He wants to create the borderless life adventure. His
60

desire to affiliate the pride of the upper class in conquering the sea, the handmaid

of the middle station, and the hardship of the lower class, makes this voyage

experience unforgettable.

In this part, Crusoe tries to break the rule of class division in his society,

which divides people into classes. Crusoe’s class struggle also shows that there

are many choices of ways of life, and that there is always a way to survive

independently rather than merely depend on the shoulder of capitalists who

always try systematically to get more surpluses from the labor.

A class struggle is also obvious when Crusoe is apprehended and

enslaved by the Moors:

…I had apprehended, nor was I carried up the country to the

emperor's court, as the rest of our men were, but was kept by the
captain of the rover 'as his proper prize, and made his slave, being
young and nimble, and fit for his business. …As my new patron,
or master, had taken me home to his house, so I was in hopes that
he would take me with him when he went to sea again, believing
that it would some time or other be his fate to be taken by a
Spanish or Portugal man-of-war; and that then I should be set at
liberty…So that for two years, though I often pleased myself with
the imagination, yet I never had the least encouraging prospect of
putting in practice. (Robinson Crusoe, 21)

The above data indicate that Crusoe is apprehended in the middle of his

voyage. At this point, Crusoe continuously demonstrates his class struggle. He

does not let the capitalist – this is to say his master – to exploit his labor power

and get profit from his work in exchange of his survival. He keeps struggling for

two years before he can finally escape from the hard oppression and alienation of

his master.
61

It can be concluded from the above social phenomena which affirm

Marxist theory that Crusoe has presented himself as a real Marxist. He struggles

for his freedom from exploitation and alienation of the capitalist (his master) who

takes profit from his labor power and takes his rights away. He can also be called

as a real Marxist model that has class-consciousness and is aware of his part in

forming his historical task.

2. Economic Phenomena

The first economic phenomenon discussed in this section is about

Marxist idea of human nature performed by Crusoe. According to Marx, human

being is composed of tendencies, drives, essential powers, and instinct to act in

order to satisfy human needs. Furthermore, Marx explains that human needs are

not only sexual, food, water, and clothing which are the basic needs of human, but

also self-development which might include breadth and diversity of pursuit. This

personal development involves all-round activity, all-round development of

individuals, and free development of individuals. That is why human beings are

different to animals.

My father, who was very ancient, had given me a competent share

of learning, as far as house-education and a country free school
generally goes, and designed me for the law, but I would be
satisfied with nothing but going to sea; and my inclination to this
led me so strongly against the will, nay, the commands, of my
father, and against all the entreaties and persuasions of my mother
and other friends, that there seemed to be something fatal in that
propension of nature tending directly to the life of misery which
was to befall me. (Robinson Crusoe, 7-8)
62

The above data still have a close relationship with the rejection of young

Crusoe to his parents’ will and his friends’ persuasion. His parents and friends

persuade him to stay at his homeland and be a lawyer. Based on Marxist theory of

human nature, there are at least three possible inferences that can be taken: firstly,

this phenomenon is Crusoe’s effort to fulfill his needs in actualizing his will or

expressing his desire to go on voyage. His desire to sail on the sea becomes the

ultimate need that Crusoe has to fulfill. It can be included into all-round activity to

be actualized. Secondly, this phenomenon is a form of Crusoe’s effort who is not

satisfied with his present condition. He feels that he needs to develop himself in

other situation and find a fresh challenge which can improve his ability and

potency. Thirdly, this phenomenon is a form of Crusoe’s effort for his ultimate

fulfillment such as for money. As being told in the last part of the story, Crusoe is

busy pursuing bigger money and proving to his father that he can be more

successful by sailing rather than by staying at home and becoming what his father

wants him to be.

The following data shows Crusoe’s effort for needs fulfillment in order to

escape from the Moor. “…So that for two years, though I often pleased myself

with the imagination, yet I never had the least encouraging prospect of putting in

practice (Robinson Crusoe, 21). This quotation is derived from the story when the

Moor enslaves, alienates, and exploits Crusoe. At this moment, Crusoe feels that

he needs freedom and his right back. In the mean time, he cannot actualize this

desire. All he can do to satisfy his need is just by imagining it as his condition is

very restricted. In short, his effort to fulfill his needs is not only by actualizing it,
63

but also by imagining and hoping that his hope will come true. Still, he tries many

ways to actualize his will through his well-planned escape and his finding the

right moment to execute it.

The following data show how Crusoe takes everything that is useful for

him and can be exchanged with money. Crusoe plans to runaway and tries to

furnish himself with provisions and weapon. This data also describe one of the

natural characteristics of human beings who, according to Marxists, try to manage

and create their physical environment which can support their comfortable life.

My first contrivance was to make a pretence to speak to this

Moor, to get something for our subsistence on board; for I told
him we must not presume to eat of our patron's bread. He said that
was true; so he brought a large basket of rusk or biscuit of their
kind, and three jars with fresh water, into the boat… I conveyed
also a great lump of beeswax into the boat, which weighed above
half a hundredweight, with a parcel of twine or thread, a hatchet,
a saw, and a hammer, all of which were great use to us
afterwards, especially the wax to make candles. At the same time
I had found some powder of my master's. (Robinson Crusoe, 24)

Crusoe, as cited above, has planned well to escape from the Moors by

bringing the whole provisions and equipments to keep him survive while he is

running away from the tribe to gain his liberty. He does not forget to bring with

him a servant to help him while in his fugitive, as follows:

I could have been contented to have taken this Moor with me, and
have drowned the boy, but there was no venturing to trust him…
the boy smiled in my face, and spoke so innocently, that I could
not mistrust him, and swore to be faithful to me, and go all over
the world with me. (Robinson Crusoe, 25)

The following is related with ‘money’ as Crusoe’s drive for all his labor

work. He takes everything, for example, to fulfill his need of money. This can be

seen when he takes the animal skin off after he killed it. He also predicts that it
64

would have some values for him: “I bethought myself, however, that perhaps the

skin of him might one way or other be of some values for us; and I resolved to

take off his skins if I could. So Xury and I went to work to with him…” (Robinson

Crusoe, 30)

Crusoe’s act to utilize all sort of things that can be useful for him in

fulfilling his needs portrays him as an “acquisitive” person. This nature of Crusoe

makes him sell or exchange everything he has to be converted with money since it

is his ultimate drive. Even he has to sell Xury, his companion who has helped him

through his fugitive from the Moor to gain the liberty, to fulfill his need of money.

This case is shown as follows:

As to my boat, it was a very good one, and that he saw, and told
me he would buy it of me for the ship’s use. And asked me would
have for it? I told him he had been so generous to me in
everything, that I could not offer to make my price of the boat,
but left it entirely to him; upon which he told me he would give
me a note of his hand to pay me eighty pieces of eight for it at
Brazil, and when it came there, if any one offered to give more he
would make it up. He offered me also sixty pieces of eight for my
boy Xury, which I was loth to take; not that I was not willing to
let the captain have him, but I was very loth to sell the poor boy’s
liberty, who had assisted me faithfully in procuring my own.
(Robinson Crusoe, 35)

Crusoe’s willingness to sell everything he possesses is driven by the

desired money. Crusoe does not take much consideration to fulfill his self-interest

in searching more money. To fulfill his need of money, he even dares to exchange

other person’s liberty. Without speculating, Crusoe’s aim to save Xury in the first

place is just to make Xury as his investment. Xury, for Crusoe, is just like his

other stuff, such as animal skin, bees wax, candle, and other goods, which he

gathers while he is running away from the Moor. Although Xury has helped him
65

as a servant and slave, Crusoe still considers him as his instrument that he keeps

and uses while it is still needed, like doing his job instead of himself. Yet, once

Crusoe has done with him, the young master exchanges him with money to satisfy

his self-interest.

Crusoe’s pursuit on money is progressing. After he has saved himself

from the Moor, he tries to find an employment that produces much money for

him. He can achieve it by becoming a famer and possessing a plantation.

Therefore, he buys a plantation from the money, which he gets from the captain

who saves him and from selling his friend, boat, and animal skin. He buys this

plantation as soon as he arrives in Brazil to generate his capital and earns more

money.

“I purchased as much land that was uncured as my money would reach,

and formed a plan for my plantation and settlement, and such one as might be

suitable to the stock which I proposed to myself to receive from England”

(Robinson Crusoe, 36). This becomes the rise of Crusoe’s economic life. In the

next following years, he becomes a successful farmer and grows his plantation.

He is a truly natural utilizer. He buys slaves in order to advance his plantation so

that his plantation will produce more profit and raise his money.

Crusoe’s pursuit for money does not end when he has already grown his

plantation and reaped good profit from it. However, he continues his pursuit to

other sectors like trading goods and human. In this case, Crusoe’s attitude is in

line with Marx’s theory of human nature which proposes that human needs and

drives always develop. Human beings find a new need and drive that will replace
66

the old ones (the instrument of satisfaction). They also try to find a new way to

fulfill this need and drive (the action of satisfying). Nevertheless, the aim of these

entire things is to find the satisfaction for the human beings themselves.

My stock was but low, as well as his; and we rather planted for
food than anything else, for about two years. However, we began
to increase, and our land began to come into order; so that we
planted tobacco, and made each of us a large piece of ground
ready for planting canes in the year come. (Robinson Crusoe, 37)

He had taken care to have all sorts of tool, Iron-work and utensil
necessary for my plantations which were great use to me.
(Robinson Crusoe, 38)

I had frequently given the an account of my two voyages to the

coast of Guinea, the manner of trading with the negroes there, and
how easy it was to purchase upon the coast for trifles - such as
beads, toys, knives, scissors, hatchet, bit of glass and the like –
not only gold-dust, Guinea grains, elephant teeth, etc. but negroes,
for the service of the Brazil in great number. (Robinson Crusoe,
40)

…as it was a trade that could be carried on because they could not
publicly sell the Negroes when they came home. So they desired
to make but one voyage, to bring the negroes on shore privately,
and divide the among their own plantations; and, in a word, the
question was, whether I would go their super cargo in the ship, to
manage the trading part upon the coast of Guinea; and they
offered me that I should have my equal share of the negroes
without providing any part of the stock. (Robinson Crusoe, 41)

Crusoe, therefore, can be considered as – borrowing Adam Smith’s term

in The Wealth of Nations (1776) – ‘Homo Economicus.’ Crusoe continually exerts

himself to find out the most advantageous employment for whatever capital that

he can command. He often pushes the barrier of himself and of the society to get

more profit. Indeed, Crusoe often makes experiment in finding the most suitable

and profitable employment for himself. This can be seen when he tries to be a

sailor as the first employment that he considers suitable. However, this

67

employment still does not suit and give more profit for him. He, then, moves to

the second and the third employment, i.e. farmer and trader, even though, to some

extent, he should ignore other person’s liberty and rights.

This economic phenomenon can also be seen as human needs fulfillment

which is related to economic-product subject and economic calculation. Crusoe

has willingly admitted that his main reason for travelling is money. He knows that

it is more profitable to trade with indigenous people of non-Western cultures since

they value goods differently than Europeans. It is possible, then, to trade trinkets

that Westerners place little stock in, like buttons and baubles, for gold and

precious stones. The prime direction of a capitalist economy is increasing one’s

capital, and Robinson is hooked on it from the moment he makes his first trade.

Crusoe’s pursuit of money and profitable employment for him does not

end although his pursues always bring him into suffering. At the first trade, for

instance, he is captured and enslaved by the Moor. In the second trade, his voyage

to trade with the Negroes in Guinea, which is designed to buy some slaves in

order to advances his plantation and reap more profit, also fails because of the

great storm which makes his shipwrecks. Once more, his pursue for money brings

him into misfortune of stranded solitary in a remote inhibited island. This

phenomena show how Crusoe tries to find a new instrument to get satisfaction of

his drive for money. He conducts experiments on this trade whether or not this

new way of searching will give him more money and, of course, satisfaction.

When I waked it was brad day, the weather clear, and the storm
abated, so that, the sea did not age and swell as before. But that
which surprised me most was, that the ship lifted off in the night
from the sand where she lay, by swelling of the tide…if we had
68

kept on board we had been all safe, that is to say, we had all got
safe on shore, and I had not so miserable as to be left entirely
destitute of all comfort and company and now I was … (Robinson
Crusoe, 49)

The economic phenomena in this novel is also obvious when Crusoe

affirms that he, as human nature, has needs and drives to fulfill his basic

necessities in surviving the solitary remote island. To do so, he makes tools and

furniture, catches the fish, tames the goats, and hunts the animal.

I resolved, if possible, to get the ship; so pulled off my clothes,

for the weather was hot extremity, and took the water. But when I
cane to the ship my difficulty is still greater to how to get on
board… (Robinson Crusoe, 49)

I went to the bread-room and filled my pocket with biscuit, and

eat it as I went about other things, for I had no time… now I
wanted nothing but a boat, to furnish myself with many things
which I foresaw would be very necessary to me…(Robinson
Crusoe, 50)

The first thing Crusoe does when he is landing in this solitary island is

furnishing himself with all things which are taken from the goods that is not

spoiled in his ship. Crusoe’s action reflects human nature which, according to

Marx concept, is composed of ‘tendencies’, ’drives’, ‘ essential powers’, and

‘instinct’. These compositions motivate people to work in order to satisfy their

need for external objectives. Humans also try to create their physical environment

that supports their survival. In short, they will try to create a condition that is

conducive for their health and survival.

This phenomenon also portrays how Crusoe as utilizer is able to

maximize all things around him which can support him to survive in the island not

only for few days ahead but also for longer probability. He takes not only food but
69

also other things like guns to protect him from any threat. He also takes stuff such

as hatchet, several books, ink, watch, ledger and other several other things that can

help him to survive in the island.

In search of a place proper for this, I found a little plain on the

side a rising hill, whose front towards this little plain was steep as
a house-side, so that nothing come down upon me from the top;
on the side of this rock there was a hollow place, worn a little way
in, like the entrance or door of a cave; but there was not really any
cave, or way into the rock at all. (Robinson Crusoe, 58)

I consulted several things in my situation, which I found would

proper for me. First, health and fresh water, I just now mentioned.
Secondly, shelter from the heat of the sun. Thirdly, security from
the ravenous creatures, whether men or beast. Fourthly, a view to
the sea, that if god sent any ship in sight I might not lose any
advantage for my deliverance, of which I was not willing to
banish all my expectation yet. (Robinson Crusoe, 58)

The second thing he does when he is landing in the island is finding

home or shelter for him. In this case, Crusoe employs Marx concept of human

nature as purposive producer, especially in the way he creates and chooses the

habitation. Crusoe takes much consideration to decide his settlement. He puts

water and health as the first consideration in choosing it since he knows that

health and fresh water are very important for human beings’ survival. The second

consideration he takes is good shelter to protect him from any threat. He also

realizes that living in a wild world is dangerous. He also wants his shelter to

protect him from the dangers that could be fallen into him such as from wild

animal, the heat of the sun at noon, the cold at night, and the rain. The last

consideration he puts forward is that he needs a good view to the sea since he is

stranded in the island and does not want to stay there forever. Therefore, he does
70

not want to lose any chance of seeing anyone or ship that can save him from the

island and bring him back to where he belongs.

I searched for cassava root, which the Indians, in all that climate,
make their bread of, but I could not find one, I saw a large plants
of aloes, I saw several sugar-canes, but wild, and, for want of
cultivation, imperfect… (Robinson Crusoe, 96)

In this part I found different fruits, and particularly I found

melons upon the ground in great abundance and grapes upon the
trees. The vines had spreads indeed over the trees, and the clusters
grapes were just now in their prime, very ripe and rich. (Robinson
Crusoe, 96)

When came home from this journey, I contemplated with great

pleasure the fruitfulness of valley, and the pleasantness of the
situations; (Robinson Crusoe, 98)

The next thing he does in the solitary island to maintain his existence is

trying to find new food resources which can supply him with food since his

supply from the debris of the ship is not lasting forever. Therefore, he goes to find

other sources of food. The above data shows how Crusoe can maximize the

natural source to supply him with food such as melon, sugar-cane, and grapes.

Crusoe also appears as an excellent survivor. This can be seen in the way

he manages his well-being. He contrives his food supply by not depending his

source of food simply on the fruit, but he also tries to search other sources of food

in case that runs out of fruits. He tries to find these new sources by doing many

things such as fishing, hunting, and taming goat.

I went out with my gun, and killed two fowls like ducks, which
were very good food. (Robinson Crusoe, 70)

…killed a young goat, and lamed another, so that I catched it, and
led it home in a string. When had it home, I bound and splintered
up its leg, which was broke. N.B. I - took such care of it, that it
lived; and the leg grew well and as strong as ever; but by my
71

nursing it so long it grew tame, and fed upon the little green at my
door, and would not go away. This way the first time that
entertained a thought of breed up some tame creatures, that I
might have food when my powder and shot was all spent.
(Robinson Crusoe, 74)

Once more Crusoe presents himself as a good survivor and master of

utilizer of the natural resources. He can manage the natural resources to help him

in maintaining his well-being and supply his necessities. He can predict his future

necessities and the way to resolve it. Before the problem comes, he has already

made some way out of it in case it really happens to him like lacking of food. He

already prepares for this coming problem and makes his own resource that can be

managed and organized for his purpose.

Besides furnishing himself by stock of food, he also makes some tools

and furniture to help him survive in the island. Since there is no one who can help

him there.

…In the afternoon I went to work to make me a table. (Robinson

Crusoe, 70)

These three days I spent in making little square chest or boxes.

(Robinson Crusoe, 71)

…three things I wanted exceeding for this work, viz., a pick-axe,

a shovel, and wheelbarrow or basket; so I desisted from my work,
and began to consider how to supply that want, and make me
some tools. (Robinson Crusoe, 72)

Again, Crusoe stands in line with the Marxist idea of human being as

purposive producer. Here, he makes his tool and furniture to make his life easier

to run. He tries to furnish himself with tools and furniture to make him feel

comfortable to live in the solitary island although he has no friends, family, or

even other human to socialize. This is also one way of fulfilling his necessities to
72

survive in the island. This phenomenon also affirms Marxist theory of human

nature, which assumes that the human needs develop time by time. This can be

seen since the first time Crusoe arrives in the island. The first thing he does is

finding food and good shelter as his home, but as the time goes on, he continues to

find new need and new satisfaction.

In sum, Crusoe has applied Marx’s theory of human nature. As

explained previously, he moves from one place to another based on his needs,

drives, and ultimate tendencies to act in order to satisfy his desire. The basic

reason for his leaving his home is the economic problem; ‘money.’ He believes

that trading is the most promising job that can earn him much money although his

pursue of money also brings him into misery and unforgettable adventure with all

its extravagancies.

B. The Counter to Marxist Ideas

This part only discusses the social and economic phenomena which

counter Marxist theory. The data that will be discussed in this section are class

division, racism, exploitation, alienation, and means of production.

1. Social Phenomena

The first Social phenomenon is class division. This can be found in the

first part of the story. Crusoe’s father advises Crusoe to stay at home instead of

going to sea. Crusoe’s father explains that going on voyage is not for those who

belong to middle class. Going on voyage is for the members of either lower class
73

who search for a living or upper class who go on voyage simply for enjoyment

and a matter of pride.

He told me it was for men of desperate fortunes on one hand, or of

aspiring, superior fortunes on the other, who went abroad upon
adventures, to rise by enterprise, and make themselves famous in
undertakings of a nature out of the common road; that these things
were all either too far above me, or too far below me; that mine
was the middle state, or what might be called the upper station of
low life, which he had found by long experience was the best state
in the world, the most suited to human happiness, not exposed to
the miseries and hardships, the labor and sufferings, of the
mechanic part of mankind, and not embarrassed with the pride,
luxury, ambition, and envy of the upper part of mankind.
(Robinson Crusoe, 8)

The father also advises Crusoe that the middle-class life, which he

belongs to, is the best station of life. He describes that upper class is a place for

very rich people who think that going on sea is a matter of pride. The upper part

of life is full of luxuries without any hard work as well as of ambition and envy.

In contrast, the low life part is a station of life which is full of miseries, hard work,

labor, and all insufficiencies in life. Meanwhile, the middle station of life is the

best station of life. He assumes that this station of life is the most suitable for

human beings’ happiness, has least disaster, and could flourish all kind of

enjoyment such as peace, health, and society.

He bid me observe it, and I should always find that-the calamities

of life were shared among the upper and lower part of mankind;
but that the middle station had the fewest disasters and was not
exposed to so many vicissitudes as the higher or lower part of
mankind. Nay, they were not subjected to so many distempers and
uneasiness either of body or mind as those were who, by vicious
living, luxury, and extravagancies on one hand, or by hard labor,
want of necessaries, and mean or insufficient diet on the other
hand, bring distempers upon themselves by the natural
consequences of their way of living; that the middle station of life
74

was calculated for all kind of virtues and all kind of enjoyments;
that peace and plenty were the handmaids of a middle fortune;
that temperance, - moderation, quietness, health, society, all
agreeable diversions, and all desirable pleasures, were the
blessings attending the middle station of life; that this way men.
(Robinson Crusoe, 8)

From the above explanation, it seems that Crusoe’s father classifies

social class in the society into three big classes based on their work, pleasure, and

difficulty of life. The first is the upper class. He describes that this social class,

which is full of enjoyment and luxury, is a place for people who have high

aspiring of life to conquer the sea and posses the superior life of fortune. This part

of life, however, is also embraced with many vicissitudes, ambition, and envy of

the upper part of humankind. The next social class is the middle station. This part

of life, according to Crusoe’s father, is the best place for human beings. This is

one part of life which he calls as the upper part of low life. This part of life has

more advantages than the other parts of life, such as that this part of life is

calculated for all kind of virtues and all kind of enjoyments. This is part of life

where peace and plenty of a middle fortune, temperance, moderation, quietness,

health, society, all agreeable diversions, and all desirable pleasures, are the

blessings attending the middle station of life. This part of life is neither exposed to

the miseries, hardships, and sufferings of the mechanic part of mankind nor

embarrassed with the pride, luxury, ambition, and envy of the upper part of

mankind. The last is the lower class whose members is surrounded with all kinds

of miseries, hardship of life, labor sufferings, insufficient diet, and uneasiness of

either body or mind.

75

Other social phenomenon that can be found in the novel is alienation.

This can be found when Crusoe is apprehended and enslaved by the Moor.

Crusoe, as a slave, is alienated from his ‘human nature’ aspects. He is alienated

from the freedom of will and his liberty. Crusoe is forced to work in his master’s

house. He works for his master’s life and survival. He works to get food from his

master. Thus, he lost some of his rights of, especially, freedom.

I had apprehended, nor was I carried up the country to the

emperor's court, as the rest of our men were, but was kept by the
captain of the rover 'as his proper prize, and made his slave, being
young and nimble, and fit for his business…As my new patron, or
master, had taken me home to his house, so I was in hopes that he
would take me with him when he went to sea again, believing that
it would some time or other be his fate to be taken by a Spanish or
Portugal man-of-war; and that then I should be set at liberty.
(Robinson Crusoe, 21)

However, we got well in again, though with a great deal of labor,

and some danger, for the wind began to blow pretty fresh in the
morning: but particularly we were all very hungry. (Robinson
Crusoe, 22)

The above data shows that both Crusoe and his companion as the

prisoners of the Moor are experiencing slavery. They are captured and seized by

the Moor who has taken away their liberty. Crusoe is taken to his master’s house

to work where he, as a slave, experiences alienation. He has to work hard and be

in danger although he is very hungry and weak.

There is also other social phenomenon that can be seen in the preceding

quotation, i.e. exploitation. Besides alienating, his master also exploits Crusoe to

work in the master’s house. He has to work without any payment in exchange of

his labor power. Crusoe’s master exploits him to do his common drudgery instead

of himself and tries to get more profit from his labor power since, unlike what the
76

master does to other employees, he does not need to pay Crusoe’s labor power.

Crusoe’s master also does not have to fulfill other obligation to his worker who is

not slave, i.e. mutual relationship.

The following citation also shows how exploitation occurs in the story:

“I mean in the advancement of my plantation, for the first thing I did, I bought me

a negro slave, and a European servant also: I mean another besides that which the

captain brought me from Lisbon” (Robinson Crusoe, 39)

Based on the quotation, Crusoe plans to buy some Negro slave to

advance his plantation that needs more labor. These Negro’s condition is the same

as Crusoe’s while he used to be enslaved by the Moor. These Negros are

exploited. They lost control of their labor power and are seized from their nature

right. They are as other common commodity that capitalists use to make their

capital grows bigger. These Negro slaves sell their labor power in exchange of

their life survival.

Social phenomenon of racism found in the novel is apparent in the

following condition:

He offered me also sixty pieces of eight for my boy Xury, which I

was loth to take; not that I was not willing to let the captain have
him, but I was very loth to sell the poor .boy's liberty, who had
assisted me so faithfully in procuring my own. (Robinson Crusoe,
35)

The above data describes racism found in the novel. This racism is

included into racial prejudice, i.e. Crusoe’s prejudice upon his Negro friend, Xury.

He considers Xury as his property which can be uses or sold in accordance with

his will. Crusoe’s prejudice does not change although Xury has helped him
77

through the danger of the Moor. Crusoe wants to sell Xury just for sixty pieces of

eight of money, instead of the loyalty and assistance of Xury. Furthermore, he

sells another person liberty for the sake of money. It is also not true to regard

someone as their possession just because of the color of their skin or because

Xury have given him his word to be faithful to him. Despite, Crusoe also has

rescued Xury’s life from the Moor.

This social phenomenon includes the racial prejudice of the whites to the

color skin people. The white people regard the others color of skins, especially

blacks, which is not white, is can be converted to their property. They also think

that they can use the color skin people for the sake of their well being and

prosperity. Another point that supports this analysis is in the dialog below:

I mean in the advancement of my plantation, for the first thing I

did, I bought me a negro slave, and a European servant also: I
mean another besides that which the captain brought me from
Lisbon. (Robinson Crusoe, 39)

They listened always attentively to my discourse on these heads,

but especially to that part which related to the buying negroes;
which was a trade, at that time, not only not far entered into, but,
as far as it was, had been carried on by assiento, or permission, of
the King of Spain and Portugal, and engrossed in the public, so
that few negroes were brought, and those excessive dear.
(Robinson Crusoe, 40)

The data above describes that Crusoe’s aim to buy Negro slaves is for the

sake of the advancement of his plantation. The only reason for bringing the slave

is to make him easier to run the plantation. He does not realize that he has taken

away other persons liberty, alienated, and exploited them to work in his

plantation. These people have to suffer and lose their freedom for the sake of the

advancement of Crusoe’s plantation. The slaves for him are an instrument that
78

makes their business run better and get more profit. Crusoe also regard these

slaves as his commodities which can be traded as other commodity in his

plantation. The government’s, where they live, laws also support this prejudice.

This can be seen in the law that they make to regulate slavery which give the

permission for their subject to trade slave. The government legalizes the slave

trading as legalizes other goods trading.

Crusoe’s prejudice towards the colored people does not change although

after 25 years cast away on inhibited island. This can be seen when he plans to

captured the savages to be his slave. “I fancied myself able to manage one, nay,

two or three savages, if I had them, so as to make them entirely slaves to me, to do

whatever I should direct them, and to prevent their being able at anytime to do me

any hurt” (Robinson Crusoe, 192)

Crusoe’s racist prejudice toward colored skin people still exists in him.

Crusoe considers colored skin people are just like a wild animal that has to be

captured and tamed. So he can use and manage them for his purposes. He also

assumes that the colored people are simply instruments to make his life easier.

However, sometimes he also considers these people as a threat to his well-being.

Furthermore, Crusoe never actually avows that the “poor savage” he has

saved is “human.” He always described this “poor savage” as poor creature. This

phenomenon can be seen in the data below: “Pointing to a place where I had laid a

great parcel of rice-straw, and a blanket upon it, which I used to sleep upon myself

sometimes; so the poor creature laid down and went to sleep.” (Robinson Crusoe,

197)
79

Crusoe, as in the data above, clearly calls his new companion as “poor

creature.” This treatment happens continuously to other form of treatment.

Crusoe’s other treatment is such as in the way giving name his color skin

companion. He gives him name “Friday.” This name is the common thing for the

European to name their slave with “January,” Saturday, etc. He is very pleased

when Friday shows Crusoe his humble attitudes. Friday also gives all of his faith

and subservience to him. Crusoe also teaches Friday the thing that he has to do to

serve Crusoe and make him pleased. Although Friday has been live with him for

long time, Crusoe’s racist prejudice over Friday does not change. Crusoe also still

does not consider Friday as a man as himself. Even though, he has mingled with

him, talked to him and served him with all of passion and subservience for him.

The reasons for Crusoe gives him clothes, teaches him to speak in

English, tells him how to eat and drink in Crusoe’s manner, and other things, is to

make his job easier. Crusoe also wants to create Friday as the perfect servant who

can do everything that he command for the sake of his own pleasured. This can be

seen in the description below:

“I was greatly delighted with him, and made it my business to teach him

everything that was proper to make him useful, handy, and helpful; but especially

to make him speak, and understand me when I spake” (Robinson Crusoe, 202).

Crusoe successfully teaches Friday to speak and master several skills that

he thinks is needed by Friday. The exploitation against Friday continuously

happened. Crusoe made Friday work for him to do every work which he used to

do. The first work skill he teaches is how to make and serve Crusoe’s food.
80

The next day I set him to work to beating some corn out, and
sifting it in the manner I used to do, as I observed before; and he
soon understood how to do it as well as I… for after I let him see
me make my bread, and bake it too; and in a little time Friday was
able to do all work for me, as well as, I could do it myself.
(Robinson Crusoe, 204)

The following phenomenon becomes the second skill that Friday has to

be mastered that Crusoe design for him so that Friday can replace him in doing his

job.

… Began to fence in the same manner before, in which Friday not

only worked very willingly and very hard, but did it very
cheerfully; …I had much more labor upon me on his account than
I had for myself; and that he would work the harder for me, if I
would tell him what to do. (Robinson Crusoe, 205)

Although Friday has served and imitated Crusoe’s way of life, but Friday

for him is just like an animal that he teaches to speak and behave like human.

Crusoe still thinks that Friday is merely his pet that doing his job and means to

achieve his purpose. “I might find my opportunity to make my escape from this

place, and that this poor savage might be a means to help me to do it” (Robinson

Crusoe, 208)

In sum, the social phenomena that resist Marxist theory in this novel are

very various. In the beginning of the analysis is concerning with the class division

which is described by Crusoe’s father. He describes that there are three stations of

life i.e. the upper part, the middle part, and the low life part. He also defines each

class based on the pleasured and the hardness of life people get it in each class.

This novel also exposes some slavery phenomena which also relates to

exploitation and alienation. These, social phenomena are also experienced by

Crusoe and some other people in this novel. The last but not least, the social
81

phenomenon that discovered in this novel is the racism. This social phenomenon

includes the prejudice to certain race which results alienation and exploitation to it

members. After finding the Social phenomena of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel

Defoe that resist Marxism theory, the researcher intends to go to the next analysis

in finding the Economic phenomena in this novel that resist Marxism theory.

2. Economic Phenomena

This is the second part of the analysis. This part focuses on the economic

phenomena which counter Marxism theory in the novel of Daniel Defoe’s

Robinson Crusoe. In this section the data which may appear in this analysis such

as economic exploitation, and means of production.

The first economic phenomenon is economic exploitation. This

phenomenon can be seen from the aim of the sale rovers to capture people. Their

aim to capture this people is to convert them to be their slave. These slaves

eventually will be used to work for their business. This economic phenomenon is

shown on the data below:

I had apprehended, nor was I carried up the country to the

emperor's court, as the rest of our men were, but was kept by the
captain of the rover 'as his proper prize, and made his slave, being
young and nimble, and fit for his business… he left me on shore
to look after his little garden, and do the common drudgery of
slave about his house; and when came home again from his
cruise, he ordered me to lie in the cabin to look after the ship.
(Robinson Crusoe, 21)

However, we got well in again, though with a great deal of labor, and
some danger, for the wind began to blow pretty fresh in the morning:
but particularly we were all very hungry. (Robinson Crusoe, 22)
82

The above describe that people who captured by the Moor is converted to

be their commodity. This slave is not only expendable, cheap, and changeable

source, but also very effective and efficient labor source. Because they do not

have to pay for slaves wage for the exchange of their labor and make some

balanced share profit for them.

Next economical phenomenon which is counter Marxist theory in this

novel is means of production. In line with Marxist means of productions that this

means of production include means of labor materials, tools, and other instrument

use by worker to make product. In this novel, some data show people labor power

as the main tool of production and natural source as the main source of raw

material supplier.

My stock was but low, as well as his; and we rather planted for food
than anything else, for about two years. However, we began to increase,
and our land began to come into order; so that we planted tobacco, and
made each of us a large piece of ground ready for planting canes in the
year come. (Robinson Crusoe: 37)

… to bring the negroes on shore privately, and divide the among their
own plantations; and... I should have my equal share of the negroes
without providing any part of the stock. (Robinson Crusoe: 41)

Crusoe in his plantation operations use and maximize the natural

potency to plant his crops. He also uses slave labor power in order to get cheap

labor power source. Therefore, he can earn more profit from the work of his

employees. Since the value output exceeds the outlay wages and materials.

Another means of production that can be found in this novel is:

I had frequently given the an account of my two voyages to the coast of

Guinea, the manner of trading with the negroes there, and how easy it
was to purchase upon the coast for trifles - such as beads, toys, knives,
scissors, hatchet, bit of glass and the like – not only gold-dust, Guinea
83

grains, elephant teeth, etc. but negroes, for the service of the Brazil in
great number. (Robinson Crusoe: 40)

In the above data the means of production in this phenomenon is not

different from the previous means of production. The difference from the previous

is that this is not in plantation but in shipping trade. But basically is the same as

the previous phenomena. The capitalist aim uses cheap labor power from the slave

is to earn bigger profit from the difference of value of good they sold and profit

the work of his employees.

In sum, from this broad analysis we can found several economic

phenomena in Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe novel. The first economic

phenomenon found in this novel is economic exploitation. This can be seen in the

manner of the Moor converts his enemy that they captured to be their commodity.

This commodity is used to work for them. The last but not least, there are

economic phenomena of the mode and means of production that found in this

novel Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe i.e. trading and Feudalism. These two

phenomena use slave labor power as the motor of their business in order to

generate profit from the trading and plantation. Their source of raw material is

still counting on the supply of the natural source to cover the production material.

In these modes of production, governments also play a big role in designing the

laws and rule these two kinds of business.

84

CHAPTER IV

CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION

A. Conclusion

Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe is a novel about the life journey of

Robinson Crusoe. He is a central character in this novel. This story takes place in

several places such as in London, Brazil and in remote island near the mouth of

the Orinoco river. This novel mainly tells life journey of Robinson Crusoe and his

life experiences that he gets it in the journey. This novel tries to record every

socio-economic relationship which is the main character found in his journey.

This novel also gives a new way of perspective in telling story in the novel at this

age. The new telling perspective in this novel is that most novels are concerned

with the ordinary people and problems in the societies in which they find

themselves. This, then, often the case even when the pattern to be broken:

Robinson Crusoe presents a man alone on the desert island; some novels such as

Tolkien’s the Lord of the Rings, have animals as central characters; but even these

novels are dealing indirectly with man in the social world (Peck & Coyle,

1986:102).

Throughout the novel, Defoe mainly tells a tale of one character of

Robinson Crusoe in running his life. This story begins from Crusoe’s rebellion to

his family pretension. Other character that Defoe includes in this novel such as:

1. Crusoe’s father, a captain, that takes Crusoe in his first voyage;

2. Xury a black people that Crusoe save, while is escaping from the Moor;
85

3. Portuguese captain who save Crusoe from the Moor;

4. captain of the ship who takes him in his profitable trades;

5. the captain widow’s who keep his treasure;

6. Friday, one savage who he save and ‘Civilizes’ him and some other character

which is not closely related to the story. Through these sorts of characters, Defoe

narrates life journey of Crusoe that full of socio-economic phenomena that

recorded in this study.

The socio-economic phenomena in this novel take in two main forms i.e.

the forms socio-economic phenomena which affirm Marxist theory and counter

Marxist theory. The data on each form, the phenomena which affirm Marxist

theory and counter Marxist theory, are also divided into two parts i.e. social

phenomena and economic phenomena. Socio-economic phenomena that affirm

Marxist theory include the form of class struggle, class-consciousness, and nature

of human. The same as the previous phenomena separation, the counter to Marxist

ideas data are also divided into two into two parts social phenomena and

economic phenomena. These Socio-economic phenomena include class division,

slavery, exploitation, alienation, and means of production.

The first section concerns with the social phenomenon which affirm

Marxist idea of class consciousness. This social phenomenon revealed when

Crusoe stands against his father pretension. Another Crusoe’s class-consciousness

when he fights to escape from the slavery of the Moor. Crusoe is aware of his

potency and capacity to act on his logical interest and self-measure the extent to

which he is conscious of his historical task. He does not want to yield as a milky-
86

cow of the capitalists who take profit from his labor power and drop of sweat. He

realizes that every human being has his/her own free will to realize all his/her

wishes. He believes that the ideology, which exists in his society, is just simply

the capitalists’ grand scenario to maintain their status quo to control over this

world using their rules. They claim that their rules, which regulate many world

issues such as class division, racism, and slavery, are totally valid to be applied

anytime, at any places, and for any circumstances.

Other social phenomenon that can be found in this novel is Crusoe’s

father class-consciousness. This can be seen in the way he describes the life

reality. He explains to Crusoe about the life class. Crusoe’s father assumes that his

level of social is the best position to extent his historical task. Crusoe’s father

class-consciousness is acquired through long life experience.

Class-consciousness may result class struggle to every person who owns

it. This can be seen on the class struggle of Crusoe to go on voyage. Although his

father has forbidden him, he still insists to go. In this part, Crusoe tries to break

the rule of class division in his society, which divides people into classes.

Crusoe’s class struggle also shows that there are many choices of ways of life, and

that there is always a way to survive independently rather than merely depend on

the shoulder of capitalists who always try systematically to get more surpluses

from the labor. Other Class-consciousness that found in the novel is Crusoe’s

effort escape from the Moor. At this point, Crusoe continuously demonstrates his

class struggle. He does not let the capitalist – this is to say his master – to exploit

his labor power and get profit from his work in exchange of his survival. He keeps
87

struggling for two years before he can finally escape from the hard oppression and

alienation of his master.

The second part of the analysis is concerning with the economic

phenomena that affirm the Marxist theory. The first economic phenomenon is

concerning with the effort of Crusoe fulfilling his tendencies, drives, essential

powers, and instinct. This phenomenon also includes his act in order to satisfy

needs. Crusoe’s needs are not only limited to sexual, food, water, clothing, but

also, develop to breadth and diversity of pursuit and even of personal

development. In this economic phenomenon, Crusoe demonstrates his ultimate

tendency and drive is money.

In this economic phenomenon, Crusoe can be considered as – borrowing

Adam Smith’s term in The Wealth of Nations (1776) – ‘homo economicus.’

Crusoe continually exerts himself to find out the most advantageous employment

for whatever capital that he can command. He often pushes the barrier of himself

and of the society to get more profit. Indeed, Crusoe often makes experiment in

finding the most suitable and profitable employment for himself. This can be seen

when he tries to be a sailor as the first employment that he considers suitable.

However, this employment still does not suit and give more profit for him. He,

then, moves to the second and the third employment, i.e. farmer and trader, even

though, to some extent, he should ignore other person’s liberty and rights.

The next economic phenomenon is the human needs fulfillment. The

economic phenomena in this novel is also obvious when Crusoe affirms that he, as

human nature, has needs and drives to fulfill his basic necessities in surviving the
88

solitary remote island. He plans the best suitable place for his habitation which

will support his survival. He plans well all the possibilities that will happen. He

learns everything that will help him to survive in this solitary island, such as

planting corn, pottery, breeding goats, hunting, and fishing.

Whereas, the socio-economic phenomena that counter to Marxist are also

presented into two parts. The social phenomena include class division, slavery,

exploitation, and alienation. The first phenomenon is class division. This

phenomenon found in Crusoe father explanation. He explains it to Crusoe in order

to prevent him going on voyage. He describes that there are three main social

class i.e. upper life class, middle life class and low life class. These classes are

divide base on their pleasure and life difficulty. The first class is upper part of life.

He describes that this class of life as station of life, which is full of the joy of life.

This is place for people who has high aspiring of life to conquer the sea, has the

superior life of fortune, and full of luxury. Nevertheless, in the other hand, this

part of life also embraced with many vicissitudes and ambition, and envy of the

upper part of humankind. The next social class is the middle life part. This part of

life, he assumes as the best place for human. This part of life that he calls as the

upper part of low life has many advantages than others part of life. He explains

that this part of life is calculated for all kind of virtues and all kind of enjoyments.

This part of life is full of peace and plenty of middle fortunes, that temperance,

moderation, quietness, health, society, are the blessings attending the middle

station of life. This part of life is not exposed to the miseries and hardships, the

labor and sufferings, low life part and not embarrassed with the pride, luxury,
89

ambition, and envy of the upper part of humankind. Finally, the last social class is

the low life part, this part of life he describes as the worst station of life. People

who live in this part of life are full of miseries, hardship of life, labor sufferings,

insufficient diet, and uneasiness either of body or of mind.

The next social phenomena are alienation and exploitation. Crusoe

experiences these phenomena at the same time while the Moor enslaves him.

When the Moor enslaves him, he is alienated from his human right that has liberty

and right as free human. His master exploits him to work on drudgery. He also

works on inhuman work situation. He has to work although he is very weak and

hungry.

Next social phenomenon is racism. The racism phenomenon that found

in this novel is categorized into racial prejudice. The white people regard others

color of skins, especially blacks, which is not white, can be converted to their

property and use them for the sake of their well being and prosperity. Xury,

Friday and some Negro people also experience this social phenomenon. Xury is

color skin people who Crusoe has saved while escape from the Moor. However,

eventually he is sold to the Portuguese. The Negro trading happens in Spain and

Portugal where the kingdom legalized this kind of trading. Crusoe uses and buys

slave to advance his plantation in Brazil. Form of racism that experienced by

Friday is almost the same. Crusoe’s aim to save him is to make him as his servant

who can help him to survive and to escape from the island.

The counter to Marxist in economic phenomena is in the form of means

of production. The means of production in this novel are trading and Feudalism.
90

This phenomenon is using slave labor power as the means of production in order

to generate bigger profit from the trading of plantation. It source of raw material is

still relying on the supply of the natural source.

From the analysis above, there are two opposite socio-economic

phenomena in that found in this novel. In one side the main character practices the

Marxist theory but in the other side he also practices an act that against Marxism.

However, there is a relationship between these two contradictory phenomena. It

seems that Defoe tries to present a model of true European conquer. He gives an

example that the truly European ruler will sacrifice and safe the people who lost in

their life, like what Jesus have done to his clan.

Defoe also emphasizes the great role spirit of struggle. He tries to

describe that spirit of struggle is the key of Crusoe survival in his life. Crusoe’s

spirit of struggle is really tested since he leaves home and faces the great storm

and slavery. Still he never gives up his hope to be an independent man and to

prove to the world it is our choice to be exploited or to exploit. His struggle spirit

again tested while he cats away in a remote island. Here once again Crusoe simply

give of an example of spirit of struggle to keep survive although in a very hard

situation.

The finally yet importantly, Defoe also tries to describe that an idea of

racist prejudice and his pursuit of money is not the right thing to do. Crusoe start

to acknowledge Friday as his mate and human as himself. He eliminates his racial

prejudice towards Friday. He also gives some his part of wealth for charity.
91

The above explanation has convincingly proven the analysis of Socio-

economic phenomena from the perspective of Marxist in Daniel Defoe’s Robinson

Crusoe found several socio-economic phenomena i.e. class struggle, class-

consciousness, class struggle, alienation, exploitation, human nature theory, and

means of production. More important, He also stresses the free will of human and

the power of struggle spirit to reach our destiny and survive in our life.

B. Suggestion

After analyzing and concluding the analysis, in this part the researcher

would like to convey the researcher’s suggestion and hope. Socio-economic

phenomena are very interesting to be observed. By analyzing the socio-economic

phenomena, using Marxist perspective on Daniel Defoe Robinson Crusoe the

researcher is able to take several lessons. First, human is free purposive producer

and free to decide their destiny. Second, if we want to survive in this world human

must have struggle spirit to obtain our ultimate drive. The last is any place in this

world where exploitation and alienation exist, there will be class struggle and

resistance.

The researcher also hopes that any kind of act that harm other people

which found in this novel i.e. exploitation, alienation, slavery, racism, etc is not

applicable in any part of this earth and it is must be eliminated from this world.

On the contrary, we must take every good example that shown and found in this

novel. This novel is also able to arouse the spirit to be hard struggle person, in

order to success and survive in this world.

92

For the next researchers analyzing socio-economic phenomena in Daniel

Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe using Marxism perspective is not the only aspect that

interesting to be analyzed. There is much other interesting aspect that interesting

to be applied to analyze this novel such as political, economical, religious and

psychological. These aspects should be a challenge for the literary researchers to

be explored deeply. The researcher hopes that there will be another analysis about

aspects of Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe.

However, Robinson Crusoe, is not the only the Daniel Defoe’s famous

works. There is still many other work of Daniel Defoe that is not strange anymore

for the literary lovers. Therefore, the researcher will be waiting for another

analysis of other work of Daniel Defoe. As a matter of fact, literary work always

developed. Today, there are so many writers have created numerous literary

works. All kind of literary works, whether it is poem, prose, or drama, should be

appreciated. One way to appreciate them is by analyzed them. By analyzing, we

can also find the messages that are conveyed by the author through his or her

works. Finally, we can get new lesson and knowledge about literary works and

something inside it.

The last, analyzing novel is something that not easy and surely there will

be many mistakes in this study. Therefore, the researcher hopes critics from the

readers so that the researcher can present a better and more perfect study in the

later opportunity.
93

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Abrams, M.H. 1953. The Mirror and the Lamp. New York: Oxford University
Press.

Bogdan, Robert C. & Biklen, Sari Knopp. 1998. Qualitative Research for
Education; An Introduction to Theory and Methods (3rd ed.). Boston:
Allyn & Bacon.

Culler, Jonathan. 1977. The Pursuit of Sign, Semiotics, Literature,

Deconstruction. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.

Culler, Jonathan. 1997. Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction. New York:
Oxford University Press.

Defoe, Daniel. 2004. Robinson Crusoe. India: Tiny tot.

Fowter, Roger. 1987. Modern Critical Terms. New York: Macmillan Publishing
Co.

Forgacs. 2006. Http://Social.Chas.nesu.edu.

Holman, C. Hugh. 1970. A Handbook to Literature. Indianapolis: The Odyssey
Press.

Moleong, Lexy J. 2002. Metodologi Penelitian Kualitatif. Bandung: Rosdakarya

Newton, K.M. 1984. Twentieth-Century Literary Theory. New York: St. Martin
Press

Peck, John & Coyle, Martin. 1984. Literary Terms and Criticism. New York:
MacMillan Publishing Inc.

Soeratno, Siti Chamamah. 1994. Teori Penelitian Sastra. Yogjakarta. Masyarakat

Poetika Indonesia.

Scott, Wilbur S. 1962. Five Approaches of Literary Criticism: an Arrangement of

Contemporary Critical Essays. New York: Collier Books.

Shelden, Raman & Widdowson, Peter. 1993. A Reader’s Guide to Contemporay

Literary Theory(3rd ed). Harvester Wheatsheaf.

Shelden, Raman. 1989. Practicing Theory and Reading Literature: an

Introduction. Harvester Wheatsheaf.

Sim, Stuart. 2006. http://www.litencyc.com/php/swork.php?rec&UID=351.

94

Taum, Yoseph Yapi. 1997. Pengantar Teori Satra. Bogor: Nusa Indah.

Vander Zanden, James W. 1990. Sociology; the Core (2nd ed.). New York:
McGraw Hill Publishing Inc.

Zackel, Frederick. http://www.Brightsfilm.com/30/crusoe 1.html. 2006

__________. 1968. International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. New York:

The MacMillan Company & The Free Press.

__________. 1978. The Encyclopedia Americana. USA: Americana Corporation.

__________. 2006. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class consciousness

__________. 2006. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class struggle

__________. 2006. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploitation

__________. 2006. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marxism

__________. 2006. Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marxian economic

__________. 2006. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marx theory of alienation

__________. 2006. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marx theory of human nature

__________. 2006. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Means of production

__________. 2006. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social class

__________. 2006. http://www.w3c.org

DEPARTEMEN AGAMA RI
UNIVERSITAS ISLAM NEGERI (UIN) MALANG
FAKULTAS HUMANIORA DAN BUDAYA
Jl. Gajayana 50 Malang Telp. 551354

BUKTI KONSULTASI

Nama : AGUNG WIRANATA KUSUMA

NIM : 02320069
95

Jurusan / Prodi : BAHASA DAN SASTRA INGGRIS / SASTRA INGGRIS

Judul Skripsi : MARXISM ANALYSIS ON DANIEL DEFOE’S
ROBINSON CRUSOE
Pembimbing : Sri Muniroch, SS.,M.hum

NO TANGGAL KETERANGAN TANDA TANGAN

1 15 November 2006 Pengajuan Judul 1.
2 20 November 2006 Pengajuan Proposal 2.
3 27 November 2006 ACC Proposal 3.
4 28 November 2006 Seminar Proposal 4.
5 10 Desember 2006 Konsultasi BAB I 5
6 16 Desember 2006 Revisi BAB I 6.
7 27 Desember 2006 ACC BAB I & Konsultasi BAB II 7.
8 11 Januari 2007 Revisi BAB II 8.
9 25 Februari 2007 ACC BAB II & Konsultasi BAB III 9.
10 13 Maret 2007 Revisi BAB III & Konsultasi BAB IV 10.
11 29 Maret 2007 ACC BAB III & Revisi BAB IV 11.
12. 10 Mei 2007 ACC BAB IV 12.
13 29 Mei 2007 ACC keseluruhan 13.

Malang, 26 Mei 2007

Dekan Fakultas Humaniora & Budaya

Drs. H. Dimjati Ahmadin, M.Pd.

NIP. 150035072