Survival

Definition

Survival refers to the ability to continue living or existing, often in challenging or adverse conditions. It embodies themes of resilience and resourcefulness, reflecting the struggle of characters to overcome obstacles in their environment. This concept becomes central as it often drives narratives and character development, especially in realistic literature where the focus is on human experiences and the impact of circumstances on individual lives.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. In Daniel Defoe's works, especially 'Robinson Crusoe', survival is portrayed through the protagonist's struggle to adapt to life on a deserted island after a shipwreck.
2. The narrative often highlights practical survival skills, such as hunting, farming, and shelter-building, reflecting the importance of ingenuity in overcoming life's challenges.
3. Survival in Defoe's realism is not just physical; it also encompasses emotional and psychological resilience, as characters face loneliness and despair.
4. Defoe's exploration of survival often serves as a commentary on societal norms and human nature, revealing how crises can strip away societal constructs and expose primal instincts.
5. The emphasis on survival in this context lays the groundwork for later realistic fiction, influencing how authors depict human struggles and triumphs in adverse conditions.

Review Questions

• How does the theme of survival manifest in Defoe's portrayal of characters and their environments?
  • In Defoe's work, survival is intricately linked to the characters' interactions with their environments. For instance, in 'Robinson Crusoe', the protagonist must learn to navigate the challenges of isolation and resource scarcity. The theme manifests through his journey of self-discovery, where he develops skills necessary for physical survival while also grappling with emotional turmoil. This duality emphasizes the complexity of survival beyond mere existence.
• Discuss how Defoe’s approach to realism enhances the reader's understanding of survival as a multifaceted concept.
  • Defoe’s realism allows readers to engage deeply with the intricacies of survival by grounding characters in believable situations that reflect real-life struggles. His attention to detail—whether through Crusoe's methods for finding food or his psychological battles with loneliness—illustrates that survival involves not just physical endurance but also mental resilience. This layered portrayal encourages readers to consider survival as an ongoing negotiation between external challenges and internal responses.
• Evaluate how the exploration of survival in Defoe's literature reflects broader societal themes during his time.
  • The exploration of survival in Defoe’s literature can be viewed as a reflection of the societal upheavals of the early 18th century, including colonial expansion and economic change. By focusing on individuals like Crusoe who must rely on their own wits and resources, Defoe critiques societal reliance on tradition and authority. This lens highlights the tension between individualism and community, suggesting that true survival may depend more on personal agency than on social structures, which resonates with emerging Enlightenment ideals.

Related terms

Resilience: The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness that helps individuals adapt to challenges.

Isolation: The state of being separated from others, often leading to challenges that test one's ability to survive emotionally and physically.

Self-sufficiency: The ability to fulfill one's own needs without external assistance, a key factor in survival scenarios.