Robinson Crusoe

Friday comes from a Caribbean tribe that practices cannibalism. Friday gets rescued by Crusoe before Friday is to be devoured by a rival tribe. At the moment of his rescue, Friday kneels to the ground, then places Crusoe’s foot on his head, signaling Friday’s devotion. Friday is the first human Crusoe communicates with after being cast away. Friday helps Crusoe overtake a mutinied English ship, which ultimately delivers both men from the island to England.

A fellow slave for two years with Crusoe in Sallee, Xury helps with fishing and maintenance. Xury is on board the small boat with Crusoe the day Crusoe executes his escape. Crusoe demands the boy’s loyalty, saying that otherwise he will throw Xury overboard. Xury is good help for Crusoe until a Portuguese ship rescues the two, and Crusoe sells the boy to the ship’s captain as its servant.

The widow of the first ship Crusoe took to Guinea, where Crusoe was able to find gold and return with money, who keeps watch of Crusoe’s money during his long absence cast away. When Crusoe returns to England, he visits the widow, and she helps him settle his economic affairs.

This captain rescues Crusoe and Xury when the two escape from the slavery at Sallee. The captain offers Crusoe free board to Brazil in exchange for nothing, saying that he would want the same if rescued at sea. As such, Crusoe arrives in Brazil with a full stock from the small boat, which he collected before the escape. Twenty-eight years later, Crusoe seeks out the captain in Lisbon, after Crusoe’s return to England. The captain helps Crusoe contact the trustees of Crusoe’s plantation in Brazil. The captain pays back some of the debt he owes Crusoe, who won’t accept the entire payment. It’s the captain’s generosity that first saves Crusoe, and later allows Crusoe to rejoin society as a prosperous man.