The Problem of Narrator Reliability in Robinson Crusoe and Oroonoko that Aphra Behn's Oroonoko is a royal prince turned slave who meets his ultimate demise in the African country of Suriname. Both Defoe and Behn employ similar first-person narration techniques in their respective stories, and although this position is advantageous to the status of each narrator in their texts, the trustworthiness of each narrator differs considerably.Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned"?Get the original essayThe absence of Behn's narrator in the majority of the events she describes serves to seriously discredit her narrative reliability. Although the narrator claims to have "often seen and conversed with [Oroonoko], and to have witnessed many of her powerful actions" (2140), it is the detailed accounts that she provides to the reader of "what she could not not be”. witness to” which is becoming more and more problematic. Besides the events she personally witnesses, Behn's narrator can only transmit a second-hand account that she receives "from the mouth of the main actor in this story, the hero himself, who told us all the transactions of his youth. (2137). At one point, when speaking of Oroonoko and Imoinda blushing upon seeing each other, the narrator, although not present at this particular event, speculates that "it is certain that these two changes were evident, that day there, with these two lovers” (2145). Again, although she does not personally witness these events and does not mention speaking directly to anyone other than Oroonoko himself, the narrator quickly deviates from an objective point of view and makes assumptions about the beliefs and emotions of the other characters: When the king reflects on his decision to enslave both Imoinda and Oroonoko, the narrator explains that "he believed he had made a very great conquest over himself when he had once resolved and accomplished what he had resolved. He now believed that his love had been unjust” (2150). We find the narrator's presumption about Imoinda's emotions despite her fleeting presence when she explains that when "the Prince gently woke Imoinda, who was not a little surprised with joy to find him there, she trembled with a thousand fears" (2149 ). Due to her absence during many of the story's critical events, the secondary nature of her conveyance of information, and her inability to remain objective, Behn's narrator is fallible. Although Robinson Crusoe remembers his story almost entirely, it is through his ability to reflect retrospectively on his past adventures in which he achieves reliability as a narrator. Robinson Crusoe often reveals to the reader what he remembers his thoughts at the time of each particular memory or situation, compared to what they are now in retrospect. Reflecting on his choice to defy his father's wishes and go to sea, Robinson Crusoe explains that "if he had felt like he had returned to Hull and gone home, he would have been happy" ( 14), recalling that he “considered [his] state with the greatest regret” (32). Remembering his first sea voyage, Robinson Crusoe admits that “it was [his] great misfortune that in all these adventures [he] did not embark as a sailor” (16), recalling how “free he was and not guided.” man [he] was then” (16). In addition to these reflections, Crusoe does not hide from the reader when he is uncertain of the exact details of his story;After escaping his master's captivity by stealing his fishing boat, Robinson Crusoe explains that in his ploy to reach the coast, he "cast anchor at the mouth of a small river" in which he "did not know what or where”. ; nor what latitude, what country, what nations, nor what river” (22). Reflecting on his ability to grow various types of food on the island, Crusoe explains that he "had nearly two bushels of rice, and more than two and a half bushels of barley, that is to say, at my opinion, because I had no measure at that time.” (100). Of his first months on the island, Crusoe said that he "did not remember that during all this time there had been a tendency to look upward, toward God, or inward, toward reflection on [his] own ways” (76), explaining that he “was simply indifferent to a God or a Providence; acted like a simple brute according to the principles of nature” (76). Unlike Behn's narrator, Robinson Crusoe achieves reliability as a narrator through his tendency to reflect and provide the reader with feedback about his past in retrospect, while admitting his uncertainty about specific details. Although Behn's and Defoe's narrators differ significantly in their credibility in the relationship between their respective texts, the positions of Robinson Crusoe and Behn's narrator as narrators allow them to manipulate their position in the novel in a light that is advantageous to them as it comments on their social status and power. Behn's narrator establishes a higher social status than most of the novel's other characters when she tells the reader that "[her] stay must have been short in this country, because [her] father died at sea and never happened. It was he who was designated to possess this honor (who was lieutenant general of thirty-six islands, besides the mainland of Surinam)" (2162), adding that "as soon as she entered the country, the best house in the country was presented [to her]” (2163). The way in which the narrator describes her seemingly close relationship with the story's protagonist, Oroonoko, is also significant in that it highlights the power she is able to exert over the text in order to present herself in a positive day; the narrator reveals that Oroonoko "had complete confidence" in her (2162), while mysteriously disappearing with each instance of Oroonoko's "mistreatment" (2173). Like Behn's narrator, Robinson Crusoe also immediately lets the reader know that "[he] was born in 1632, in the city of York, of a good family" (5). From his position on the island, Crusoe considers himself “lord of the whole manor; or if he wanted, he could call himself king or emperor over the whole country of which he was in possession (109), further stating in a diary that November 6 meant that it was "the sixth year of [his ] reigns” (117) of his “castle” (131) or his “business” (160). Finally, Robinson Crusoe's first meeting with Friday is very revealing of the power he believes he holds on the island: "I let him know that his name should be Friday, and that was the day I told him saved his life. I also taught him to say Master, then let him know that would be my name” (174). Although Behn's narrator and Robinson Crusoe differ in the credibility of their respective narratives, their position as first-person narrator is significant to each text in that it allows each narrator to position themselves in a positive light. While Behn's narrator lacks credibility due to her absence in the majority of events she describes, as well as her inability to remain an objective third-party narrator, Robinson Crusoe achieves reliability.

Essay / The Problem of Narrator Reliability in Robinson Crusoe and Oroonoko that Aphra Behn's Oroonoko is a royal prince turned slave who meets his ultimate demise in the African country of Suriname. Both Defoe and Behn employ similar first-person narration techniques in their respective stories, and although this position is advantageous to the status of each narrator in their texts, the trustworthiness of each narrator differs considerably.Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned"?Get the original essayThe absence of Behn's narrator in the majority of the events she describes serves to seriously discredit her narrative reliability. Although the narrator claims to have "often seen and conversed with [Oroonoko], and to have witnessed many of her powerful actions" (2140), it is the detailed accounts that she provides to the reader of "what she could not not be”. witness to” which is becoming more and more problematic. Besides the events she personally witnesses, Behn's narrator can only transmit a second-hand account that she receives "from the mouth of the main actor in this story, the hero himself, who told us all the transactions of his youth. (2137). At one point, when speaking of Oroonoko and Imoinda blushing upon seeing each other, the narrator, although not present at this particular event, speculates that "it is certain that these two changes were evident, that day there, with these two lovers” (2145). Again, although she does not personally witness these events and does not mention speaking directly to anyone other than Oroonoko himself, the narrator quickly deviates from an objective point of view and makes assumptions about the beliefs and emotions of the other characters: When the king reflects on his decision to enslave both Imoinda and Oroonoko, the narrator explains that "he believed he had made a very great conquest over himself when he had once resolved and accomplished what he had resolved. He now believed that his love had been unjust” (2150). We find the narrator's presumption about Imoinda's emotions despite her fleeting presence when she explains that when "the Prince gently woke Imoinda, who was not a little surprised with joy to find him there, she trembled with a thousand fears" (2149 ). Due to her absence during many of the story's critical events, the secondary nature of her conveyance of information, and her inability to remain objective, Behn's narrator is fallible. Although Robinson Crusoe remembers his story almost entirely, it is through his ability to reflect retrospectively on his past adventures in which he achieves reliability as a narrator. Robinson Crusoe often reveals to the reader what he remembers his thoughts at the time of each particular memory or situation, compared to what they are now in retrospect. Reflecting on his choice to defy his father's wishes and go to sea, Robinson Crusoe explains that "if he had felt like he had returned to Hull and gone home, he would have been happy" ( 14), recalling that he “considered [his] state with the greatest regret” (32). Remembering his first sea voyage, Robinson Crusoe admits that “it was [his] great misfortune that in all these adventures [he] did not embark as a sailor” (16), recalling how “free he was and not guided.” man [he] was then” (16). In addition to these reflections, Crusoe does not hide from the reader when he is uncertain of the exact details of his story;After escaping his master's captivity by stealing his fishing boat, Robinson Crusoe explains that in his ploy to reach the coast, he "cast anchor at the mouth of a small river" in which he "did not know what or where”. ; nor what latitude, what country, what nations, nor what river” (22). Reflecting on his ability to grow various types of food on the island, Crusoe explains that he "had nearly two bushels of rice, and more than two and a half bushels of barley, that is to say, at my opinion, because I had no measure at that time.” (100). Of his first months on the island, Crusoe said that he "did not remember that during all this time there had been a tendency to look upward, toward God, or inward, toward reflection on [his] own ways” (76), explaining that he “was simply indifferent to a God or a Providence; acted like a simple brute according to the principles of nature” (76). Unlike Behn's narrator, Robinson Crusoe achieves reliability as a narrator through his tendency to reflect and provide the reader with feedback about his past in retrospect, while admitting his uncertainty about specific details. Although Behn's and Defoe's narrators differ significantly in their credibility in the relationship between their respective texts, the positions of Robinson Crusoe and Behn's narrator as narrators allow them to manipulate their position in the novel in a light that is advantageous to them as it comments on their social status and power. Behn's narrator establishes a higher social status than most of the novel's other characters when she tells the reader that "[her] stay must have been short in this country, because [her] father died at sea and never happened. It was he who was designated to possess this honor (who was lieutenant general of thirty-six islands, besides the mainland of Surinam)" (2162), adding that "as soon as she entered the country, the best house in the country was presented [to her]” (2163). The way in which the narrator describes her seemingly close relationship with the story's protagonist, Oroonoko, is also significant in that it highlights the power she is able to exert over the text in order to present herself in a positive day; the narrator reveals that Oroonoko "had complete confidence" in her (2162), while mysteriously disappearing with each instance of Oroonoko's "mistreatment" (2173). Like Behn's narrator, Robinson Crusoe also immediately lets the reader know that "[he] was born in 1632, in the city of York, of a good family" (5). From his position on the island, Crusoe considers himself “lord of the whole manor; or if he wanted, he could call himself king or emperor over the whole country of which he was in possession (109), further stating in a diary that November 6 meant that it was "the sixth year of [his ] reigns” (117) of his “castle” (131) or his “business” (160). Finally, Robinson Crusoe's first meeting with Friday is very revealing of the power he believes he holds on the island: "I let him know that his name should be Friday, and that was the day I told him saved his life. I also taught him to say Master, then let him know that would be my name” (174). Although Behn's narrator and Robinson Crusoe differ in the credibility of their respective narratives, their position as first-person narrator is significant to each text in that it allows each narrator to position themselves in a positive light. While Behn's narrator lacks credibility due to her absence in the majority of events she describes, as well as her inability to remain an objective third-party narrator, Robinson Crusoe achieves reliability.

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