Author(s): Yaru Meng

Abstract: This article takes the classic colonial literary work of the 18th century, Robinson Crusoe, as the research object. By analyzing the historical background of British colonial expansion in the 18th century and Defoe’s life experiences, and applying post-colonialist theory, it delves deeply into the colonialist logic contained in the novel from two dimensions: narrative construction of colonialism and post-colonialist criticism. The research found that Defoe legitimized Robinson’s colonial behavior by using colonial narrative strategies such as civilization, language and religion through the character of Robinson, and revealed the process of Friday’s “otherization” and cultural transformation by means of the binary opposition framework of “self and other”. In his novels, Defoe not only participated in the construction of colonial discourse but also implicitly criticized the injustice of the maritime empire through Robinson’s experience on the deserted island, conveying modern reflections and presenting to readers the inherent contradictions and ideological tensions of colonial narratives.

Keywords: Robinson Crusoe, Colonial Narration, Post-colonialism, Otherization

Article Info: Received: 03 Oct 2025; Received in revised form: 05 Nov 2025; Accepted: 09 Nov 2025; Available online: 13 Nov 2025

DOI: 10.22161/ijels.106.8