Friday is the first person Crusoe introduces
into the social order of the island. His name, of course, isn't Friday by
birth, but this is the name that Crusoe gives him after saving him from the
hands of the cannibals. Crusoe also teaches Friday to speak English, encourages
him to eat goat (you know, instead of human flesh), and aids in his conversion
to Christianity.
The first and most obvious point about
Friday's relationship with Crusoe is that Friday is Crusoe's subordinate.
Friday always calls Crusoe "master," for example. Crusoe also
mentions that their relationship is much like that of "a Child to a
Father" (176). Why does Crusoe not see Friday as his equal, even after
Friday converts to Christianity?
Crusoe's dominant relationship to Friday
produces a pretty interesting dynamic between the two of them. See, for
example, Crusoe's description of Friday as he is sleeping:
He
was a comely handsome Fellow, perfectly well made; with straight strong Limbs,
not too large; tall and well shap'd, and as I reckon, about twenty six Years of
Age. He had a very good Countenance, not a fierce and surly Aspect; but seem'd
to have something very manly in his Face, and yet he had all the Sweetness and
Softness of an European in his Countenance too, especially when he smil'd. His
Hair was long and black, not curl'd like Wool; his Forehaed very high, and
large, and a great Vivacity and sparkling Sharpness in his Eyes. The Coulour of
his Skin was not quite black, but very tawny; and yet not of an ugly yellow
nauseous tawny, as the Brasilians, and Virginias, and other Natives of America
are; but of bright kind of a dun olive Colour, that had in it something very agreeable;
tho' not very easy to describe.