Daniel Defoe is considered one of the fathers of modern novel writing, with his 1719 classic novel Robinson Crusoe widely considered one of the first novels written in English Born in 1660, Defoe wrote over 500 books, pamphlets and articles during his lifetime, making him one of the most prolific writers in history. His works explored a variety of topics, including economics, politics, crime and religion, and their commentary on the human condition remains relevant to this day.
When it comes to crafting an essay about Daniel Defoe, there is a wealth of topics to explore. Here are five of the best:
1. The Role of Economics in Defoe's Writings: Defoe was born into a middle-class family and his works demonstrate his strong interest in money and financial matters. Investigating how economics, and in particular the changing economic situation in England during Defoe’s lifetime, affected and inspired his writing, could be a fascinating topic for an essay.
2. Political Commentary in Defoe's Writings: Defoe was a staunch supporter of the Whig party and his writings often demonstrate his political leanings. Examining the political commentary that can be found in Defoe's works and weighing its relevance to present day politics could make for an interesting and relevant essay.
3. The Impact of Religion in Defoe's Writings: Defoe was born into a family of religious dissenters and his writings demonstrate his strong religious beliefs. Looking at the influence that religion had on his writing, and how his faith shaped and informed his writings, could be an intriguing topic.
4. The Role of Gender and Women in Defoe's Writings: Defoe was a keen observer of gender relations and often wrote of the role of women in his works. Investigating how he portrayed women and their role in his novels could provide an interesting topic for an essay.
5. Defoe's Use of Satire: Defoe was renowned for his satirical writing, often using it to make a point or to take a dig at his contemporaries. Examining the use of satire in his works and discussing how this type of writing has changed over time would undoubtedly make for an insightful essay.