A handsome, in about 26 years old, with straight and strong limbs, tall and well
shaped fellow who bare name Friday which he got for the memory of a day he was
rescued. The native who was saved from a certain death by Robinson Crusoe during
one of the cannibal rituals of a local tribe. By the man who was actually on his
way to Africa to buy Negroes! His hair was long and black but not curled, he had
very high forehead and great sparkling sharp eyes. Friday’s appearance was
somewhere in between Negro and European, black but tawny skin, round face and
small but not flat nose as most of the Negroes have. Of course, like all Negroes
have, had he fine teeth well set and white as ivory, but oddly enough – thin
lips. To lay his head flat upon ground, close to person’s foot and set other
foot upon his head – this was Friday’s way of showing the servitude and
submission. Robinson understood him in many things and let him know how very
pleased he was with him. This was something Friday understood before he could
speak Robinson` s language. Still he was a cannibal in his nature, full of lot
abhorrence. We can see how the other culture is suppressed from the very
beginning. Robinson cures Friday of his cannibalistic habits and gives him a new
Western name. But the first words he taught him in English were words that one
servant has to know and use! So Friday was domesticated and incorporated into
Western society. The main fear and an idea throughout the book is Crusoe `s goal
to re-educate Friday to a civilised human being and if he wouldn’t have, he
would have no mercy but to kill him! Submissive Friday, full of gratitude was
treated with the attitude close to colonial that is - possession. In my opinion,
Friday’s total submission released Robinson from the sort of guilt and the
need to use violence. He was Crusoe` s slave because he was saved by him and
lifelong servitude was accepted by Robinson. The servant-master relationship was
symbolically sealed by an oath, a substitute for the written contract.