Question

read the statement below and decide whether you agree or disagree with it. be prepared to support your opinion with details from the reading. heres your discussion prompt:

the implicit meaning of defoes choice to put crusoe on a deserted island is that there is value in breaking the bonds of culture and starting fresh.

what do you think? write a paragraph supporting your opinion and then write a reply paragraph. if youre working with others, your reply paragraph should respond to the ideas of another student. if youre working alone, your reply paragraph should support the opposite point of view from your own.

Explanation:

First, the supporting paragraph argues that Crusoe's isolation lets him shed restrictive cultural norms, like the rigid class and economic systems of 18th-century England, to build a self-sufficient life that values labor and resilience over social status. The reply paragraph counters this by noting Crusoe relies heavily on cultural knowledge (like farming, toolmaking, and religious beliefs) from his original culture to survive, so his "fresh start" is not a rejection of culture but a reapplication of it, and the island highlights how culture is essential to human survival rather than something to escape.

Answer:

Supporting Paragraph (Agree):

Defoe’s placement of Crusoe on a deserted island clearly frames breaking cultural bonds as valuable, as it forces Crusoe to shed the rigid, status-driven norms of 18th-century English society and build a new life rooted in self-reliance and practical labor. Stripped of the class hierarchies and economic systems that defined his old life, Crusoe learns to grow his own food, build shelter, and craft tools—skills that let him discover a sense of purpose and self-worth unrelated to his former social standing, proving that starting fresh outside cultural constraints can unlock authentic human potential.

Reply Paragraph (Disagree, opposing view):

While Crusoe’s island experience changes him, it does not prove value in breaking cultural bonds; in fact, his survival depends entirely on the cultural knowledge he brought with him from England. He uses farming techniques, metalworking skills, and religious teachings learned in his original culture to thrive, and he even recreates a small version of English social order when he rescues Friday, imposing his own cultural norms on their relationship. Defoe’s choice of setting does not celebrate escaping culture, but rather highlights how cultural knowledge is the foundation of human survival and growth, making the idea of "starting fresh" without it impossible.