# II: Slavery and Escape explained — The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe

> Chapter companion for The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe.

## What happens

Crusoe recounts his ill-fated voyage to Guinea, where he is captured by Moorish pirates and enslaved. After two years, he escapes with a boy named Xury, sailing down the African coast. They encounter wild beasts, including a lion, and eventually find fresh water, narrowly avoiding capture by Moors.

## Themes in this chapter

### Slavery and Freedom

Crusoe is enslaved by Moors and later escapes, highlighting the contrast between bondage and liberty.

### Fear of the Other

Crusoe and Xury fear both wild beasts and the 'savages' of the African coast, reflecting colonial anxieties.

### Mastery Over Nature

Crusoe uses guns and skill to kill a lion, demonstrating human dominance over the natural world.

## Character check-ins

### Robinson Crusoe

Narrates his disastrous voyage to Guinea, capture by Moors, and escape with Xury.

### Xury

A slave boy who assists Crusoe in escaping; shows bravery and loyalty, swearing to be faithful.

### The Master

The honest captain who befriends Crusoe and teaches him navigation; dies after the first voyage.

## Key lines

> That evil influence which carried me first away from my father’s house—which hurried me into the wild and indigested notion of raising my fortune...

The same bad impulse that made me leave home and chase after wealth now led me into my worst adventure yet.

_Crusoe reflects on his persistent recklessness._

> Xury, if you will be faithful to me, I’ll make you a great man; but if you will not stroke your face to be true to me—that is, swear by Muhammad and his father’s beard—I must throw you into the sea too.

Crusoe demands Xury's loyalty, threatening to drown him if he betrays him.

_Crusoe uses coercion to secure Xury's allegiance._

> I took the best aim I could with the first piece to have shot him in the head, but he lay so with his leg raised a little above his nose, that the slugs hit his leg about the knee and broke the bone.

Crusoe shoots a lion but only wounds its leg, then finishes it with a second shot.

_Crusoe's hunting skill and resourcefulness are demonstrated._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/robinson_crusoe_se/chapters/ii-slavery-and-escape
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/robinson_crusoe_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/robinson_crusoe_se/chapters