'Foe' by J.M. Coetzee

South African author J.M. Coetzee, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature, published Foe in 1986. The novel reimagines the classic Robinson Crusoe by telling the story from the perspective of Susan Barton, a woman who becomes stranded on the same island where "Cruso" and Friday are living. In Foe, Coetzee puts a fresh spin on the familiar tale, exploring themes like the power of storytelling, how stories can influence and control people, questions of identity, slavery, and the blurred line between reality and imagination. Some readers interpreted Foe as a strong critique of apartheid, while others felt its message was more ambiguous.

A Comparison of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe and Foe by J.M. Coetzee

Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe (1719) is considered one of the first modern novels, focusing on the theme of survival on a deserted island. The story is told from Crusoe’s point of view, a middle-aged white man, which reflects the social norms of the 17th century—where patriarchal values were dominant, and women were often marginalized. The novel also takes place during a time of European colonization, where Crusoe’s perspective emphasizes the superiority of the colonizer over those they encountered, particularly the character of Friday.

J.M. Coetzee’s Foe (1986) reimagines the classic Robinson Crusoe, offering a fresh interpretation of the story. Instead of focusing on Crusoe, Coetzee shifts the narrative to Susan Barton, a female character who shares the island with Crusoe and Friday. By telling the story through Susan’s eyes, Coetzee critiques colonial and patriarchal ideologies, offering a modern exploration of social issues like race, gender, and identity. Even though the books are set centuries apart, Foe challenges and revises the colonial and patriarchal assumptions in Defoe’s original.

Colonialism and the Dynamics of Power

In Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe, the story reflects the colonial mindset of the time, with Crusoe’s relationship with Friday exemplifying the Eurocentric view of superiority. Crusoe sees himself as the “civilized” individual and views Friday as inferior, a common attitude in colonial literature.

Coetzee’s Foe, however, turns this dynamic on its head by shifting the story to Susan’s perspective. Friday’s silence in Foe becomes a symbol of the historical silencing of colonized people. Coetzee uses Friday’s lack of voice to challenge the ways in which colonial narratives ignore or distort the experiences of those oppressed by colonial rule. By giving Susan a voice, Coetzee invites readers to rethink the injustices of colonialism and to consider alternative, marginalized perspectives.

The Power of Voice and the Absence of Speech

In Robinson Crusoe, the entire narrative is shaped by Crusoe, who speaks for himself and for Friday, whose own voice is never heard. This reflects how colonial literature often silences the experiences of the colonized, giving power and authority only to the colonizers.

In contrast, Coetzee’s Foe adds the character of Susan Barton, who questions how her own story is being told. Foe, a fictional version of Defoe, edits and reshapes Susan’s narrative to fit his own ideas, echoing how women and colonized people’s stories have historically been manipulated or overlooked. Friday’s silence in Foe serves as a poignant commentary on the power of silence itself—the idea that control over a narrative is a form of power, and that the absence of voice can reveal as much as spoken words.

Reimagining Gender Roles

Robinson Crusoe is a male-centered story, with little to no room for female characters. This reflects the patriarchal norms of the time, where women were rarely given significant roles in such adventure tales. 

Coetzee’s Foe redefines this by making Susan Barton the central character. Her struggle to have her own story told is emblematic of the way women’s voices have often been silenced or distorted in literature and history. Throughout the novel, Foe tries to reshape Susan’s narrative, reflecting how women's perspectives have frequently been overlooked or altered to align with dominant social structures. By highlighting Susan’s experience, Coetzee critiques the way colonial and patriarchal narratives have misrepresented women and marginalized people.

Conclusion: Rethinking Colonial Narratives

Robinson Crusoe by Defoe and Foe by Coetzee offer two distinct takes on colonialism, power, and identity. Coetzee’s Foe challenges the colonial worldview presented in Robinson Crusoe, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the voices and experiences of marginalized groups. Through Susan Barton’s perspective, Coetzee critiques how history and literature are shaped by those who control the narrative. By giving space to the silenced voices of women and colonized people, Coetzee calls for a more inclusive and accurate representation of history and reality.