Question

The protagonist in Daniel Defoe's The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe belonged to the middle class. What was the effect of portraying him as a youth belonging to a middle-class family (rather than an upper-class family)?

Answer 1

The fact that Robinson Crusoe belonged to the middle class was a successful strategy used by Daniel Defoe. It is likely that the reason he did this was because he wanted to increase his readership. Since most people in England belonged to the middle and lower classes, this was a way to appeal to a broader audience. It provided a character most people could identify themselves with, making the story of his adventures even more exciting.

Answer 2

The main effect of portraying him as a youth belonging to a middle-class family (rather than an upper-class family) was that he was more identifiable, since this was the class of most readers.