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Chapter 9: The Journal
This chapter sums up, in the form of a journal, all that Crusoe has done on the island. In chronological order he writes down the facts mentioned in the previous chapters. He explains how he made numerous trips to the ship to bring back supplies, how he chose a location on which to build his home, how he built the fortifications, and how he made various expeditions over the island. He explains how he made a spade out of wood and used it to enlarge his cave. He tells how the cave collapses from the inside and how he repairs and strengthens the structure and clears up the mess. He tells how he caught and tamed a young goat.
This chapter is a repetition in journal form of many of the facts mentioned earlier. Since Crusoe begins the journal after he has been on the island for awhile, many of his entries are actually flashbacks. In retelling the events of island life, Defoe emphasizes the great length of time it takes for the hero to perform each of his tasks. The journal also clearly points out the irony that Crusoe painstakingly and meticulously does many of the things from which he had run away earlier in his life.
Although Crusoe is beginning his path to redemption, he still wavers between hope and despair. He intentionally works extremely hard to drive off the despair. It is obvious that he has still not reached the point where his spiritual state will afford him peace in any situation.