Christianity played a considerable role in the European colonization of the New World in the 18th century, as illustrated by Robinson Crusoe. The story of Crusoe's isolation on the island, including his "missionary" attempts with a savage named Friday, shows the importance of Crusoe's religion in his life. Christianity allows Crusoe to see many things about Friday and his fellow savages, such as the similarities between the people of Friday and Europeans. But it also keeps him blind to other aspects of Friday's life, for example his refusal to change his lifestyle. The following will show both sides of the effects of Christianity on Crusoe's lifestyle and thought process during the time he spends on the island. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why violent video games should not be banned"? Get the original essay Christianity is a powerful force in Crusoe's life, particularly during the years he spent in solitary confinement on the 'island. The thirty-five years spent away from European society gave him the opportunity to reflect on what God meant in his life. He goes from a distant relationship with God during his first shipwreck on the island, to total devotion and the desire to spread it to others who do not “know” God. He has this chance to transmit the Word of God to a savage whom he names Friday. Through his “missionary” attempt, Crusoe discovers on Friday many characteristics similar to his own. For example, he notes that God "has granted [to the people of Friday] the same powers, the same reason, the same affections, the same feelings of goodness and obligation,... and all the capacities to do good and to receive good, what He has given us” (212), and this thought comforts Crusoe. He has no reason to fear Friday because of these similarities, they also broke down the barrier between Crusoe and Friday. Crusoe puts aside his apprehensions and tries to learn the lessons of Friday. By gathering information, he can better understand Friday and deepen their relationship. Among the similarities Crusoe discovers is that Friday has similar religious beliefs to his own. A similar characteristic is the belief in an Almighty being; the European version is God while Friday's is Benamuckee. There are also similar types of religious hierarchy, and Crusoe once observes in conversation with Friday "that there are priestly deceptions even among the most deluded ignorant pagans in the world" (219). This hierarchical structure aids Crusoe's attempts to rule Friday due to Friday's faith in his "savage" religion. Through his talks with Friday, Crusoe broadens his mind and begins to see that Christianity, or elements of it, can be found all over the world, helping different peoples understand each other. These characteristics also help his mission convert on Friday. With a foundation already laid, Crusoe only has to “Christianize” what Friday already considers to be the truth. Friday believes that Crusoe's teachings are fact and therefore wants to model his life after Crusoe's. With these new discoveries, Crusoe sees that Friday wants to learn, because “he was the most able scholar that ever lived” (213). With great care, Crusoe shows Friday that the European way of thinking is the best and that he must therefore follow its example. Friday plays a submissive role, allowing Crusoe to become her master. The determination of the savage's name symbolizes Crusoe's extreme power over Friday, as Crusoe "made him know that his name should be Friday...[and Crusoe] also taught him tosay Master” (209). The name "Friday", which was given to him because it was the day he was saved by Crusoe, is generic and shows how he is not worth much to Crusoe; that is, he is only a reminder of the calendar that Crusoe keeps. Crusoe also teaches Friday to live correctly, or according to European habits. This means that Friday would have to abandon his wild habits, particularly his cannibalism, because Crusoe "discovered that Friday still had a desire to eat flesh and that he was still cannibalistic in his nature... [and] let him know 'somehow he would kill him if he offered [the flesh to him]' (210). Overall, Crusoe shows great patience with Friday, aside from the cannibalism that Friday tends towards, but his other characteristics and habits. This is mainly because Friday changes his life to fit Crusoe's and doesn't bother Crusoe in the slightest. Along with this patience shown by Crusoe, there is also an intolerance towards Friday's way of thinking. Crusoe does not allow Friday to have any say in what he is taught. Crusoe takes his position as Friday's master seriously and "makes it his mission to teach him everything that is suitable to make him useful, manageable and helpful" (213) - suitable, that is to say according to the European rules. . The fact that Friday is Crusoe's servant entails a great loss of freedom, freedom that he had known throughout his existence. Although he is not a slave by formal definition, Friday feels obligated to serve Crusoe because he saved Friday's life. This debt to his master makes Friday's conversion something he must do to please his master. This submission fits Crusoe's life perfectly. Being European, he naturally feels superior to Friday and welcomes this opportunity to be master of someone. Because this story is written through Crusoe's eyes, there is no way of knowing exactly what Friday really feels, but Crusoe never wants to know in the first place. If he knew how Friday felt, his Christian conscience would prevent him from continuing his missionary attempts and he would find himself alone on the island again, with no one to control. Although Crusoe finds that there are similarities between his own religion and Friday's, Crusoe wishes to teach Friday religion again. He wants Friday to learn Christianity and erase all knowledge of his own beliefs, but he finds that "it was not so easy to impress upon his mind right notions about the devil, as it was about the being of a God” (219). Without an already present picture of European notions, Crusoe has difficulty showing Friday the European way of thinking – one being that there is a being with almost the same powers as God, a thought foreign to Friday. Friday's religious beliefs are "false", and Crusoe wants him to realize this and change his habits to become those of a true Christian. Along the same lines, Crusoe finds Friday ignorant, not only because of his wild ways, but also because Friday knows nothing about Christianity or the importance of living a Christian life. Crusoe has found God in everything on the island and he wants to see him on Friday too. This religious faith is a powerful force that drives Crusoe, and he does not want it to leave him either. Through this unshakeable faith in God, Crusoe demeans Friday and shows once again to what extent he is master of this savage. Even though Friday quickly learns what Crusoe teaches him, he will never be as smart as Crusoe wants him to be. Crusoe will always strive for perfection on Friday and he will never be satisfied with the results. Crusoe compares himself..