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Age and build

eighteen years old when he first attempts to go to sea

“I was now eighteen years old, which was too late to go apprentice to a trade or clerk to an attorney” (Robinson Crusoe, part 1)

young and nimble, fit for labour

“being young and nimble, and fit for his business” (Robinson Crusoe, part 1)

Face and hair

The book is silent here, so we keep this plain and neutral.

Dress

wears good clothes when boarding ship as a gentleman

“having money in my pocket and good clothes upon my back, I would always go on board in the habit of a gentleman” (Robinson Crusoe, part 1)

wears chequered shirt and linen drawers when stripped for work

“I stripped before I went from my hut, having nothing on but my chequered shirt, a pair of linen drawers, and a pair of pumps on my feet” (Robinson Crusoe, part 3)

Voice and speech

The book is silent here, so we keep this plain and neutral.

Signature words

calls himself by the corrupted English form of his name

“we are now called—nay, we call ourselves and write our name—Crusoe” (Robinson Crusoe, part 1)

Gait and mannerisms

runs about like a madman when first stranded and desperate

“I ran about like a madman” (Robinson Crusoe, part 2)

walks about lifting hands in contemplation of deliverance

“I walked about on the shore lifting up my hands, and my whole being, as I may say, wrapped up in a contemplation of my deliverance” (Robinson Crusoe, part 2)

Strengths

swims very well and with great strength

“though I swam very well, yet I could not deliver myself from the waves so as to draw breath” (Robinson Crusoe, part 2)

resourceful and industrious in salvaging from the wreck

“the hope of furnishing myself with necessaries encouraged me to go beyond what I should have been able to have done upon another occasion” (Robinson Crusoe, part 3)

capable of learning navigation and merchant skills

“I got a competent knowledge of the mathematics and the rules of navigation, learned how to keep an account of the ship’s course, take an observation” (Robinson Crusoe, part 1)

dexterous at catching fish

“I proved very dexterous in catching fish” (Robinson Crusoe, part 1)

Flaws

obstinately deaf to all parental counsel and advice

“I continued obstinately deaf to all proposals of settling to business” (Robinson Crusoe, part 1)

driven by rambling thoughts and wandering inclination

“my head began to be filled very early with rambling thoughts” (Robinson Crusoe, part 1)

easily swayed from repentance by company and drink

“in that one night’s wickedness I drowned all my repentance, all my reflections upon my past conduct” (Robinson Crusoe, part 1)

ashamed to repent and return home after his first voyage

“shame opposed the best motions that offered to my thoughts, and it immediately occurred to me how I should be laughed at among the neighbours” (Robinson Crusoe, part 1)

born to be his own destroyer, unable to resist temptation

“I, that was born to be my own destroyer, could no more resist the offer” (Robinson Crusoe, part 2)

Traits

sincerely affected by his father's prophetic warnings

“I was sincerely affected with this discourse, and, indeed, who could be otherwise” (Robinson Crusoe, part 1)

reflective and conscience-stricken during storms

“I began now seriously to reflect upon what I had done, and how justly I was overtaken by the judgment of Heaven” (Robinson Crusoe, part 1)

grateful and moved by kindness from strangers

“It was an inexpressible joy to me, which any one will believe, that I was thus delivered” (Robinson Crusoe, part 2)

industrious and practical in his approach to survival

“this extremity roused my application” (Robinson Crusoe, part 3)

Lines in their own words

defiant response to his father's warnings

“my thoughts were so entirely bent upon seeing the world that I should never settle to anything with resolution enough to go through with it” (Robinson Crusoe, part 1)

reassurance to the boy Xury about their liberty

“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 Mahomet and his father’s beard—“I must throw you into the sea too” (Robinson Crusoe, part 1)

determination to escape slavery

“I am resolved to have my liberty” (Robinson Crusoe, part 1)

reassurance to Xury about facing wild beasts

“we will both go and if the wild mans come, we will kill them, they shall eat neither of us” (Robinson Crusoe, part 1)