1. Introduction 

1.1 Background information

Loneliness and solitude are universal human experience. Arendt (1962) points out that loneliness is one of the fundamental experiences of every human life and solitude is one of the fundamental determinations of our Being. Loneliness and solitude are so common in human’s life that they have drawn great attention from many writers in literary works, among which there are two well-known novels that convey strong sense of loneliness and solitude. One is Robinson Crusoe, written by Daniel Defoe, the father of English novel, and the other is The Old Man and the Sea, written by Ernest Hemingway, the spokesman of the Lost Generation. However, although the two novels both convey the protagonists’ loneliness and solitude, their loneliness and solitude are different on close scrutiny. Moreover, loneliness and solitude are different concepts in philosophy, which means differentiation should be made when discussing the loneliness and solitude in the two novels.

1.2 Brief introduction to Robinson Crusoe and The Old Man and the Sea

Robinson Crusoe was first published in 1719. It is one of the most popular adventure novels in all literature. The novel is about Robinson Crusoe, an Englishman who was shipwrecked in a lonely tropical island near Venezuela. While living in the uninhabited island, he built himself a hut, grew his own food, and became self-sufficient. However, even though he succeeded in earning his own living, he still felt lonely and isolated in the uninhabited island. Fortunately, years later, Crusoe saved a prisoner, and named him Friday. Crusoe then taught him English and converted him a Christian. Crusoe was happy to find a companion. Four years later, they were rescued and returned to England. After the publication, Robinson Crusoe was well received in the literary world and is often regarded as marking the beginning of realistic fiction as a literary genre. 

The Old Man and the Sea is one of Hemingway's most enduring works. It was first published in 1952. Narrated in language of great simplicity and power, it is the story of an old lonely Cuban fisherman who hadn’t got any fish for 84 days. As a result, the only boy who cared about him had to leave him because of his parents’ command. However, at the 85th day he managed to hook a huge marlin and finally killed it after two days and nights fight. Unfortunately, while on his way back to the harbor, he was attacked by sharks and the huge marlin was reduced to a tail, a head and a spine. The Old Man and the Sea was an enormous success after it was published. This hugely successful novella confirmed Hemingway’s great reputation and presence in the literary world and helped him win the 1954 Nobel Prize for Literature.论文网

1.3 Literary review

Up to now, numerous researches have been done separately to study the two books in many aspects. 

In regard to Robinson Crusoe, early researcher Wheeler (1968) indicates that Robinson Crusoe is an exact paradigm of the type of human behavior within the structure of industrial capitalism. Harbeck (1972) then summarizes the clues to Crusoe’s capitalist statue by reporting that Crusoe controls the capital and profit he produces, he is free to consume or save, work or rest or pray, and he has plenty to eat; he doesn’t have to import food to prevent hunger. Later, many researches have been done to study more deeply about the British colonialism and capitalism. Mcinelly (2003), for instance, concludes that British colonialism informs nearly every feature of Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe. He illustrates his view from a series of perspectives like religion, economy, psychology, etc. However, when discussing the colonialism and capitalism, some researchers also pay special attention to the primitive accumulation which is reflected in the novel. For example, Hymer (2011) examines the economic analysis of philosopher Karl Marx and ideas of primitive accumulation, which is the period that precedes capitalist accumulation. In his research, colonization, imperialism, and pisions of labor are considered.