Cross
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When Robinson Crusoe lands on the desolate island, one of his first thoughts is his need for a calendar. He immediately builds a "great cross." "Upon the sides of this square Post I cut every Day a Notch with my Knife, and every seventh Notch was as long again as the rest, and every first day of the Month as long again as that long one, and thus I kept my Kalander, or weekly, monthly, and yearly reckoning of Time." Crusoe makes a subconscious decision. Crusoe uses a Christian symbol, something he has been exposed to many times, for his calendar and as a memorial for himself.(66)
Crusoe's decision to use the cross as a calendar and memorial can be contrasted to his decision to call on God when he is in need or trouble. When caught in his first storm on sea, Crusoe says, "I made many Vows and Resolutions, that if it would please God here to spare my Life this one Voyage, if ever I got once my Foot upon dry Land again, I would go directly home to my Father, and never set it into a Ship again while I liv'd; that I would take his Advice, and never run my self into such Miseries as these any more."(10) Crusoe felt the need to make "vows" and "resolutions" to God because he had broken one of God's commandments, honor thy father and mother. Crusoe's deep religious background is shown by his direct and immediate calling to God in a moment of fear. He promises to "go directly home to [his] father [and he] would take his Advice...