In Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, Crusoe works hard to give Friday a "new soul." How and why does he do this?

In Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe,
Crusoe is dedicated to giving Friday "a new soul." Crusoe sees Friday, regardless of
their time together and the means to ending Crusoe's isolation, as a "savage." This
reflects the Europeans' view of the black man as an inferior, which comes hand-in-hand
with their acceptance of human bondage or "slavery."

In
order for Friday to be seen as acceptable in Crusoe's sight, Friday must be "civilized."
This becomes Crusoe's goal as he teaches Friday his ways, based on
the norms of civilization from his native
England.

Ironically, even while Crusoe has a religious
conversion during his serious illness long before Friday arrives, Crusoe is unable to
perceive Friday in a "Christian" light: Friday is black and therefore inferior. Crusoe
does not consider "charity toward another" as an essential tenet to his own religious
concepts. However, "making" Friday a Christian and saving his "soul" become essential
elements in Crusoe's mind. Friday's own standards of life have no significance by
Crusoe's way of thinkin. What is important is Crusoe's ability to
place his own values on his new "companion." This reflects European
attitudes toward colonization: the English way is the superior, and therefore, the
only way.

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Friday becomes Europeanized, accepting English
customs and religious
concepts.

Based on his
upbringing, Crusoe cannot see any worth in Friday's value system. Crusoe believes that
by transforming the other man to abide by European standards, he is improving not only
his level of civilization, but the condition of his soul. The ways of the English, in
Crusoe's mind, are superior to any other in the "civilized"
world.