The Spiritual Quest in Ibn Tufayl’s Hayy Ibn Yaqzan (1169-1182) and Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe (1719)
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Date
2021
Authors
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
UNIVERSITE MOULOUD MAMMERI TIZI-OUZOU
Abstract
This work is a comparative study between Ibn Tufayl’s Hayy Ibn Yaqzan written
approximately in 1169-1182 and Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe published in 1719. It has
attempted to explore the journeys of the main characters and their spiritual quests. The discovery of
their spirituality makes them aware of the superficial side of the material world and the
importance of the individual relationship with the Divine. Both Crusoe and Hayy discovered
happiness through loneliness. To explore the journeys of the two heroes, we have relied on
the theory of Joseph Campbell The Hero With a Thousand Faces 1949 and explored the
different steps that the characters have undergone all along their voyages; from their departure
act to their initiation and finally to their return act. We have also used Harold Bloom’s The
Anxiety of Influence 1973 to show Tufayl’s possible influence on Defoe’s novel. This
dissertation consists of two chapters. The first one explored the physical Journey of Crusoe
and Hayy and their self-discovery. The second chapter explored the inner journey of both main
characters that resulted from their self-discovery. Both narratives highlight the importance of spirituality for the
individual. Both heroes have undergone a journey and take almost a similar approach to
challenge themselves in a quest to discover the self and God.
Description
30cm.; 62p.+cd
Keywords
Ibn Tufayl, Daniel Defoe, Journey, Spiritual Quest, Influence
Citation
Littérature Générale et Comparée