"I was surprised and perfectly astonished" — illustration for Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe" (1891)

I was surprised and perfectly astonished

Wal Paget (1863-1935)

half-page lithograph

14 cm high by 9 cm wide, vignetted.

1891

Robinson Crusoe, embedded on page 56.

Scanned image and text by Philip V. Allingham.

[You may use these images without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.]

Passage Illustrated: Crusoe's Discovery of European Barley

It was a little before the great rains just now mentioned that I threw this stuff away, taking no notice, and not so much as remembering that I had thrown anything there, when, about a month after, or thereabouts, I saw some few stalks of something green shooting out of the ground, which I fancied might be some plant I had not seen; but I was surprised, and perfectly astonished, when, after a little longer time, I saw about ten or twelve ears come out, which were perfect green barley, of the same kind as our European — nay, as our English barley. [Chapter V, "Builds a House — A Journal," page 54]

Commentary:Crusoe discovers Barleygrowing on his Island

The astonishment may be the result of Crusoe's failing to recall at once how the few husks he shock out of a bag when sorting through what he brought off the wreck has led to the proliferation of the few seeds into a modest crop. He emotionally responds tothebarley as a miraculous connection with England, and a sign of a special Providence.And then, upon rational consideration, he correctly identifies the provenance of the barley. But, through nurturing these few plants, he will eventually sow a whole field, so that the barley becomes a symbol of the European colonisation of foreign lands so that, in Crusoe's case, they become an extension of the British Commonwealth.

Related Material

Relevant Illustration from the Cassell Edition (1863-64)

Above: The earlier Cassell's version of Crusoe's discovery of barley growing on the tropical island, a plant which he examines with wonder rather scientific detachment,Crusoediscoversthe Barley. [Click on image toenlarge it.]

Reference

Defoe, Daniel. The Life and Strange Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe Of York, Mariner. As Related by Himself. With upwards of One Hundred and Twenty Original Illustrations by Walter Paget. London, Paris, and Melbourne: Cassell, 1891.

Last modified 27 April 2018

Passage Illustrated: Crusoe's Discovery of European Barley

Commentary:​Crusoe discovers Barley​growing on his Island

Related Material

Relevant Illustration from the Cassell Edition (1863-64)

Reference

Commentary:Crusoe discovers Barleygrowing on his Island