Robinson Crusoe is the protagonist of Daniel Defoe's novel of the same name, published in 1719. He is an adventurous man, who sets sail to explore despite his father's request that he pursue a career in law. He is also fearless almost to a fault, undertaking a sea voyage that results in being shipwrecked on an island for 28 years. In addition to being adventurous, Crusoe is also religious by the novel's end. Having avoided death in the shipwreck, he thanks God for his circumstances, and he carries with him one book: the Bible. Finally, Crusoe is resourceful. Once on the island, he builds himself a habitation in a cave, hunts, and cultivates his own food.

Despite these exceptional qualities, Crusoe is not perfect. He keeps a quasi-slave, Friday, whom Crusoe saves from cannibalism. Crusoe teaches Friday English, and tells him to call him "master." For this reason, some scholars call Crusoe an exemplar of colonialism.