Instinct of the Main Character in Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe

Human behavior is born of a will that is driven by instinct. Instinct appears as a characteristic possessed by a creature. This research analyzes the instinct of the main character. In analyzing this research, the researcher used psychoanalysis of Sigmund Freud. Instinct divides into two life instinct (Eros) and death instinct (Thanatos). The main character in this research is by Daniel Defoe‟s novel Robinson Crusoe. The objective of this research is to describe the instincts of the main character in the novel use psychoanalysis. The result of this research was instinct of the main character divided into two, life instinct (Eros) and death instinct (Thanatos). Life instinct appears from pleasure principle and natural desire. Life instinct of the main character appears because of the desire for freedom, pleasure and also curiosity to voyage. Then, it appears due to the natural desire of human to meet their food and drink needs followed by, death instinct which appears because of the life defense of the main character. Death instinct of the main character arise because of the defense of someone‟s life when he is threatened by danger and also because of his solitude that lives alone in a foreign island.