Guide to Survival

The reason for the historical data is crucial to the understanding of the book. I did a slight bit of research to see the timeline of events that led up to the release of this novel. Daniel Defoe’s A Journal of the Plague Year was written 57 years after the great plague of London in 1665. When A Journal of the Plague Year was published, there was a potential plague in Marseilles that could potentially cross into England. This is quite significant, and I believe plays a big role in Daniel Defoe’s decision to publish the book, as well as add all historically accurate evidence. In the beginning of the novel, it appears that many of the folks are naive to the possible danger of the plague. They keep ignoring the warning signs and are praying that the plague just passes by. More and more, people keep dying, yet no one seems to be doing anything about it. There are suspicions that it could be the plague again, but no one is taking it seriously. Even the narrator of the story did not want to leave his trade and his goods behind to potentially keep himself from the plague. His brother was begging him to go to their sister’s house and stay there as it is safe for the moment. Daniel Defoe purposely shows this naivety in hopes of warning the people of England of the potentially new plague spreading from Marseille. He was attempting to show how horrid the Great Plague was and how the lives of many people could have been saved. He wants to put a sense of fear in the people so that they are more aware and more capable of what may come. All of the historical evidence that is stated in the novel shows how relaxed and careless the people were. Many lives could have possibly been saved if they had prepared better and knew more about the plague. The government tries to hide the information about the plague from spreading to the people as they do not want chaos on the streets. Daniel Defoe realizes that this is what the government will do and is attempting to warn the people. Many citizens did not know how to combat the plague at all and you can see that throughout the novel. In a way, I believe Defoe is trying to make a survival book. He is trying to give people the knowledge needed to survive the potential plague from Marseille. He is also attempting to tell the people what to avoid from doing. Using all the historically accurate information gives the people a better knowledge and understanding of what they will need to do to survive, as well as, prepare. Daniel Defoe published this book to go on the offensive and instead of being reactionary, he is trying to be proactive. By this I mean, that he is trying to eliminate potential problems that civilians may face if the plague does spread to England. In a potential time of need Daniel Defoe was attempting to reach out and help all the people of England.