" Defoe makes reference to the story as worth publishing because of the lessons it teaches:
The Story is told with Modesty, with Seriousness, and with a religious Application of Events to the Uses to which wise Men always apply them (viz.) to the Instruction of others by this Example, and to justify and honor the Wisdom of Providence in all the Variety of our Circumstances, let them happen how they will (1).
Much of what the young Crusoe's father tells him has an ironic consequence in the way the story unfolds. His father warns him not to travel, for one thing, and certainly what happens to the young man makes this advice seem timely. His father instead says he should stay home and enjoy a life of ease and pleasure, and the possibility of doing this is to be regarded as eviden
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