novel represents the views of English men towards business and trade. Discuss briefly.

Consistent with Defoe's writings on economics, money is an important theme in Robinson Crusoe. At the beginning of the narrative, Crusoe details how much money he has, what he does with it, and what he gains by his actions. On the island, money loses all value. Crusoe has to find another way to measure his worth. While rummaging through a ship for salvage he laments aloud at the sight of some money, "O Drug! ... what are thou good for." At that point he realizes that just one knife is worth more than money. Usefulness is the key to evaluation of worth. Crusoe's hope of returning to England is symbolized by these tokens of civilizationon the island, the money is only a reminder of his old life and he treasures it as a memento. In all of his other endeavors he freely admits his success or failure. But as a merchant, he knows that though separated from the world now, he can only reconnect with it if he has money. Once he returns to London, his old reliance on money returns.