What themes about ambition and self-reliance appear in Robinson Crusoe?

In Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe, the themes of ambition and self-reliance are central to the protagonist's development and his struggle for survival.1

• Ambition: Crusoe is portrayed as a restless, headstrong individual whose desire for wealth and status drives his narrative. Initially, his ambition leads him to ignore family advice and pursue a life at sea, eventually becoming a merchant and plantation owner in Brazil. Even after achieving prosperity, his insatiable ambition to expand his wealth—specifically through the slave trade—leads to the voyage that results in his shipwreck. This restlessness persists even after his rescue, as he finds himself unable to settle down in England.12
• Self-Reliance: Stranded on a desolate island for 28 years, Crusoe must transform from a merchant into a survivor. He exercises practical intelligence and resourcefulness to secure food, build shelter, and document his experiences. This self-reliance is deeply intertwined with his efforts to impose order on his environment, reflecting a broader, often critical, exploration of human nature, civilization, and the desire to shape the world according to one's own worldview.312