This thesis examines how four Robinsonade narratives from different historical periods, Robinson Crusoe (1719), The Blue Lagoon (1908), Kensuke’s Kingdom (1999), and The Martian (2011) depict changing societal ideals through the perspectives of their main characters. By analysing the characters, when removed from civilisation, the study explores shifting conceptions of society, individuality, and human needs across three centuries. Drawing on a thematic framework grounded in narrative analysis, the thesis investigates the role of the individual, interpersonal relationships, education–religionscience, and the tension between civilisation and nature. Previous research on island literature and Robinsonades, particularly by Andreescu, Kinane, Loxley, and Dautel & Schödel situates the island as a microcosm for social systems and ideological negotiation. The analysis shows that each work reflects the dominant worldview of its time: colonial rationalism in Robinson Crusoe, pre-war naturalism and gender norms in The Blue Lagoon, post-war intercultural ethics in Kensuke’s Kingdom, and technological individualism in The Martian. Together, these texts illustrate how literary isolation functions as a lens for understanding evolving societal values and the enduring question of what humans require to form a meaningful community.