A person who has been shipwrecked and left stranded on an island or isolated place, or someone abandoned and left to fend for themselves.
From 'cast' (to throw) plus 'away.' Originally a nautical term, later used metaphorically for anyone abandoned or rejected.
The castaway narrative captivates humans because it strips away civilization—from 'Robinson Crusoe' to 'Survivor' to 'Cast Away,' we're fascinated by how people survive with nothing!
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