3.4 Don Quixote

5 min read•february 27, 2023

Sylvia Rodriguez

AP Spanish Literature 💃🏽

24 resources

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Author's Background:

Miguel de Cervantes was a Spanish writer who lived from 1547 to 1616. He was a soldier, a prisoner of war, and a tax collector before he became a writer. Cervantes is considered one of the most important figures in Spanish literature and his work Don Quixote is considered a masterpiece of world literature.

Cervantes lived during the Golden Age of Spanish literature, a time of cultural and artistic flourishing in Spain. He was influenced by the works of other writers of the time, including Lope de Vega and Francisco de Quevedo. Cervantes' experiences as a soldier and a prisoner of war are reflected in the themes of war and chivalry in Don Quixote.

In addition, Cervantes was a contemporary of William Shakespeare, and both writers are often considered the greatest literary figures of their respective countries.

Historical Context:

Don Quixote was written in the early 17th century during the Spanish Golden Age. This was a time of great cultural and artistic flourishing in Spain, but it was also a time of economic and political decline. The novel was written during a period of transition from the Renaissance to the Baroque era.

During this time, Spain was also experiencing a decline in its empire and a rise in tensions between different social classes. These factors are reflected in Don Quixote, which explores the themes of social class, power, and the decline of chivalry.

Cervantes was also influenced by the literary traditions of the time, including the chivalric romances and the picaresque novels, which featured roguish, anti-heroic protagonists. Cervantes subverts these traditions in Don Quixote by creating a protagonist who is delusional and absurd, yet also sympathetic and endearing.

Important Characters:

Don Quixote: The main character of the novel, a middle-aged man who becomes obsessed with chivalric romances and sets out on a quest to become a knight.
Sancho Panza: Don Quixote's loyal squire who accompanies him on his adventures.
Dulcinea del Toboso: Don Quixote's imaginary love interest.
The Duke and Duchess: Aristocrats who play tricks on Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.
The priest and the barber: Characters who try to bring Don Quixote back to reality.

Symbols and Themes:

Illusion vs. Reality: The novel explores the thin line between illusion and reality, and the danger of losing touch with reality.
Idealism vs. Pragmatism: Don Quixote represents idealism and Sancho Panza represents pragmatism, and the novel explores the tension between these two worldviews.
Critique of Society: The novel is a critique of Spanish society at the time, particularly the aristocracy and the church.
Exploration of Literature: The novel is a metafictional work that explores the power of literature to shape people's perceptions of reality.

The exploration of illusion vs. reality is a central theme in Don Quixote. The novel portrays Don Quixote's struggle to differentiate between his idealistic fantasies and the harsh reality of the world around him. This theme is particularly relevant in the context of the Spanish Golden Age, which saw a surge in literature and artistic expression, as well as a decline in Spain's political and economic power.

Furthermore, the tension between idealism and pragmatism is a recurring motif in the novel. Don Quixote represents the idealistic worldview of a knight-errant, while Sancho Panza embodies a more pragmatic approach to life. The contrast between these two characters highlights the struggle between personal ambition and social responsibility.

In addition to these themes, Don Quixote also serves as a critique of Spanish society at the time. The novel satirizes the aristocracy and the church, highlighting their hypocrisy and corruption. Cervantes uses humor and irony to expose the flaws of these institutions and to criticize the societal norms that enable their power.

Plot Summary:

Don Quixote begins with an introduction by the narrator, who explains that the story is based on the manuscript of a historian named Cide Hamete Benengeli. The narrator sets the scene in the town of La Mancha, Spain, where Alonso Quixano, an unmarried gentleman in his fifties, becomes obsessed with books about chivalry and decides to become a knight himself.

Renaming himself Don Quixote, he sets out on a quest to revive chivalry and right wrongs. His first adventure involves freeing prisoners who he believes are oppressed, but in reality are just criminals. He later mistakes a group of windmills for giants and charges at them on his horse, causing injury to himself and his horse.

Sancho Panza, a poor farmer, becomes Don Quixote's loyal squire after being promised the governorship of an island. Sancho often tries to bring Don Quixote back to reality, but he is mostly unsuccessful. Throughout their adventures, Don Quixote mistakes inns for castles and prostitutes for princesses, and frequently gets into fights.

As the novel progresses, the people they encounter begin to play along with Don Quixote's delusions, often for their own amusement. In one instance, Don Quixote frees a group of prisoners who are actually actors, and the actors pretend to be grateful for their release.

As Don Quixote's delusions become more extreme, he becomes increasingly dangerous. In one of his final adventures, he attacks a group of merchants and destroys their goods, believing them to be enemies.

In the end, Don Quixote is brought back to reality and renounces his chivalric ideals. He dies peacefully in his bed, surrounded by friends and family. The novel ends with an epilogue in which the narrator reflects on the power of literature to shape people's perceptions of reality.

Analysis:

Don Quixote is a novel that has been interpreted in many different ways. It has been seen as a critique of Spanish society, a commentary on the power of literature, and a meditation on the human condition. The novel's humor and absurdity have also been widely discussed. Some critics have argued that the novel is a celebration of the human imagination and the power of the individual to create meaning in a chaotic world.

Don Quixote is a complex character who has been interpreted in many different ways. Some critics see him as a tragic hero, while others see him as a comic figure. Sancho Panza is also an important character who represents the voice of reason and practicality. Dulcinea del Toboso, Don Quixote's imaginary love interest, is a symbol of idealized femininity.

Others have interpreted Don Quixote as a cautionary tale about the dangers of losing touch with reality and becoming too immersed in one's own fantasies. The character of Don Quixote himself can be seen as a tragic figure, as his pursuit of an idealized world leads him to reject the realities of the world around him and ultimately brings him to his downfall.

In addition, the relationship between Don Quixote and Sancho Panza has also been the subject of much analysis. Some have seen their dynamic as a representation of the tension between idealism and pragmatism, with Don Quixote representing idealism and Sancho Panza representing practicality. Others have viewed their relationship as a reflection of the complex nature of human relationships, with Don Quixote and Sancho Panza representing the conflicting desires and motivations within all of us.

Study Questions:

How does Don Quixote's obsession with chivalric romances affect the people around him?
What is the significance of Sancho Panza's role as Don Quixote's squire?
How does Cervantes use humor

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