18th-Century Journalism & Don Quixote
18th-Century Journalism
Origins of Journalism
The origins of journalism and the periodical press can be traced back much earlier than the 18th century.
- Volandres Sheets: Appeared in the 15th century, thanks to the invention of printing, becoming widely known and popular.
- Almanacs: Developed during the 16th century, along with semi-annual publications.
- Gazettes: Played an important role in politics and diplomacy. These were European and published weekly.
- Mercury: Published monthly with a more literary and political focus.
Stages of Journalism
Several stages mark the evolution of the press:
- First Stage (Up to 1750): Considered a period of free press development, including early newspapers like the Journal of the Literati of Spain.
- Second Stage (1750-1770): Francisco Mariano Nipho emerges as a pivotal figure, creating the General Post Office of Spain in 1770.
- Third Stage (From 1770): Journalism reaches maturity.
Types of Publications
- Learned Press: Official papers like the Gaceta de Madrid and Mercurio Historical and Political disseminated cultural and economic issues, generally defending an advanced ideology. Readership belonged to the enlightened minority.
- Popular Press: Popular publications aimed at the bourgeoisie, developing throughout the 18th century.
Newspapers
Major 18th-century Spanish newspapers included:
- La Gaceta de Madrid: Widely accepted for its coverage of news, both domestic and international.
- Diary of News, Funny, Erudite, Commercial and Political: Published monthly, eventually with supplements.
- The Newspaper of the Writers of Spain: A mid-century quarterly considered a highly important periodical.
- The Critical Duende: A short-lived satirical diary.
- The Weekly Economic: Focused on business news.
- The Thinker: Introduced a new style of journalism.
- The Mail for the Blind: Later called Mail of Madrid, it collected scientific, technical, and economic literature, along with social criticism.
Don Quixote
Synopsis
Don Quixote narrates the adventures of Alonso Quijano, a nobleman obsessed with chivalric novels who decides to embark on his own adventures. The story focuses on the public’s perception and the development of its main characters.
Structure
External Structure
- Part One: The Ingenious Hidalgo Don Quixote (52 chapters) recounts Don Quixote’s first two adventures.
- Part Two: The Ingenious Knight Don Quixote of La Mancha (74 chapters) tells of his third adventure with Sancho Panza.
Internal Structure & Characters
Don Quixote and Sancho Panza are the central characters.
- Don Quixote: His madness revolves around chivalry. He believes in justice and love, seeking adventures to defend these principles. He represents the passionate literary reader, but falls into despair when he realizes heroes don’t exist.
- Sancho Panza: Represents the opposite of Don Quixote, embodying oral tradition and popular wisdom.
- Dulcinea: Don Quixote’s idealized maiden, who is, in reality, an ordinary village girl.
- Other characters include Samson Carrasco, Don Quixote’s niece, and his housekeeper.
Style & Narrative Technique
The novel’s complexity lies in its narrative perspectives:
- Cervantes initially frames the story as found in the archives of La Mancha.
- A second narrator, Cide Hamete Benengeli, is introduced as the author of an Arabic manuscript containing the story’s continuation.
- Cervantes claims to have hired a Moor to translate the manuscript.
Language and Style
: the linguistic features that are used cervantes following: Dialogue: nla novel is based on the dialogue of characters who are like that way of being and thinking. · Neologism: cervantes is aware that Language is a living thing. • The irony: the humor of Cervantes is friendly, sympathetic to the shortcomings and human failings.