Don Quixote: Analysis of Themes, Characters, and Style
Don Quixote: A Literary Exploration
The Plot: Don Quixote’s Adventures
The novel Don Quixote follows the adventures of Alonso Quijano, who renames himself Don Quixote, and his squire, Sancho Panza. Don Quixote, inspired by chivalric romances, sets out to revive knight-errantry and right the world’s wrongs. After being knighted in an inn he imagines to be a castle, he embarks on various adventures, often ending up injured. Eventually, the priest and barber from his village trick him into returning home.
The second part of the novel details Don Quixote and Sancho’s third expedition. They journey to Toboso, the home of Dulcinea, Don Quixote’s idealized lady. They encounter various adventures, including encounters with dukes who mock them. Sancho governs the fictional island of Barataria. The story culminates in Barcelona, where Don Quixote is defeated by the Knight of the White Moon, who forces him to return home. There, Don Quixote regains his sanity before dying, surrounded by family and friends.
Don Quixote and the Novels of Chivalry
Cervantes’ initial intention was to satirize the novels of chivalry and the ideological world they represented. He aimed to ridicule the type of nobleman who idealized the past and rejected commerce. Cervantes parodies the improbable situations common in chivalric romances. He chooses a poor, idealistic gentleman who goes mad from reading these novels as his protagonist, a peasant as his squire, and a skinny nag as his horse. Don Quixote is armed in a mock ceremony and from then on, speaks and acts like a knight. Cervantes also critiques pastoral novels, although he had written one himself, as the social and cultural context of the early seventeenth century was far removed from the idealized bucolic world. Don Quixote is more than just an anti-romance; it is a novel of novels, a refuge for many stories.
Don Quixote and Sancho Panza
Don Quixote’s madness is specific to the realm of chivalry. Sancho Panza, a simple, uneducated farmer, serves as a realistic counterpoint to his master’s delusions. He often warns Don Quixote of his madness, but he also accompanies him, drawn by the promise of personal gain, such as marrying off his daughter well.
The Richness and Interpretation of Don Quixote
Don Quixote is more than just an entertaining adventure story. Cervantes delves into religious, moral, and literary issues, offering a complex and multifaceted narrative.
Style
Cervantes demonstrates great mastery and skillful use of irony. He adapts his style to suit each moment. The narration reflects the coexistence of Don Quixote’s world and reality. When Don Quixote speaks, he uses archaic language befitting a knight. When expressing opinions on other subjects, he uses a more cultivated language. Sancho’s style is not crude or vulgar. Cervantes excels in dialogue, creating lively and engaging conversations that reveal the characters’ personalities.