Don QuixoteDon QuixoteMiguel de CervantesMiguel de Cervantes

The AuthorThe Author Was born in 1547 near Madrid, SpainWas born in 1547 near Madrid, Spain Noble family, however his father was imprisoned for debtsNoble family, however his father was imprisoned for debts He became a soldier and lost his left hand in battleHe became a soldier and lost his left hand in battle When sailing home, he was captured by Barbary pirates and When sailing home, he was captured by Barbary pirates and

was a slave in Algiers for 5 years; he was not freed until 1580 was a slave in Algiers for 5 years; he was not freed until 1580 when his family paid ransomwhen his family paid ransom

He married a girl of 19 in 1584 (unhappy result) and began He married a girl of 19 in 1584 (unhappy result) and began writing plays and poetry writing plays and poetry

Worked for government as a tax inspector but still ran into Worked for government as a tax inspector but still ran into financial problems/debt and was imprisoned – twice in the financial problems/debt and was imprisoned – twice in the Seville gaolSeville gaol

In 1590, he was turned down for a post in the In 1590, he was turned down for a post in the American coloniesAmerican colonies

The first volume of Don Quixote was The first volume of Don Quixote was published in 1604; second volume in 1615.published in 1604; second volume in 1615.

Cervantes died on April 23, 1616 - the same Cervantes died on April 23, 1616 - the same day as William Shakespeare (unreformed day as William Shakespeare (unreformed calendar)calendar)

He has had an enormous influence on He has had an enormous influence on European literature for centuriesEuropean literature for centuries

Don Quixote is the best-selling non-religious, Don Quixote is the best-selling non-religious, non-political work of fiction of all timenon-political work of fiction of all time

A satire on the old romances of chivalry, to a A satire on the old romances of chivalry, to a certain extentcertain extent

Cervantes satirizes the extravagances of Cervantes satirizes the extravagances of chivalry, yet lived his whole life in the spirit of chivalry, yet lived his whole life in the spirit of the knight-errantthe knight-errant

Don Quixote is considered by many to be the Don Quixote is considered by many to be the greatest romance of chivalry (irony?) because greatest romance of chivalry (irony?) because its action is placed in the real world its action is placed in the real world

Historical BackgroundHistorical Background

Code of chivalry – chivalry symbolizes moral Code of chivalry – chivalry symbolizes moral idealism and Don Quixote is its embodimentidealism and Don Quixote is its embodiment

Against the panorama of characters that Against the panorama of characters that Quixote meets – the vicious and brutal, the Quixote meets – the vicious and brutal, the morally corrupt and sophisticated, or those morally corrupt and sophisticated, or those who cannot or will not understand him – his who cannot or will not understand him – his idealism is helplessidealism is helpless

Is Cervantes showing us – as some maintain – Is Cervantes showing us – as some maintain – the inevitable failure of idealism in a modern the inevitable failure of idealism in a modern world of science and industry?world of science and industry?

Don Quixote is insane and insanity is wrong; Don Quixote is insane and insanity is wrong; he distorts the ethical world and the sensory he distorts the ethical world and the sensory worldworld

Madness in literature is often the vehicle and Madness in literature is often the vehicle and symbol of truths and attitudes that cannot be symbol of truths and attitudes that cannot be conveyed by normalityconveyed by normality

Don Quixote, from this viewpoint, is a tragic Don Quixote, from this viewpoint, is a tragic herohero

He adopts his ideals and his means of He adopts his ideals and his means of interpreting reality from novels of chivalryinterpreting reality from novels of chivalry

The novel is not anti-Christian, but is written The novel is not anti-Christian, but is written outside of the circle of Christianityoutside of the circle of Christianity

DQ never goes to church, never appeals to DQ never goes to church, never appeals to God, Jesus or Mary; in his hours of testing he God, Jesus or Mary; in his hours of testing he calls only upon Dulcinea, who symbolizes the calls only upon Dulcinea, who symbolizes the purely human, willfully created idealpurely human, willfully created ideal

DQ involves this world, not the next; Dulcinea DQ involves this world, not the next; Dulcinea not Christ; self-creation not grace.not Christ; self-creation not grace.

““Chivalry is a religion” he tells usChivalry is a religion” he tells us DQ rides with Sancho Panza, squire and DQ rides with Sancho Panza, squire and

apprentice apprentice

Sancho represents the average mold of man; Sancho represents the average mold of man; unsophisticated and unpolished, he has the unsophisticated and unpolished, he has the natural human vices and also the natural natural human vices and also the natural virtues; he has moments of uplifting idealismvirtues; he has moments of uplifting idealism

While DQ is an ascetic, neglecting the While DQ is an ascetic, neglecting the physical body for the spirit, Sancho is pictured physical body for the spirit, Sancho is pictured as a gluttonas a glutton

One aspect of the story involves the nature of One aspect of the story involves the nature of reality and knowledge - delusion, deceit and reality and knowledge - delusion, deceit and disguise are woven throughout the noveldisguise are woven throughout the novel

But despite shifting appearances, subjective But despite shifting appearances, subjective interpretations cannot change basic realityinterpretations cannot change basic reality

If man cannot alter and change reality, he cannot If man cannot alter and change reality, he cannot escape the prison of a fixed destiny (think escape the prison of a fixed destiny (think Hamlet)Hamlet)

This world cannot accept DQ’s metaphysical This world cannot accept DQ’s metaphysical perspective or his ethical ideals: freedom and perspective or his ethical ideals: freedom and responsibility; justice and the surpassing of responsibility; justice and the surpassing of oneself by devotion to a causeoneself by devotion to a cause

The path of disillusionment is clearly marked The path of disillusionment is clearly marked outout

Alonso Quixano, the undistinguished hidalgoAlonso Quixano, the undistinguished hidalgo Cervantes, though he sympathizes with DQ Cervantes, though he sympathizes with DQ

and has put much of himself into him, and has put much of himself into him, consistently rejects and mocks himconsistently rejects and mocks him

Elements of tragedy and comedy are artfully Elements of tragedy and comedy are artfully fused in the storyfused in the story

Terms to knowTerms to know

SatireSatire SallySally – a venture or excursion usually off the beaten – a venture or excursion usually off the beaten

pathpath Knight-errantKnight-errant – a knight traveling in search of – a knight traveling in search of

adventures in which to exhibit military skill, prowess, adventures in which to exhibit military skill, prowess, and generosity (Alonso Quixano steps into his literary and generosity (Alonso Quixano steps into his literary world and becomes a knight-errant, just like those in world and becomes a knight-errant, just like those in his books of chivalry)his books of chivalry)

QuixoticQuixotic- foolishly impractical, especially in the - foolishly impractical, especially in the pursuit of idealspursuit of ideals