Don Quixote: Cervantes' Enduring Spanish Literary Classic

Don Quixote, by Miguel de Cervantes, stands as the most important work of Spanish literature. It is characterized as a realistic novel and a foundational work of prose fiction.

Publication and Narrative Structure

It was published in the early seventeenth century in two parts. The book tells the story of an old gentleman who loses his mind by reading many books of chivalry.

• Part One: Describes Don Quixote setting out in search of adventure, driven by a noble desire for justice.
• Part Two: Highlights adventures marked by the confusion of fact and fiction in Don Quixote's mind.

Key Themes

• Chivalric Parody: The author clearly intends to ridicule books of chivalry.
• Realism vs. Idealism: The novel discusses the struggle between idealism and realism.

Character Perspectives

• Don Quixote's Vision: Confuses reality with fiction, driven by grand ideals, and seeks grand solutions.
• Sancho Panza's Vision: Sees reality as it is, acts by practical motivation, and finds realistic solutions.

Main Characters

The greatness of the central pair, Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, lies in their blended personalities. Other significant characters include:

• The Housekeeper
• The Niece
• The Bachelor
• The Priest
• ...and many more.

Style and Appeal

• Simple Style: Don Quixote reflects the Renaissance's natural style.
• Engaging Dialogues: They are full of wit and vivacity.
• Humor: Don Quixote is a novel rich in humor.

Don Quixote and the Modern Novel

• Realism: The novel arises from everyday experience.
• Dynamism: The characters evolve throughout the novel.
• Perspective: Sancho and Don Quixote do not see the same reality.
• Plausibility: The novel mixes fact and fiction in a believable way.

Differences Between Medieval and Modern Novels

• Medieval Novels:
  • Describe an unreal, idealized world.
  • Their characters are flat and static, not evolving over history.
  • The author provides a single point of view.
  • Their stories are largely incredible.
• Modern Novels:
  • Reflect the human experience.
  • Their characters are dynamic and evolve.
  • The novel offers different interpretations.
  • Their stories are fictitious but plausible.