Don Quixote: Reason, Idealism, and Spanish Society

Chapter 1: Developments in the Channel in the 16th Century

The third-person narrator tells the story, seemingly drawing information from various sources or authors.

Chapters XI-XIV: Encounters with Goatherds

What era are we referring to? What were its characteristics? How was life lived? It refers to a primitive era where freedom, honesty, and beauty took precedence. The current difference is that these values are lost, and the errant knight must restore them.

Theory: Style

Part 1 was published in 1605, and Part 2 in 1615.

The False Quixote

In 1614, a false Quixote, signed by Avellaneda, capitalized on the success of the first part and insulted Cervantes in the prologue.

Genesis and Intention

"History of a crazy-wise man who, invoking his madness, tells the truth. History of an idealist willing to do anything to live in their own way." The work acquired depth and consistency. The author's intention was to "docere, delectare" (to teach, to delight). Apparent criticism of the novels of chivalry hides a broad analysis of its time and the struggle between reason and idealism, utopia, pragmatism, idealism, and realism. The aim was to appeal to a wide audience and offer something of value, regardless of education.

Structure

The story is about an old gentleman who reads too many books of chivalry and decides to become a knight-errant, venturing into the world to seek adventures.

Part 1:

• Chapters I to VII: First exit.
• Chapters VII to XX: Second exit.
• Chapters XXI-XLVII: Second exit to adventure and departure.
• Chapters XLVIII-LII: Return and preparation for the 3rd exit.

Part 2:

• Chapters I to VI: Return and preparation for the 3rd exit.
• Chapters VII-XXIX: 3rd exit adventures.
• Chapters XXX-LVII: Stay in the castle.
• Chapters LXV-LXXII: Final defeat, return home, and death.

Topics: The central issue is the struggle between reason and idealism, alongside themes such as:

• The chivalric world: Love, adventure, and values.
• Love: A mixture of courtly love and Platonic love (medieval and Renaissance).
• Reflection on the literature of the time: Discussions of theater, poetry, novels, and personal opinions, as well as an overview of the literature of the era.
• Reflection on the ideals and values of Cervantes: Culture, religion, life, freedom, political power, war.

The mix of topics and the variety make the work reflect the Spain of the time (lights and shadows of an empire in decline).

Characters:

• Don Quixote: A very complex character (one of the most complex universally) who acts according to the novel and creates his own persona. His real name was Alonso de Quijano (a good man). He invents his own character, allowing him to live another life. There's a significant difference between the first and second parts.
  • In the first part, he invents his own reality and continually struggles with himself. He faces reality but doesn't cease his efforts.
  • In the second part, Don Quixote doesn't change reality; instead, he changes to be laughed at by others. DesQuixotization occurs, leading to his eventual death.
• Sancho: Appears in Don Quixote's life as a counterpoint to the gentleman, physically and morally. Cervantes uses him to represent popular wisdom through proverbs. He continually advises Don Quixote but ends up Quixotizing and sharing the illusions of his master.

A large number of characters from reality or fiction appear (of all kinds of social ideologies and points of view).

STYLE: A mixed, prepared, and literary language with proverbs, popular speech, learned quotations in Greek or Latin, Bulgarian words, aligning all levels of language. Cervantes dominates the dialogue to perfection, as well as descriptions and the play of narrators. Everything is submitted to Cervantine irony.