Miguel de Cervantes: Life, Legacy, and Don Quixote's Enduring Impact

Miguel de Cervantes: A Literary Life

Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra was born in Alcalá de Henares in 1547. He lived a somewhat unstable childhood and early life. He studied in Madrid with a humanist teacher, López de Hoyos, but did not complete university studies.

Captivity and Struggles

In 1575, while returning to Spain by boat, he was kidnapped by Turkish pirates and taken to Algiers. He spent five years in captivity there, despite several attempted escapes. Later, a request for a vacancy was denied, possibly due to his converso (Jewish convert) origin.

He managed to find work as a tax collector, a job that often required him to travel. However, he ended up in jail due to the failure of the bank where he had deposited the collected funds. Afterward, he moved to Valladolid, where he experienced another brief period of imprisonment.

Literary Breakthrough and Death

True success, however, did not come until the publication of the first part of Don Quixote in 1605. Miguel de Cervantes died in Madrid on April 23, 1616, a year after the publication of the second part of Don Quixote.

Cervantes as a Literary Master

Poet

Most of Cervantes' poems are scattered throughout his novels and theatrical works. Notable poetic works include The Tomb of King Philip II and Journey to Parnassus, the latter being his most extensive poetic work.

Novelist

Cervantes' contributions to the novel genre are immense and varied:

• Pastoral Novels

  La Galatea (1585)

• Morisco Novels

  The Captive Moor, a work that idealized the figure of the Arab.

• Short Stories (Novellas)

  Cervantes introduced the Italian term 'novella' to Spain. Twelve of his Exemplary Novels (Novelas Ejemplares) are well known, including: The Little Gypsy Girl, The Dialogue of the Dogs, and The Illustrious Kitchen Maid.

• Picaresque Novels

  Rinconete y Cortadillo

• Byzantine Novels

  The Labors of Persiles and Sigismunda (a posthumous novel)

Playwright

Cervantes' theatrical career evolved through two main stages:

• First Stage: Classical Theater

  In his first stage, he wrote classical theater, respecting moralizing themes and the rules of the three unities (a single action unfolding in a short time and in one place). Works include: The Treatment of Algiers and The Siege of Numantia.

• Second Stage: New Comedy

  In his second stage, he imitated the technique of the 'New Comedy,' following Lope de Vega. He wrote Eight Comedies and Eight New Interludes.

Don Quixote: A Literary Revolution

Publication and Impact

In 1605, Cervantes published the first part, titled The Ingenious Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha. Its success was remarkable: Cervantes had invented the modern novel. In 1615, the second part was published.

Narrative Innovation

Cervantes himself did not particularly favor fictional or 'crazy' stories, but it was what captured public attention. His genius lay in creating a story where absurdity is justified, making the novel plausible and credible.

Part One

When you sir after reading books / / second part