"Don Quixote" by Miguel de Cervantes
1. Main Characters
Don Quixote (Alonso Quixano): A frail man in his fifties who loses his sanity after reading too many chivalric romances and decides to become a knight-errant to fight injustice. He wears old armor and names his horse "Rocinante."
Sancho Panza: A simple farmer who becomes Don Quixote’s squire, lured by the promise of governing an island. He represents practicality and realism, contrasting his master’s delusions.
Dulcinea del Toboso: A peasant woman whom Don Quixote imagines as a noble princess, dedicating his imaginary victories to her.
2. Main Plot
Part One (1605): Don Quixote sets off on his first adventures, attacking windmills he mistakes for giants and attempting to rescue a girl he believes to be a princess. He eventually returns home injured.
Part Two (1615): He resumes his adventures with Sancho, but nobles (like the Duke and Duchess) play tricks on him for entertainment. In the end, he is defeated by a disguised knight (his friend Samson Carrasco), regains his sanity, and dies of illness after renouncing his madness.
3. Key Themes
Reality vs. Illusion: Don Quixote clings to dreams despite reality, while Sancho embodies pragmatism.
Satire of Chivalric Tales: The novel mocks the exaggerated idealism of knightly romances.
Social Justice: The protagonist tries to fight injustice, but his actions often backfire, reflecting 16th-century Spanish society’s complexities.
Madness and Humanity: Don Quixote’s madness highlights idealism and courage in the face of ridicule.
4. Literary Significance
Considered the first modern European novel, blending comedy and tragedy with innovative narrative techniques.
Translated into over 60 languages and ranked among the greatest literary works of all time.
Influenced realism in literature and critiqued Spanish Renaissance society.
5. About the Author
Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616): A Spanish writer who endured poverty and five years of captivity in Algiers. He wrote Don Quixote in prison due to financial struggles.
Died in poverty but is now regarded alongside Dante and Shakespeare.
Famous Quote:
"Freedom, Sancho, is one of the most precious gifts Heaven has given to men... No treasures of earth or sea can compare to it."
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