2/28/10 Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes

Don Quixote has proved itself to be a classical comedy and drama. As a fan of classical novels, from Crime and Punishment to A Tale of Two Cities, I like stories that attack the norm of society or rational reasoning. Don Quixote is such a story that captures the essence of seeking the life of a hero or for adventure in the 1600's in Europe. People were still infatuated with the life of a knight while society was being turned on its side by the Renaissance. It is here, where Don Quixote gives up his life to be, in his mind, a wandering hero that fights the wicked and rescues the good. The only problem is that he has no sense of what he is doing. He is insane, bored, and obviously incapable of ever thinking with the least bit of rationale. He even believes a windmill is an evil and wicked creature so much that he "put his Rocinante to full speed, and assaulting the nearest windmill, thrust into one of the sails" (57). The comedy grows as he travels with his loyal squire, Sancho Panza, who seems to not do anything. What makes the story even more interesting is the speed at which it is told. While most books focus on a single event for at least 10 pages, DOn Quixote's battle with the windmill is over in one page. This surprise me especially since the book is almost 900 pages long. However, I am determined to read every page.