Don Quixote Ch 19-27

As we did for Tuesday's class, please bring in your own analysis of two episodes which you find reflect either 1) themes we have already discussed in class or 2) new themes that you deem revolutionary/ important.

Throughout the novel, Don Quixote struggles with being able to view the world as it is. His intentions are good and he wants everyone to be equal, but he winds up causing more harm than good. He is so obssessed with his books and vision of knighthood that he cannot distinguish reality from his fantasy world in the books he reads. In Chapter 21 Sancho and Don Quixote see a person approaching them. Sancho says, "All I can make out is a bloke on a donkey, brown like mine, with something shiny on his head" (166). Don Quixote, on the other hand, sees a knight coming toward them on a dapple-grey steed and wearing a helmet of gold. Sancho laughs at Don Quixote when he says that he thinks it is a knight. In reality, the person coming towards them was a barber who put his brass basin on his head to prevent the rain from ruining his hat. Cervantes writes, "And this was what made Don Quixote think he saw a dapple-grey steed, and a knight, and a helmet of gold, because he was so ready to accomodate everything he saw to his delirious chivalry and his errant thoughts" (167). The funny part about this is that after he discovers that this person was just a barber, he then tells Sancho that the basin really is an enchanted helmet. He says, "I think this famous piece of this enchanted helmet must, by some strange accident have fallen into the hands of a person who did not understand or appreciate its value and, not knowing what he was doing, he must, on seeing, that it is made of the purest gold, have melted down the other half to sell it, and with the remaining half made this like a barber's basin" (168). Don Quixote steals the basin and wants to use it for chivalrous reasons.


One theme that we talked about in class was storytelling. We mentioned that storytelling is very important and we need fiction to survive. Storytelling is important because stories keep getting passed on and information is spread this way. It is also interesting because every individual has their own story to tell and share. In Chapter 24, the Ragged Knight of the Sorry Countenance, also known as Cardenio, tells Don Quixote and Sancho his story. I think Cardenio and Don Quixote are similar because they both act in rushed ways. Cervantes writes, "Cardenio was peering at Don Quixote: a fit of madness had come over him and he was in no state to continue his history, nor would Don Quixote have heard it even if he had, so enraged was he by those allegations about Madasima" (203). This relates to the theme of madness/insanity/obsession that we talked about. Cardenio and Don Quixote are alike in the fact that they overreact and are "mad" and obsessed with certain things to the point that they physically hurt people. Don Quixote says that it is for chivalrous reasons but sometimes he crosses the line. Cardenio attacks Don Quixote and Sancho tries to protect him and then Cardenio runs off.

Don Quixote Ch 1-9

For this post, I'd like you to pick two scenes in which you see Don Quixote as a radical character within the novel thus far. What do you find radical about Don Quixote? What do you think the text states about him as a character?

In chapter one, the narrator states that Don Quixote reads books about chivalry and "his foolish curiosity reached such extremes that he sold acres of arable land to buy these books" (26). He then became so absorbed in these books that his nights were spent reading from dusk til dawn, until the lack of sleep and the excess of reading withered his brain, and he went mad (26). The narrator writes, "Everything he read in his books took possession of his imagination: enchantments, fights, battles, challenges, wounds, sweet nothings, love affairs, storms, and impossible absurdities" (27). When I read this, I immediately thought of Perceval and The Story of the Grail. Don Quixote seems to be very similar to Perceval in the fact that they both are obsessed with knighthood. I do no actually think, at this point, that Don Quixote is "mad." I think he simply is fascinated with knighthood and would do everything and anything to become like the knights he admires in these books. Don Quixote is innocent and wants to fulfill this fantasy of his, but later on in the novel he becomes "radical" and commits rash actions. It seems like Don Quixote, in the beginning, is just obsessed with gaining the eternal fame renown and he does not know what is ahead of him. This is similar to Perceval who also is just obsessed with the external image of knighthood. There is, however, a difference between Don Quixote and Perceval. Don Quixote, although he is striving to become a knight and reap the benefits, he also wants to help others. Sometimes it is hard to figure out what Don Quixote's motives are because he tries to protect people but then he acts very violently and it is shocking because the narrator portrays him as very innocent and child-like, believing whatever he wants to. Perceval did not think about others, even his own mother, at all and was solely concerned with himself.

Don Quixote wanted to start his journey but he remembered that he wasn't knighted yet and he thought about stopping his journey, but his madness prevailed (30). He then decided to be knighted by the first person he chanced upon. After reading this, I looked up the word "quixotic" and found out that it means "foolishly impractical especially in the pursuit of ideals; marked by rash lofty romantic ideas or extravagantly chivalrous action." This is the perfect word to describe Don Quixote. Don Quixote's first radical act takes place when he arrives at the inn that he believes to be a castle. He arrives wearing his cardboard visor and begins talking to these wenches who he thinks are beautiful maidens. They cannot understand him and laugh at his appearance and the way he talks to them. The innkeeper recognized "that his guest was not right in the mind" and he decided to go along with what Don Quixote was saying. When the muleteers come, Don Quixote acts crazy. He says, "But to you, vile and base rabble, I pay no heed; stone me, come and draw near, assail me as best you can, for you will soon see how you are made to pay for your folly and your insolence" (39). This shows a different side to Don Quixote that we haven't been introduced to. He threatens the muleteers and he is not afraid to hurt them. In the next chapter, Don Quixote feels proud of himself that he has been "knighted" and he says, "These cries come, no doubt, from some man or woman in distress, who stands in need of my protection and assistance" (42). This shows me that he is willing to follow the true ways of knighthood and serve to protect others. Don Quixote then sees a farmer who is punishing one of his servants and Don Quixote threatens the farmer. He says, "Pay him immediately, and do not answer back; otherwise, by God who rules us, I shall exterminate and annihilate you this very instant" (43). Don Quixote speaks very harshly, but the farmer fears him and unties his servant immediately. Even though, Don Quixote acts this way, he still was trying to do all that he could to help others. His actions, although violent and threatening, show that he has what it takes to become a great knight because he is not selfish.

Dante's Inferno Canti 21-27

4. What do you make of the fact that Dante places Ulysses in Hell (Canto 26)? If you have already read the Odyssey, might this seem at odds? with the Ulysses we find there? What do you make of Dante's decision?

Ulysses and Diomedes were punished together because of the three sins they committed. "And within their flame they bemoan the deceit of of the horse that made the gate to send forth the Romans' noble seed; there within they weep for the art that makes Deidamia, though dead, still grieve for Achilles; and there they bear the punishment for the Palladium" (401). This quote basically sums up what Ulysses and Diomedes did. Dante and Virgil then listen to what Ulysses say about what happened and the Canto sort of abruptly ends. In the beginning of the next Canto, we find out that "the sweet poet," meaning Virgil, has given permission to the flame of Ulysses and Diomedes to leave. Dante is clearly confused and does not know what to punish them for. What may seem as a sin to Dante can be seen as a righteous act to others, which is why I think Virgil makes the decision. For example, the Trojan horse was a trick that allowed the Greeks access into the city of Troy, but it also helped them to end the conflict.

Dante's Inferno Canti 14-20

1. The description of the Old Man of Crete in Canto 14. How do you "read" this Old Man? You might use the note on pg 555-7 of the Durling edition as a source of inspiration.

The Old Man is a statue that is placed looking toward Rome. The description is very detailed, "His head is formed of fine gold, and pure silver are his arms and breast; then he is of brass as far as the fork; from there downward he is all refined iron, except that his right foot is baked clay; and on that one, more than on the other, he stands erect" (225). The description also states that each part of him, except his golden head, is broken by a crack that drips tears. This is a very powerful image. The notes in the back suggest that Dante's myth of the Old Man of Crete has not been fully explained. However, it says that it represents in some sense both the history and the present state of mankind. The metals described in the statue represent the different ages in history. Society is at its best during the Golden age, which is why the statue's head is perfectly fine and not cracked at all. As we move down the statue, and the metals are less valuable, it shows the deterioration in society. The tears and cracks, to me, represent the suffering of humanity and how it is constantly breaking as time passes. The cracks and tears will eventually build up, crumbling the society and drowning humanity.


3. The description of Geryon in Canto 17. How do you interpret this fantastical creature that signifies fraud? Why do you think the notion of fraud is important for Dante (especially given the fact that he is a writer- what do writers do? What is the nature of fictional literature? Do you see any other meanings in this creature?


The description of Geryon is deceiving to Dante because he is described as having "the face of a just man, so kindly seemed its outer skin, and the rest of its torso was that of a serpent" (261). However, this fantastical creature signifies fraud because of its various parts. It has the body of a beast, but the face of a just man. That is confusing and tricks Dante at first. The notion of fraud is very important for Dante because it allows him an escape from reality. Writers use "fraud" or fiction to escape from their own lives and imagine things that they cannot actually ever see in real life. It is a way to relieve stress and expand your imagination. Geryon, to me, kind of means, that every person/creature has multiple parts to them. People are not always evil and are not always good. There is good and evil in everyone. It also means that sometimes, things aren't what you see them to be. Even though the monster's head was the face of a just man, it doesn't mean that he is. I think it is trying to teach us a lesson to be wary of others and to really pay attention to the behavior of others.

Dante's Inferno

1) How does Dante set up the journey here? What themes/ideas does he bring forth to accomplish this? What kind of journey is this? What is the pilgrim's state of mind at this time? Why?

Dante sets up the journey by saying that he found himself in a dark wood and that the straight way was lost. This means that he is no longer on the path to salvation and it is only going to get worse from this point on. It is clear that he is full of fear and he states that he was tired when he abandoned the true way. He encountered three different beasts along the way that made him turn back. They were a leopard, a lion, and a she-wolf. Dante writes that the she-wolf "little by little was driving me back to where the sun is silent." The notes to Canto 1 say that this means that knowledge is darkened and hope is gone. He was falling into a low place, a dark and scary place. Virgil arrives and saves him. Dante asks Virgil for help and tells him that the beast makes his veins and pulses tremble. Virgil tells Dante to follow him and that he will be his guide. Dante begs him to escape this evil so he can eventually ge to the gate of Saint Peter.

2) In the other canti that you read choose one canto that particularly strikes/interests you. What reading/interpretation of this canto can you bring to the discussion on Tuesday?

Canto 3 is very interesting because it is when Dante and Virgil enter the Hell Gate. There were words inscribed on the gate which were stated at the beginning of canto 3. The basic message of these words was that once anyone enters they will be making their way into eternal sorrow and they should abandon their every hope. They then come to a river called Acheron that is gloomy and is the boundary river of Hades, dividing the living from the dead. Charon is a demon that transports the newly deceased across the Acheron. Charon is described as having eyes like glowing coals, which means that they are as hot as flames of fire. Virgil tells Dante that only damned souls pass over the river into Hell. I think that the most important theme in this canto is the theme of sinning. Dante sees what the punishments are for sinning and what the rewards are for being truthful.