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.
No comments:
Post a Comment