1) Choose a character from the first 5 chapters and do a study of him/her. How does the novel present this character? Why? What do you think he or she represents in the novel? (Think about archetypes and myths. Garcia Marquez is drawing from a lot of myth and literature here in his creation of this novel.) Refer to specific scenes in this novel to support your answer.
As I read the novel, I thought of Don Quixote immediately because the main character Jose Arcadio Buendia is very similar. Marquez writes that Buendia has an unbridled imagination and that made me think of Don Quixote and his imagination and obsession with knighthood. Since this is told as a flashback, Marquez says that "at this time Buendia did not believe in the honesty of gypsies" (2). This tells us already that something is going to happen with gypsies and something will alter Buendia's view of reality. It is clear that he is a leader but he reminds me of Perceval in Chapter one also. When his wife is crying about the money, he does not console her because "he was completely absorbed in his tactical experiments with the abnegation of a scientist and even at the risk of his own life" (3) This foreshadows that he is willing to risk everything, including himself and people he loves, because he is obsessed with the magic. This also shows that he has the characteristics of becoming a "madman." Marquez writes, "Suddenly, without warning, his feverish activity was interrupted and was replaced by a kind of fascination. He spent several days as if he were bewitched, softly repeating to himself a string of fearful conjectures without giving credit to his own understanding" (4). Shortly after this, Ursula gets tired of her husband never helping her and she says, "If you have to go crazy, please go crazy all by yourself" (5)! He did not even flinch at the fact that his wife threw the astrolabe at the floor and then the whole village was convinced that he had lost his reason. Buendia represents the whole myth vs reality and sanity vs. insanity in the novel. From the first chapter alone, there are so many citations indicating that he is going to become insane and he will abandon everyone and everyone will abandon him when he does so.
2) Choose a theme/symbol you find important in these initial chapters. How does this comment on what we have read so far? Why do you feel this to be the case? Refer to specific scenes in this novel to support your answer.
A theme that is obviously important in this novel is the theme of insanity. In Chapter 4, Marquez marks the beginning of Buendia slipping into insanity. After Buendia get the mechanism of the clock to a mechanical ballerina, Marquez writes "that discovery excited him much more than any of his other harebrained undertakings. He stopped eating. He stopped sleeping. Only the vigilance and care of rebeca kept him fron being dragged off by his imagination into a state of perpetual delirium from which he could not recover. The fever of insomnia fatigued him..." (76-77). This reminds me a lot of Don Quixote when he read so many books about chivalry during the night and day that the reading withered his brain and he went mad. Buendia cannot figure out what day it is and he constantly says it is Monday even though people assure him that it is no longer Monday. Buendia says, "This is a disaster. Look at the air, listen to the buzzing of the sun, the same as yesterday anf the day before. Today is Monday too" (77). The most shocking part about this chapter is the ending when everyone grabs him and brings him outside and ties him to a tree. This is very strange and it reminds me of a modern day insane asylum when a person is mad they are put all by themselves where they cannot do harm to anyone else. This shows me that they think that Buendia is dangerous and needs to be alone. It is interesting that Marquez writes that he is "giving off green froth at the mouth." This compares him to some sort of animal that is scary. Buendia also is talking to himself and saying things that no one understands.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Grimm's Fairy Tales (Day Two)
Come up with two themes in two stories. Use specific examples from the literature to support your ideas and be ready to discuss them in class.
In the tales read for today, I noticed several reoccuring themes, such as the theme of violence already discussed, along with the theme of rewards of treasures, like gold or silver. There also seems to be repetition of the number 12 and I guess this number has some magical aspect about it. Twelve was mentioned in the Twelve Brothers story read for tuesday and also in two of the stories for today that I will be talking about. In A Tale of One Who Traveled, it mentions several times that when the clock struck 12, everything disappeared. This immediately made me think of Cinderella when she has to leave the ball or all of her things will turn back to normal. This also brings in the theme of magic and fantasy in every tale because things cannot just disappear and appear. In Rapunzel, when she was twelve years old the Witch shut her up in a tower. It is very interesting to read these tales carefully and see the characteristics that are similar in each. In almost every tale, there is a mention of some sort of treasure, mostly in the form of gold because that is the most valuable. I also noticed that when women are being described they are often described as being as beautiful as the sun. They are also considered to be as valuable as gold. This is seen in Rapunzel when the Grimm's brothers write,"Rapunzel grew to be the most beautiful child under the sun" and "Rapunzel had long and beautiful hair, as fine as spun gold." This same theme is seen again in A Tale of One Who Traveled when the King promises his daughter to whoever would venture. The daughter is described as "the most beautiful young lady that the sun ever shone upon." This also shows that women are described as being the most beautiful when they are young. The King also says that the castle is full of an immense amount of treasure guarded by evil spirits and can turn any poor man into a rich man. When the youth in this story beats the old man, the old man offers him treasure to make him stop. He shows him 3 full chests of gold in the cellar. At the end of this story is the typical happy ending where he gets to marry the king's daughter and they live happily ever after. In Thumbling, Thumbling's father gives him away for a fine piece of gold in return. It is ironic in this story because Thumbling's father loves him and says that he would never trade his son for all of the riches in the world, yet he accepts gold and gives his son away to two men. This shows that people are greedy and would always want riches. In The Travels of Thumbling, thumbling helps the thieves steal the King's treasure that consists of gold and silver. At the end of the story, when the fox frees Thumbling, he presents to his father a piece of gold. In The Golden Goose, when Dummling, the "youngest and most incapable son," cuts the tree down, he finds a goose with feathers of pure gold. The name Dummling already makes the son sound like he is incapable. Dummling sounds like "dumb" and he is the youngest so it is assumed that he is the weakest. In some of these tales, there are clear morals and values present, but for the most part I think they teach the wrong things. I think it is instilling a false hope in people by saying that the only important things are possessing material riches and being beautiful. Those who are not as attractive or those who are poor do not deserve anything. These tales do not praise difference, the ideal person is the same in each story.
In the tales read for today, I noticed several reoccuring themes, such as the theme of violence already discussed, along with the theme of rewards of treasures, like gold or silver. There also seems to be repetition of the number 12 and I guess this number has some magical aspect about it. Twelve was mentioned in the Twelve Brothers story read for tuesday and also in two of the stories for today that I will be talking about. In A Tale of One Who Traveled, it mentions several times that when the clock struck 12, everything disappeared. This immediately made me think of Cinderella when she has to leave the ball or all of her things will turn back to normal. This also brings in the theme of magic and fantasy in every tale because things cannot just disappear and appear. In Rapunzel, when she was twelve years old the Witch shut her up in a tower. It is very interesting to read these tales carefully and see the characteristics that are similar in each. In almost every tale, there is a mention of some sort of treasure, mostly in the form of gold because that is the most valuable. I also noticed that when women are being described they are often described as being as beautiful as the sun. They are also considered to be as valuable as gold. This is seen in Rapunzel when the Grimm's brothers write,"Rapunzel grew to be the most beautiful child under the sun" and "Rapunzel had long and beautiful hair, as fine as spun gold." This same theme is seen again in A Tale of One Who Traveled when the King promises his daughter to whoever would venture. The daughter is described as "the most beautiful young lady that the sun ever shone upon." This also shows that women are described as being the most beautiful when they are young. The King also says that the castle is full of an immense amount of treasure guarded by evil spirits and can turn any poor man into a rich man. When the youth in this story beats the old man, the old man offers him treasure to make him stop. He shows him 3 full chests of gold in the cellar. At the end of this story is the typical happy ending where he gets to marry the king's daughter and they live happily ever after. In Thumbling, Thumbling's father gives him away for a fine piece of gold in return. It is ironic in this story because Thumbling's father loves him and says that he would never trade his son for all of the riches in the world, yet he accepts gold and gives his son away to two men. This shows that people are greedy and would always want riches. In The Travels of Thumbling, thumbling helps the thieves steal the King's treasure that consists of gold and silver. At the end of the story, when the fox frees Thumbling, he presents to his father a piece of gold. In The Golden Goose, when Dummling, the "youngest and most incapable son," cuts the tree down, he finds a goose with feathers of pure gold. The name Dummling already makes the son sound like he is incapable. Dummling sounds like "dumb" and he is the youngest so it is assumed that he is the weakest. In some of these tales, there are clear morals and values present, but for the most part I think they teach the wrong things. I think it is instilling a false hope in people by saying that the only important things are possessing material riches and being beautiful. Those who are not as attractive or those who are poor do not deserve anything. These tales do not praise difference, the ideal person is the same in each story.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Grimm's Fairy Tales (Day One)
1) What is the function of gender in these stories? What messages are transmitted through them concerning the roles of men and women? Why do you think this is the case? When we think "fairy tale" what does this imply concerning gender roles? Do these stories support or subvert this accepted convention (or possibly both)?
As I read these tales, there seems to be a common theme among most of them. In almost every tale, it begins saying that there is a beautiful woman, who is usually wealthy or a princess. This shows me that the tales glorify women and consider them very important and delicate. Women are loved by all because of their beauty, which is also a theme within the tales. Men are the rugged and rough ones who are doing all of the manual labor and tasks while the woman is simply there to look at. I think that the message in these tales is not a good message for women because it sort of makes it seem like women are incapable in some way adn being beautiful is the only important thing. On the other hand, in mostly every story, the woman is being punished for something. For example, in Briar Rose the girl falls into a deep sleep because of her finger getting pricked on the spindle. The handless maiden gets her hands chopped off by her own father because he does not want to be taken away by the Evil One. In the twelve brothers, the woman is considered the prize possession but then she sacrifices herself for her brothers because she feels like they are more important than her. In Little Red Riding Hood, the grandma and the LRRH are both manipulated by the wolf which shows that the women are weak and easily manipulated by men. When I think of a fairy tale, I think of a happy ending for everyone in the story that is not evil. This holds to be true in all of the tales that I have read for today. Both women and men in the tales are given an opportunity to be happy. This is a good characterisitic of fairy tales because it gives equality to both men and women.
2) What is the role of violence in some of these stories? Why does violence play such an important role? What types of violence are present? Why do you think this is the case? Is there an implied message here or is it violence for the sake of violence? (especially since some of these tales seem to border on slasher film territory)
When I read these tales, I was shocked by the amount of violence in them. Not only was there a lot of violence, but it was gruesome things like chopping people's heads and hands off. I think violence was incorporated to convey reality and show that there are always good people and bad people in the world. These tales teach us lessons and allow us to choose whether or not we want to side with the good or evil. In the tales there was both physical violence and violence that was talked about. In the Twelve Brothers the brothers made a pact that they would kill every maiden because they were going to be killed because of a maiden(their sister). This was only talked about and they never harmed the sister. In Hansel and Grethel there was physical violence when Grethel shoved the witch's head into the oven and they watched her burn. It was also disturbing when the tale was telling about how the witch likes to make children fat to eat them. In Little Red Riding Hood there was violence when the wolf ate the grandma and LRRH and also when the hunter cut open the belly of the wolf and placed stones in it. I do not remember the stones part ever happening and I think its really weird. In the handless maiden, the Evil One wants the father to cut his daughter's hands off and he does. Her hands are replaced with silver ones and then she eventually grows new hands because an angel and God see that she is not evil and they help her. In Roland, the witch cuts off her own daughter's head because she thinks it is her stepdaughter in the dark. The witch was killed by the thorns on the flower scratching her. In all of the stories, the violence is gruesome and not typical ways of violence. I do not understand why some of the violence is so disturbing, especially in tales that are read to children, but I do think there is some message behind it. I think it instills fear and shows that there are consequences for acting violent.
As I read these tales, there seems to be a common theme among most of them. In almost every tale, it begins saying that there is a beautiful woman, who is usually wealthy or a princess. This shows me that the tales glorify women and consider them very important and delicate. Women are loved by all because of their beauty, which is also a theme within the tales. Men are the rugged and rough ones who are doing all of the manual labor and tasks while the woman is simply there to look at. I think that the message in these tales is not a good message for women because it sort of makes it seem like women are incapable in some way adn being beautiful is the only important thing. On the other hand, in mostly every story, the woman is being punished for something. For example, in Briar Rose the girl falls into a deep sleep because of her finger getting pricked on the spindle. The handless maiden gets her hands chopped off by her own father because he does not want to be taken away by the Evil One. In the twelve brothers, the woman is considered the prize possession but then she sacrifices herself for her brothers because she feels like they are more important than her. In Little Red Riding Hood, the grandma and the LRRH are both manipulated by the wolf which shows that the women are weak and easily manipulated by men. When I think of a fairy tale, I think of a happy ending for everyone in the story that is not evil. This holds to be true in all of the tales that I have read for today. Both women and men in the tales are given an opportunity to be happy. This is a good characterisitic of fairy tales because it gives equality to both men and women.
2) What is the role of violence in some of these stories? Why does violence play such an important role? What types of violence are present? Why do you think this is the case? Is there an implied message here or is it violence for the sake of violence? (especially since some of these tales seem to border on slasher film territory)
When I read these tales, I was shocked by the amount of violence in them. Not only was there a lot of violence, but it was gruesome things like chopping people's heads and hands off. I think violence was incorporated to convey reality and show that there are always good people and bad people in the world. These tales teach us lessons and allow us to choose whether or not we want to side with the good or evil. In the tales there was both physical violence and violence that was talked about. In the Twelve Brothers the brothers made a pact that they would kill every maiden because they were going to be killed because of a maiden(their sister). This was only talked about and they never harmed the sister. In Hansel and Grethel there was physical violence when Grethel shoved the witch's head into the oven and they watched her burn. It was also disturbing when the tale was telling about how the witch likes to make children fat to eat them. In Little Red Riding Hood there was violence when the wolf ate the grandma and LRRH and also when the hunter cut open the belly of the wolf and placed stones in it. I do not remember the stones part ever happening and I think its really weird. In the handless maiden, the Evil One wants the father to cut his daughter's hands off and he does. Her hands are replaced with silver ones and then she eventually grows new hands because an angel and God see that she is not evil and they help her. In Roland, the witch cuts off her own daughter's head because she thinks it is her stepdaughter in the dark. The witch was killed by the thorns on the flower scratching her. In all of the stories, the violence is gruesome and not typical ways of violence. I do not understand why some of the violence is so disturbing, especially in tales that are read to children, but I do think there is some message behind it. I think it instills fear and shows that there are consequences for acting violent.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Don Quixote CH 46-52
1) Discuss the closing episodes of Part 1 of the novel that concern Don Quixote. Describe his character in the final chapters. Has he become "un-quixodicized?" Why or why not? Why do you think Cervantes presents us with this evolution in Quixote's character? Use quotes for support to your analysis.
2) How might the sections read for today reflect on part 1 as a novel as a whole? What recurrent themes do you find here that reinforce or possibly change your reading of the novel? Use quotes.
3) Choose a quote to analyze.
The sections read for today reflect on part 1 because there are recurrent themes and I do not think that Don Quixote has become "un-quixodicized." He is still obsessed and fascinated with all of the same things that he was in the beginning. Don Quixote stayed true to what he believed in, even when everyone else did not believe in him and thought he was a madman. In chapter XLVII, there is mention of chivalry books again and I thought that this was important because it has been mentioned several times already in the novel. The canon says, 'The truth is, my dear sir, that I myself consider these so-called books of chivalry to be prejudicial to the public good...In my opinion this kind of writing comes under the heading of Milesian tales which are absurd stories, concerned only to amuse and not to instruct, unlike apologues which amuse and instrust at the same time. And even though the main aim of such books is to amuse, I don't know how they can succeed when they're too full of so many monstrous absdurdities...What mind that isn't totally barbarous or uneducated can derive any pleasure from reading that. Apart from this, their style is harsh, their adventures are incredible, their loves are licdentious, their civilities are uncouth...there's no ingenious artifice about them, so they deserve to be thrown out of a Christian society as useless wastrels" (440-1). The canon is basically saying that he thinks that chilvalry books do no good for anybody and they should all be destroyed. The priest, for the most part, agrees with the canon but there is one difference. The priest is able to appreciate the chivalry books and he has found one good quality in them. It is interesting that the canon is religious and Christian and so is the priest, yet they are so different. The priest is able to see the good in anything. He believes in Don Quixote and he even is able to see the good in the chivalry books. The priest acknowledges the fact that in these chivalry stories the author and the reader can escape from their own lives and become something different. The books allow you to expand your imagination and show your creativity, something we all need in life.
In chapter XLIX, Don Quixote finally sticks up for himself and disagrees with the canon
about what he has been saying about chivalry. I am glad this conversation happens because this is what I thought about Don Quixote the whole time- that he is not mad and that other people are under some "spell" of being boring and being committed to a traditional lifestyle and Christian faith. Don Quixote says, "It seems to me, my dear hidalgo, that your speech was intended to give me to understand that there never have been any knights errant in the world, and that all books of chivalry are false, full of lies, harmful and or no use to society, and that I have done wrong in reading them, and worse in believing them, and worse still in imitating them and setting out to follow the rigorous profession of knight-errantry that they teach...Well, for my part, I consider that it is you who are out of your senses and under some spell, for you have taken it upon yourself to utter such blasphemies against what has been so well received in the world and so widely accepted as the truth that anyone who denies it, as you do, deserves the same punishment that you say you inflict on books that annoy you when you read them" (453). Don Quixote then goes on a rant about people in history, such as Tristan and Iseult Achilles, and King Arthur, saying that is everything in chivalry is false, then who is to say that all of these people existed? The canon was amazed that Don Quixote actually knew about real events and fictional ones and that his mind wasn't solely fixed on fiction, and he is indeed smart. The last paragraph in this chapter struck me because, after the canon had insulted him all along, he sort of compliments him. The canon says, "Nor is it right for a man like you, honorable and talented and intelligent, to give any credit to the extravagant nonsense that is written in those ridiculous books of chivalry" (455). To me, this kind of shows that the canon has been defeated and outsmarted by Don Quixote and he realizes that Don Quixote is smart, but he does not change his feelings about chivalry.
2) How might the sections read for today reflect on part 1 as a novel as a whole? What recurrent themes do you find here that reinforce or possibly change your reading of the novel? Use quotes.
3) Choose a quote to analyze.
The sections read for today reflect on part 1 because there are recurrent themes and I do not think that Don Quixote has become "un-quixodicized." He is still obsessed and fascinated with all of the same things that he was in the beginning. Don Quixote stayed true to what he believed in, even when everyone else did not believe in him and thought he was a madman. In chapter XLVII, there is mention of chivalry books again and I thought that this was important because it has been mentioned several times already in the novel. The canon says, 'The truth is, my dear sir, that I myself consider these so-called books of chivalry to be prejudicial to the public good...In my opinion this kind of writing comes under the heading of Milesian tales which are absurd stories, concerned only to amuse and not to instruct, unlike apologues which amuse and instrust at the same time. And even though the main aim of such books is to amuse, I don't know how they can succeed when they're too full of so many monstrous absdurdities...What mind that isn't totally barbarous or uneducated can derive any pleasure from reading that. Apart from this, their style is harsh, their adventures are incredible, their loves are licdentious, their civilities are uncouth...there's no ingenious artifice about them, so they deserve to be thrown out of a Christian society as useless wastrels" (440-1). The canon is basically saying that he thinks that chilvalry books do no good for anybody and they should all be destroyed. The priest, for the most part, agrees with the canon but there is one difference. The priest is able to appreciate the chivalry books and he has found one good quality in them. It is interesting that the canon is religious and Christian and so is the priest, yet they are so different. The priest is able to see the good in anything. He believes in Don Quixote and he even is able to see the good in the chivalry books. The priest acknowledges the fact that in these chivalry stories the author and the reader can escape from their own lives and become something different. The books allow you to expand your imagination and show your creativity, something we all need in life.
In chapter XLIX, Don Quixote finally sticks up for himself and disagrees with the canon
about what he has been saying about chivalry. I am glad this conversation happens because this is what I thought about Don Quixote the whole time- that he is not mad and that other people are under some "spell" of being boring and being committed to a traditional lifestyle and Christian faith. Don Quixote says, "It seems to me, my dear hidalgo, that your speech was intended to give me to understand that there never have been any knights errant in the world, and that all books of chivalry are false, full of lies, harmful and or no use to society, and that I have done wrong in reading them, and worse in believing them, and worse still in imitating them and setting out to follow the rigorous profession of knight-errantry that they teach...Well, for my part, I consider that it is you who are out of your senses and under some spell, for you have taken it upon yourself to utter such blasphemies against what has been so well received in the world and so widely accepted as the truth that anyone who denies it, as you do, deserves the same punishment that you say you inflict on books that annoy you when you read them" (453). Don Quixote then goes on a rant about people in history, such as Tristan and Iseult Achilles, and King Arthur, saying that is everything in chivalry is false, then who is to say that all of these people existed? The canon was amazed that Don Quixote actually knew about real events and fictional ones and that his mind wasn't solely fixed on fiction, and he is indeed smart. The last paragraph in this chapter struck me because, after the canon had insulted him all along, he sort of compliments him. The canon says, "Nor is it right for a man like you, honorable and talented and intelligent, to give any credit to the extravagant nonsense that is written in those ridiculous books of chivalry" (455). To me, this kind of shows that the canon has been defeated and outsmarted by Don Quixote and he realizes that Don Quixote is smart, but he does not change his feelings about chivalry.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Don Quixote Ch 36-45
Choose 2 quotes from these chapters for analysis.
In Chapter XLIII Cervantes brings up again that Don Quixote seems smart when he talks about things other than chivalry. When chivalry is brought up he gets caught up in it and his imagination and what he has read gets the best of him. Cervantes writes, "He only talked nonsense when people led him on to the subject of chivalry, and when discussing all other matters he showed a clear and confident understanding, so that his actions were always discrediting his ideas, and his ideas his actions; but in these second instructions that he gave Sancho he showed a ready wit and raised both his good sense and his madness to a high level" (770). I thought this was interesting because it talks about how Don Quixote is smart aside from chivalry, but his second instructions bring his madness to a high level. This is a good way to start the chapter because it really makes the reader wonder what is going to happen. I am not sure what to make of Don Quixote telling Sancho all of these things to do. In one way, it seems like Don Quixote is just looking out for Sancho when he tells him to cut his fingernails and to not eat onions because that shows that he is a peasant. He also tells him to not wear loose clothing because it is a sign of a "lackadaisical spirit." Don Quixote also tells him to limit his use of proverbs because it can make one's discourse flimsy and vulgar.
Another quote that I think is important appears in this same chapter towards the end. Don Quixote is trying to make Sancho something that he is not and Sancho is listening but he doesn't think it is useful is he won't remember everything anyway. Sancho says, "If you don't think I'm up to this governing, I'll give it up here and now, because I'm more concerned about the smallest snippet of my soul than the whole length of my body, and I can stay alive as plain Sancho on bread and onions just as well as I can as governor on partridges and capons, and what's more what we're asleep we're all the same, great and small, rich and poor" (775). I think this quote is significant because Sancho does not want to change who he is to satisfy others. He is fine with living as a peasant because he is happy. He does not want to be corrupted by becoming a governor. Sancho says, "I'm more interested in going as Sancho to heaven than as a governor to hell." Don Quixote should pay attention to this and learn from Sancho because he has some good points to make. Sancho does not have to impress other people. Don Quixote is solely concerned with making himself the best he can be and he tries to make others change who they are, but sometimes it is better to stay true to yourself.
In Chapter XLIII Cervantes brings up again that Don Quixote seems smart when he talks about things other than chivalry. When chivalry is brought up he gets caught up in it and his imagination and what he has read gets the best of him. Cervantes writes, "He only talked nonsense when people led him on to the subject of chivalry, and when discussing all other matters he showed a clear and confident understanding, so that his actions were always discrediting his ideas, and his ideas his actions; but in these second instructions that he gave Sancho he showed a ready wit and raised both his good sense and his madness to a high level" (770). I thought this was interesting because it talks about how Don Quixote is smart aside from chivalry, but his second instructions bring his madness to a high level. This is a good way to start the chapter because it really makes the reader wonder what is going to happen. I am not sure what to make of Don Quixote telling Sancho all of these things to do. In one way, it seems like Don Quixote is just looking out for Sancho when he tells him to cut his fingernails and to not eat onions because that shows that he is a peasant. He also tells him to not wear loose clothing because it is a sign of a "lackadaisical spirit." Don Quixote also tells him to limit his use of proverbs because it can make one's discourse flimsy and vulgar.
Another quote that I think is important appears in this same chapter towards the end. Don Quixote is trying to make Sancho something that he is not and Sancho is listening but he doesn't think it is useful is he won't remember everything anyway. Sancho says, "If you don't think I'm up to this governing, I'll give it up here and now, because I'm more concerned about the smallest snippet of my soul than the whole length of my body, and I can stay alive as plain Sancho on bread and onions just as well as I can as governor on partridges and capons, and what's more what we're asleep we're all the same, great and small, rich and poor" (775). I think this quote is significant because Sancho does not want to change who he is to satisfy others. He is fine with living as a peasant because he is happy. He does not want to be corrupted by becoming a governor. Sancho says, "I'm more interested in going as Sancho to heaven than as a governor to hell." Don Quixote should pay attention to this and learn from Sancho because he has some good points to make. Sancho does not have to impress other people. Don Quixote is solely concerned with making himself the best he can be and he tries to make others change who they are, but sometimes it is better to stay true to yourself.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Don Quixote Ch 28-35
Pick two quotes that interest you and which you find comment on major themes in the novel (ones we have discussed or new themes you find here). Be sure to state which chapter they come from and be prepared to discuss them in class.
In Chapter 28, there is a major emphasis on beauty and the idealization of women. In the beginning, Cardenio and the priest see what they think to be "a lad in farmer's clothes." They were fixated on the farmer because they thought it was unusual that a man had such nice feet and legs. Cervantes writes, "They approached him quietly that he didn't even notice them, beign so engrossed in bathing his feet, which looked like nothing so much as two pieces of white crystal lying among the other stones there. They were astonished at the whiteness and the beauty of those feet, which didn't look as if they were accustomed to treading the clods..."(248). When they get closer, they realize that this "farmer" is actually a beautiful woman. Cervantes writes, "her hands in her hair looked like pieces of white snow" (248). The descriptions of this woman portray her as very delicate. The usage of the words "whiteness" and "snow" are symbols for purity. Women are pure and beautiful and should rely on a man or someone stronger to do a task. This is also shown when the woman tries to get up and run away and her feet fail her. To me, this shows that Cervantes is trying to make a point that women are weaker and fragile creatures and the more important thing about them is their beauty. I think that in this chapter a woman's beauty can also be seen as their greatest flaw because many people are so obsessed with the external beauty that they underestimate women's abilities. This also makes women vulnerable to be taken advantage of.
In chapter 30, Cardenio is talking to Dorotea about Don Quixote while he was talking to Sancho. The priest told Dorotea that she "put on an intelligent performance in the way she'd invented a story, kept it brief and made it follow the pattern of the books of chivalry" (279). The quotes that I am writing about are about the theme of "madness and obsession" that we have talked about in class. The priest then says, "isn't it extraordinary how this unfortunate hidalgo believes all these lies and fictions, just because they imitate the style and manner of the nonsense in his books" (279)? The priest then recognizes that Don Quixote is a smart man with good intentions, but he also admits that when you bring up chivalry Don Quixote is obsessed and becomes a little mad and cannot see reality. This shows that, although most people believe Don Quixote to be mad, certain people are able to see past that and view him as a "man of excellent understanding."
In Chapter 28, there is a major emphasis on beauty and the idealization of women. In the beginning, Cardenio and the priest see what they think to be "a lad in farmer's clothes." They were fixated on the farmer because they thought it was unusual that a man had such nice feet and legs. Cervantes writes, "They approached him quietly that he didn't even notice them, beign so engrossed in bathing his feet, which looked like nothing so much as two pieces of white crystal lying among the other stones there. They were astonished at the whiteness and the beauty of those feet, which didn't look as if they were accustomed to treading the clods..."(248). When they get closer, they realize that this "farmer" is actually a beautiful woman. Cervantes writes, "her hands in her hair looked like pieces of white snow" (248). The descriptions of this woman portray her as very delicate. The usage of the words "whiteness" and "snow" are symbols for purity. Women are pure and beautiful and should rely on a man or someone stronger to do a task. This is also shown when the woman tries to get up and run away and her feet fail her. To me, this shows that Cervantes is trying to make a point that women are weaker and fragile creatures and the more important thing about them is their beauty. I think that in this chapter a woman's beauty can also be seen as their greatest flaw because many people are so obsessed with the external beauty that they underestimate women's abilities. This also makes women vulnerable to be taken advantage of.
In chapter 30, Cardenio is talking to Dorotea about Don Quixote while he was talking to Sancho. The priest told Dorotea that she "put on an intelligent performance in the way she'd invented a story, kept it brief and made it follow the pattern of the books of chivalry" (279). The quotes that I am writing about are about the theme of "madness and obsession" that we have talked about in class. The priest then says, "isn't it extraordinary how this unfortunate hidalgo believes all these lies and fictions, just because they imitate the style and manner of the nonsense in his books" (279)? The priest then recognizes that Don Quixote is a smart man with good intentions, but he also admits that when you bring up chivalry Don Quixote is obsessed and becomes a little mad and cannot see reality. This shows that, although most people believe Don Quixote to be mad, certain people are able to see past that and view him as a "man of excellent understanding."
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