A Plot and Setting Summary of Miguel Cervantes' "The Adventures of Don Quixote" Essay

In medieval times, knight-errants roamed the countryside of Europe,rescuing damsels and vanquishing evil lords and enchanters. This maysound absurd to many people in this time, but what if a person readso many books about these so-called knight-errants that he could notdetermine the real from that which was read? Such is the case in TheAdventures of Don Quixote by Miguel Cervantes which takes placeprobably some time in the fifteenth or early sixteenth centuries. DonQuixote, formerly Quixana, was not really a don at all. He was awealthy, intelligent farmer who read too many books aboutknight-errantry and went crazy. He convinced a simple-mindedpeasant named Sancho to become his squire, promising him wealthand a high spot in society. This book consists of many adventuresthese two had, both were convinced that they were doing brave andhonorable acts of chivalry, when they were only two fools runningaround the countryside.Cervantes tries to make his book more interesting with the use ofpoint of view. Don Quixote sees what his mind and imagination create,not that which is transferred through the optic nerves in a veryclean-cut scientific manner. He retreats to a world that holds meaningfor him. When he first departs, he stops at an inn and his eyes makeit a beautiful castle with blushing maids and noble sirs. The wenchAldonza is turned into Dulcinea, his one true love, who he swears byin his battles and contemplates when he is idle. Another example ofhis point-of-view is the famous windmill incident. Quixote sees thirtymonstrous giants... with... long arms... the length of two leagues. such is the demented mind of Don Quixote. He went down into alegendary pit to behold its wonders. Once inside, he convinced himselfhe saw a transparent castle and that the people there were kept alivehundreds of years by Merlin s magic when he seemed to only dream it.Another way Cervantes uses point-of-view to let the reader knowthat Quixote has little grasp of reality. I will refer back to the windmillsbecause that is...

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Character Analysis of Basil Hallward in The Picture of Dorian Gray, a Novel by Oscar Wilde Essay

The main character in The Picture of Dorian Gray, Dorian, is a man too easily influenced by his surroundings. He is quoted as saying, Basil Hallward is what I think I am Lord Henry is what the world thinks me Dorian is what I would like to bein other ages, perhaps (Wilde). This comparison falls in line with the moral of the story because Dorian is stuck with eternal youth and beauty even though he has a wicked soul. This causes different views of him by people who observe his daily life. Dorian is a sponge throughout the novel that absorbs everything and allows it to shape his personality, morals, and actions. Dorian Gray takes influence from Lord Henry, Basil Hallward, and the culture of society during which the novel was written. Lord Henry is the epitome of a wealthy, hedonistic gentleman seeking only pleasure, with little regard to cost or consequence. Lord Henry Wotton outwardly propounds hedonism, but it is his extreme egotism that drives him to manipulate both Basil Hallward a
Read more

An Analysis of the Character of Chichikov in the Poem, Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol Essay

Dead Souls takes place in the Russia of the late 1800s, where, unlike in America, one must be born into a prosperous family in order to have opportunities. The main character, Chichikov, is clever enough to develop a scheme in which he can rise from being a petty clerk to a respected landowner. In order to do this, Chichikov moves into a new town, pretending to already be a landowner, and begins a quest to buy the names of dead serfs who have not yet been officially reported dead. Each person that Chichkov presents this offer to has a different reaction, starting with the shy and introverted Manilov. Though he does not understand Chichikov's need for the names of these dead serfs, Manilov is a character that is so desperate for company that it does not take any effort to trick him into selling his dead souls cheaply. However, as Chichikov continues his journey, he starts to deal with more clever landowners who become suspicious of his scheme. Chichikov finds that the townsmen know
Read more

A Literary Analysis of the Third Twin by Ken Follett Essay

The Third TwinThe Third Twin by Ken Follett is a type of mystery book. It makes you look at different aspects of the story. When you think you know whats happening it is not always what you think.Dr. Jeannie Ferrami, a scientist funded by a university who is doing a study on twins is one of the main characters in the story. Jeannie Ferrami is tall with long brown hair and is also very athletic. Steve Logan a student at another college is also a very important character in the story. Berrington Jones the head of the college funds Dr. Jeannie Ferrami until Jeannie discovers something Berrington didnt want her to know. Ricky Phillips Berringtons son is a twin just and he plays a small part but with a big impact on the story. Lisa Miller who is Jeannies best friend comes early into the story playing a very dramatic role, another small character is Dennis Pinker one of the twins in the story who is a murderer and is also being studied He is one of Steve Logans twin brothers.Lisa Miller and
Read more