Don Quixote

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Gustave Doré - Miguel de Cervantes - Don Quixote - Part 1 - Chapter 1 - Plate 1 "A world of disorderly notions, picked out of his books, crowded into his imagination"

Don Quijote Illustration by Gustave Dore VII

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Don Quijote and Sancho Panza

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1879, El ingenioso hidalgo D. Quijote de la Mancha, Arremetió á Lotario con la daga desenvainada, Mestres

Don Quichotte Honoré Daumier

Don Quixote is a Spanish novel by Miguel de Cervantes. It was originally published in two parts, with the first part released in 1605 and the second in 1615. It is one of the earliest novels in European literature and is considered by many as the greatest work of literature ever written. The novel is frequently referred to as "The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha" and is a foundational work of Western literature. It is also one of the best-selling books of all time.

Plot

The story follows the adventures of a noble (hidalgo) from La Mancha named Alonso Quixano, who reads so many chivalric romances that he loses his sanity and decides to become a knight-errant (caballero andante) to revive chivalry and serve his nation, under the name Don Quixote. He recruits a simple farmer, Sancho Panza, as his squire, who often employs a unique, earthy wit in dealing with Don Quixote's rhetorical orations on antiquated knighthood. Don Quixote, in his delusion, fights windmills that he imagines to be giants—a scene that has become emblematic of the novel.

Themes

The novel explores themes such as the nature of reality and illusion, the transition from the old to the new, and the idea of the individual against societal norms. It satirizes the outdated chivalric traditions and the then-modern world Don Quixote finds himself in. The contrast between the protagonist's fantasy and the practicalities of the real world creates a profound and often humorous exploration of human nature.

Characters

• Don Quixote - The protagonist, a nobleman who becomes a knight-errant.
• Sancho Panza - Don Quixote's squire, a man of low birth but practical wisdom.
• Dulcinea del Toboso - The imaginary lady love of Don Quixote, whom he believes to be a princess.
• Rocinante - Don Quixote's horse, a symbol of his noble but impractical quests.
• Cide Hamete Benengeli - The fictional Moorish author from whom Cervantes claims to have translated the story.

Influence and Legacy

"Don Quixote" has had a profound impact on the development of prose fiction and has been translated into all major languages, influencing a vast array of literature and art throughout the world. It introduced the concept of the anti-hero and the stream-of-consciousness narrative technique. The novel's themes and characters have been adapted into countless forms of art, including opera, ballet, film, and painting.

Adaptations

Numerous adaptations and reinterpretations of "Don Quixote" have been made over the centuries, including ballets, operas, plays, films, and television series. The character of Don Quixote has become an archetype, and the term "quixotic," derived from his name, is used to describe someone who is idealistic to the point of impracticality.

See Also

• Miguel de Cervantes
• Chivalric romance
• Spanish literature