This is a drawing I did of a statue of Don Quixote that my friend Cynthia gave me from her trip to Spain.
Some People:
Don Quixote's that guy who ran into a bunch of windmills thinking they were giants right? Yeah... that's the guy.
Yep Wishbone (the old PBS show) got it right. He's the guy who ran into the windmills. Normally I am very pleased with the summary Wishbone does of books, but not Don Quixote. Sorry.
Oh he's the guy that the Broadway musical Man of La Mancha is about right? Yeah... that's him too.
Whoever did that musical should be forced to do something horribly unpleasant for making that musical.
Enough ranting. Don Quixote is a cool guy. If you know me very well, then you know that Don Quixote by Miguel Cervantes is my favorite book. I'm secretly obsessed with the book and not many people realize it. It is a hilarious book with really cool insight into the character of Don Quixote.
Don Quixote is a crazy old man who was obsessed with chivalry books, so much that he believed they were all real. He dedicated his life to a life of chivalry, living as a knight going from town to town, righting the wrongs that he encountered. He is absolutely ridiculous (and his squire Sancho is even more ridiculous).
What I love about Don Quixote that really impresses me is how ridiculous he looks to everyone around him, but how ridiculously good he is to those he feels have been wronged. Everybody thinks he's stupid for running around in armor and a washpan as his helmet, but he is so honorable and kind. He protects servants from their abusive masters and he even treats the ugliest girl in town as a princess. He spends so much time dreaming of his beautiful Dulcinea, forcing his foes to swear that she is the most beautiful maiden in Spain. He also had this scrawny old donkey, whom he called Rocinante and spoke of the animal like it was a great stallion. Poor thing had to carry him across Spain.
Don Quixote dedicated his life to defending the weak and beautifying the ugly. Good guy. You should read the book, but please promise me not to watch the musical!
Sorry Jon, I went to Man of La Mancha the the musical a few years. I'm sure that it did not do the book justice but it had a great guitar part in the orchestra. I loved the music and it was fun. I read the book in college and thought it was quite interesting.
ReplyDeleteUm while the musical may not be the greatest it does have a fantastic song. The Impossible Dream is my one of my favorites, you should give it a listen. Mostly for the lyrics. Please.....
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