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In the early 17th Century, Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes wrote what was to become a masterpiece called Don Quixote. In the story, set on the plains of Spain, a distinguished country gentleman, Alfonso Quejana imagines himself a knight after having read many fantastic, chivalric novels in which the hero battles with other knights, beasts, giants and magicians, always winning the beautiful maiden in the end. As Alfonso immersed himself even further into these works of fancy he began to sell parts of his estate to buy more books and his estate fell into neglect around him.
The final immersion into this knightly
delusion took place when Alfonso adopted the more dignified name of Don
Quixote de la Mancha after having donned his grandfather’s old suit of
armour, mounted an old nag, and chose a buxom country girl, Aldonza, whom
he imaged as Dulcïnea, to be his love.
He wandered the countryside with his
faithful companion, Sancho Panza and became involved in many
“hallucinatory” adventures, occasionally coming off the victor but
more often suffering humiliating defeats. In a particularly lively
encounter, the brave pair came upon a pair of windmills, which Quixote
perceived to be giants. After summarily charging at them with lowered
lance, the arms of the windmill caught the knight and his noble horse and
sent them rolling into the air! Quixote blamed this on the work of a
magician. Another humiliation occurred when Quixote was forced to denounce
his knighthood after being soundly defeated in a duel, which was the
result of his altercation with a knight who had audaciously stated that
Dulcïnea was not the most beautiful woman in the world!
After several attempts by the townspeople, to call Don Quixote to “come to his senses” and return home, he succumbs, and is given a hero’s welcome. In due course he renounces his noble delusions as madness and declares that his absurd heroism to have been a ludicrous illusion. This realisation is his ultimate defeat and finally, Quixote dies, literally from a broken heart.
The word Quixotic interpreted as hopelessly naive and idealistic - has entered the common language and is used pejoratively, and yet this “shallow “understanding aptly illustrates how we have failed to fully appreciate the character of Don Quixote. It reveals a culture, which has lost sight of and drifted from its spiritual roots.
Make no mistake about it, this story is rooted in the
sentiments of Christianity and is mirrored in the mysticism of such well
known “dreamers” as Teresa of Avila, Ignatius of Loyola and John of
the Cross. They may interpret this story as a warm tale, which illustrates
the conflict between noble idealism and brute force and see Quixote’s
devotion to high ideals is an admirable quality in the midst of a world of
corruption and graft.
Myriad commentaries and interpretations
have emanated from this inspiring story. Two well known adaptations
include Jules Messenat’s opera “Don Quixote” and the popular musical
“Man of La Mancha”. Both capture the essence of the original story in
their own way and have provided millions of audiences internationally,
with much enjoyment and room for reflection on the philosophy of
“dreaming impossible dreams.”
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