Miguel de Cervantes’ iconic novel, Don Quixote, is considered one of the greatest works of literature ever written, and is a cornerstone of the Spanish literary canon. Published in two parts in 1605 and 1615 respectively, Don Quixote tells the story of a would-be knight on a quest to restore chivalry to an unkind world.
The novel follows Don Quixote, a middle-aged man from La Mancha, a region of Spain. Quixote has long been passionate about knight errantry, a medieval tradition of travel and protection, but poverty and old age have kept him from realizing his ambitions. After devouring countless tales of knights in his library and losing himself further in his imagination, he decides to become one himself, adopting the name Don Quixote de La Mancha.
Quixote meets Sancho Panza, a poor laborer, aboard a donkey who agrees to become Quixote’s squire. The two set off on a quest for justice and right, making their way through the countryside on the windmills that Quixote believes resemble giants. Along the way, they encounter a variety of characters, including Aldonza Lorenzo, who Quixote mistakes for a beautiful Castilian princess and Dulcinea del Toboso, the imaginary knight in a woman’s garb that Quixote sees as his self-determined lady love.
Throughout Don Quixote, the humorously naive, yet often wise, titular figure grows and matures as the story progresses. While the novel is filled with fantastic characters and adventures, at its heart is the story of a man attempting to live a meaningful life despite the obstacles he faces.
Cervantes’ characterization of Don Quixote is perhaps the novel’s greatest triumph. Portraying the character in some ways as a fool, yet in others as a wise philosopher, Cervantes creates a character who is both beloved and respected, and illustrates that a life lived in pursuit of an ideal is no less noble or worthwhile than a life lived in material comfort.
The novel serves to comment on the corruption and degradation of knighthood that occurred during the changing times of early modern Europe, as many of the characters Quixote encounters were people who had also taken on the title of knight but used it in less than honorable ways. This is how Cervantes creates a sense of purpose and nobility in Don Quixote’s quest and allows readers to see that true courage lies not in physical but moral strength.
Don Quixote is considered a classic due to its accurate and hilarious take on human nature, as well as its powerful exploration of identity, independence, and adventure. Through its main character and his transformation from an amusing tale of a madman jousting windmills to an epic journey of a wise, if rash, man with a strong sense of justice, Cervantes’ novel shows the power of imagination and perseverance and makes Don Quixote an enduringly popular choice for readers of all ages.
