I have spent a while reflecting on the story of Don Quixote, a character created by Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes, and first published on this day in 1605.
Don Quixote is a dreamer, a man of advanced years who rides out from a small village of La Mancha to do battle as a knight. He is ill-equipped, riding a 'nag' and accompanied by Sancho Panza, a local farmer who becomes his squire. In one famous scene he attacks some windmills, imagining them to be giants. To many the man is a fool, yet in his madness he still displays admirable qualities, maintaining his beliefs despite overwhelming odds - belief in chivalry, on not giving up.
The original novels were a satire of chivalry, yet these are well-loved as they feature a hero who will fight for the common man against overwhelming odds. The books were the inspiration behind the 1959 musical "Man of La Mancha", which featured the song "The Impossible Dream", which is probably where most of us first discovered the character.
No comments:
Post a Comment