Briefly then, to summarize everything in a few words, or in only one, I say that I am Don Quixote of La Mancha, also known as the Knight of the Sorrowful Face, and although praising oneself is vile, I am obliged perhaps to sing my own praises, which is understandable since there is no one present to do it for me
— Cervantes, Don Quixote, pt. 2, Ch. XVI, para. 20
Don Quixote was legitimately funny. It was written by Miguel de Cervantes in the early 1600s, so for a 400 year old book, I didn't really expect it be so silly. From the dialogue, to the characters, hell even the premise of the book...it's all kinda ridiculous. It didn't feel like it was 400 years old; it read like a screenplay for a modern comedy.
I particularly loved how insulting the characters would be to each other. In a sort of polite, old-english manner, the put-downs could get quite creative—using terms like "Don Whoreson", "perfidious rabble", or "garlic-stuffed scoundrel" (my personal favourite). No one is better than Don Quixote in dishing out these insults, especially when speaking to Sancho Panza. Despite being his faithful squire, Don Quixote wouldn't hesitate to call Sancho out in any situation and in front of anyone.
“I tell you now, Sancho,” said Don Quixote, “that you are, forgive me, a dolt, and let us say no more. Enough.”
— Cervantes, pt. 1, Ch. XXXVII, para. 26
So if nothing else, I'll remember Don Quixote for making me laugh. Which was a surprise, since all I knew about the book was how highly regarded it is in the history of literature: the first modern novel, the foundation of Western literature, the best selling book ever, the best novel of all time...choose a superlative and it's probably been applied to Don Quixote. What I didn't realize is that the whole thing is satire.
Terry Gilliam has been trying to make a Don Quixote movie for the last 30 years
In Which a Thousand Trifles are Recounted
It's also an incredibly long book, coming in around 430,000 words for the english translation. This puts Don Quixote in the top 5 for length out of all the most popular novels in history. It took me about 3 months to get through.
So, was it worth it? Was it worth reading 430,000 words about an insane old man and his fat neighbour, prancing around Spain pretending to be knight and squire? For one, the story is quite repetitive—scene after scene play out the same way:
- Quixote and Panza stumble upon some unremarkable thing happening
- Quixote imagines it's something else
- They get into a bunch of trouble and usually get beaten up by the end of it
Repeat that over 1000 pages. This formulaic delivery made it feel like a TV sitcom. I suppose it's understandable this would resonate with folks 300 years before TV was invented—you could read one chapter every day and be entertained for months. But unfortunately, my modern tastes are less attuned to this sort of drawn out storyline. The repetition became tiresome to read.
However, I also believe it's a fascinating book and not just due to its historical context. It's richly thematic and interwoven with elements of satire, metafiction, tragedy, and philosophy. The story of Don Quixote highlights something very poignant about our humanity and Cervantes deserves credit for it. But if it was published today, I'm sure his editor would've cut like half of it.
The Conquerer of Himself
Don Quixote is an inspiring story, in a way. It's a testament to the power we hold over our own destiny, as well as the resilience of the human spirit.
Alonso Quijano is just a man (in his fifties!) who's lived an altogether boring and unremarkable life. But one day, he decides to change that on a whim. Quijano changes his name to Don Quixote—and by doing so he changes his reality into one that he likes more. From that day forth, Quixote is unwavering in his beliefs no matter how many people tell him he's crazy, no matter how many obstacles he faces and beatings he receives. He proceeds in the face of all this contention. Why? Quixote wants to find excitement in his daily life that previously he'd only found in the novels he read.
when that book is hitting
Don Quixote's commitment to his invented reality is remarkable. By all accounts, he isn't actually insane; he's exhibits sensibility and intelligence in many respects, like when conversing with others. But he simultaneously acts in the most batshit crazy way in almost every situation. This duality within Don Quixote's mind is one of the book's most intriguing aspects.
“Aside from the foolish things this good gentleman says with reference to his madness, if you speak to him of other matters, he talks rationally and shows a clear, calm understanding in everything; in other words, except if the subject is chivalry, no one would think he does not have a very good mind.
— Cervantes, pt. 1, Ch. XXX, para. 62
Sure, Quixote is definitely crazy, but it seems like he's chosen to be crazy. So who's really out of their mind—the man with a basin for a helmet who's living an extraordinary life, or the people wasting their time trying to convince him his helmet is a basin? I think that's what Cervantes is asking us to consider.
And maybe I'm the crazy one for sticking through 430,000 words just to figure that out. But as I said before, it was also pretty funny. Which is something you don't encounter often when reading the "great classics" of literature. I guess a satire about knights and chivalry really struck a chord with the readers of 1605.
Open your arms and receive as well your son Don Quixote, who, though he returns conquered by another, returns the conqueror of himself; and, as he has told me, that is the greatest conquest anyone can desire.
— Cervantes, pt. 2, Ch. LXXII, para. 33