A Closer Look at Don Quixote

Over four centuries ago, Miguel DeCervantes' book, "Don Quixote" became an instant hit, even generating imitators of his popular writing style. In this book, the main character for which the book is named, has intentions which end up to be different from the eventual outcomes of Quixote's actions. This paper will discuss these differences, as well as other aspects of who is a fascinating character even in today's high technology, fast paced world.

Simply put, Don Quixote's crusade as a knight hopes to accomplish several key things. As a middle aged man who has ready extensively about the adventures and accomplishments of knights, he seeks to advance the cause of chivalry by setting out on a mission to destroy evil, protect the defenseless, and to help right to triumph over wrong. Examples of the lengths that he goes to in order to make his mission a success include the recruitment of another older gentleman to join his group as well as the gathering of horses and equipment, even if the horses are past their prime and the equipment is ready to fall apart (DeCervantes). Like the knights that he admires, Quixote also finds a "princess" that he can protect, although she is also less than what someone would expect in a princess. Quixote makes promises of wealth and power to the "knight" that he has selected to join him in his crusades, just like the great knights he read about in his books, and who inspired him to pursue his own knighthood. Quixote's intentions are good and honorable, but eventually become flawed.

While Don Quixote's actions are planned and undertaken by him in order to help good to win over evil, to protect the weak and to promote the cause of chivalry as the knights who came before him had done, he does not succeed in carrying out these goals, as seen from examples that are presented in the book. Still believing that he is doing a noble and good thing, Quixote eventually becomes a bandit of sorts, stealing from people whom he thinks do not deserve what they have, in order to give those things to others that he thinks are needier. In time, his perception of reality becomes even more blurry, as he steals the wash basin of a poor barber, believing that it is a helmet that he needs in order to go into battle as a knight. An even more remarkable example of the way that Quixote becomes more and more confused is seen when he leaves a young boy in the care of a man who has treated the child brutally in the past but makes a promise to Quixote that he will treat the boy well in the future (DeCervantes). Truly, it can be said that Quixote does not succeed in what he hoped to do, because all that he seems to have done is to make people upset and restless, and no evil was actually defeated in the end result.

The gap between Quixote's intentions and his actions truly help the reader understand his character; it appears that Quixote is so intent on fighting evil, helping good, and changing the world that he steps over the line and actually breaks the rules of normal society under the excuse that he will, in the end, be doing the right thing. Even with this in mind, however, Quixote is a character to be admired because while his plans go wrong, he shows a level of commitment and dedication that rarely can be seen in the modern world. He was not successful in making good triumph over evil, but he was successful in showing how someone can possibly achieve their goals if they put in an effort and try to make things happen, and did win some small victories along the way; for example, he does manage to free some enslaved people, comfort a grieving family at a funeral, and if nothing else, add some excitement to his boring life (DeCervantes). In closing, what may be the best thing to be said about DeCervantes' tale is that it gives hope to the hopeless and a thrill to anyone who reads it.

Works Cited

DeCervantes, Miguel (2003, trans E. Grossman). Don Quixote. New York: Harper Collins.