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The dilution of any spirit requires time and language to work their alchemy. Even masterpieces must bear the burden of misinterpretation—how much more so those concepts we don’t particularly cherish. Literary history abounds with such examples. Consider the old man sketched by Cervantes’ clever pen: perhaps more moving than any actual knight. A single scene can embody an entire ethos; caricature lodges deeper in the mind than epic verse. The image of Don Quixote tilting at windmills with his lance outweighs ten thousand tales of knights kneeling among roses, presenting monster heads to ladies on balconies. Chivalry became Sancho whistling as he led Rocinante by the reins. Cervantes’ prolonged jest transformed chivalry into a subject of ridicule. When Don Quixote...

Like(0)North Ward2026-01-13Don Quixote Views(67)Comment

No other work affects me quite like Don Quixote. Every time I revisit it, I inevitably lose my composure. Cervantes died on April 23, 1616—coincidentally, the same day as Shakespeare—which is why we now have World Book Day. The first part of Don Quixote was published in 1605, the second part a decade later in 1615. Despite being over 400 years old, it’s widely recognized as the first modern novel. In this book, Cervantes created the “eternal Don Quixote,” a literary figure that transcends time. While Don Quixote himself is eternal, his companion Sancho Panza feels perpetually alive and relatable. As you read, this practical farmer often feels like someone you know—a relative, perhaps, or even yourself. What kind of...

Like(0)admin2026-01-04Don Quixote Views(68)Comment