It really is the characters in this book which give it the feel of a novel, or at least an early version of the generally accepted term. The fact that Don Quixote is a flawed character is made so apparent so quickly that the reader can take it for granted throughout the story. While I think this understanding strips the story of some comedic power, the upshot is that the reader can focus on Quixote's personality rather than his actions. In that respect, Cervantes creates a man who is so hopelessly delusional that it becomes easy to read his single-mindedness from a modern context, especially as an American.
Take, for example, chapter four in book three. As Don Quixote and Sancho are riding along, they see two clouds of dust in the distance. Rather than taking the time to actually investigate the clouds, Quixote immediately decides that they are being stirred up by two armies advancing towards one another. Not only that, but he goes on to describe some of the notable knights and their weapons, pointing them out one by one. Sancho, for his part, sits on the ridge next to his master and can't see a single thing he's being told is there. All he sees is dust. When Don Quixote rides into the fray and goes on the attack, ignoring his squires cries to halt, all he kills are sheep. Turns out the clouds weren't being caused by armies, but by a pair of shepherds who happened to be taking their flocks in opposite directions on the same road. When Sancho points this out to his master (the shepherds having hightailed it away from the crazy man with the big sword), Don Quixote laughs at him. Obviously some enchanter turned the soldiers into sheep as soon as he, the mighty Don Quixote, appeared. How could Sancho not see that? It's perfectly obvious. Duh.
Article comments