'Don Quixote' by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra is a classic masterpiece whose reputation has survived more than 400 hundred years of literary innovations to still be regarded today as one of the greatest books of all time.
About the Book
Article written by Victor Onuorah
Degree in Journalism from University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
The book follows the story of Alonso Quixano, a man in his early fifties, whose addiction to chivalric books leads him to become delusional that he decides to revive the culture of gallant knight-errantry, becoming a hero who saves the “dying” world from evil enchanters, charlatans, and oppressors of the peasants. ‘Don Quixote’ is a book published in two parts during the medieval period, precisely in 1605 and 1615 respectively. The author, Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, who was a prolific Spanish writer took advantage of the platform the book provided to tackle a wide range of socio-cultural, socio-psychological, and socio-political issues bothering the Spanish civilization of the times to which he lived. Cervantes passed an important message implying that sometimes the ideas of society might be wrong, while also urging individuals to learn to think for themselves and pursue worthy ideas even if they are considered unacceptable by society.
Cervantes is known for many things, however, authoring the stunning ‘Don Quixote’ is certainly top of the list of his fine accomplishments. Although he had had previous stints writing short stories and poems before ‘Don Quixote,’ the book proved to be the one true piece he felt comfortable enough to express his socially contradictory ideas, as he was sometimes seen playing an embodiment of his paradoxical character Don Quixote. The event of the reconquest was another inspiration that led to the creation of the book. Although Cervantes might not have been born at the start of the reconquest which was also the very height of chivalric activities in Spain – when two Christian kingdoms led by Ferdinand and Isabella drove out the last remnants of the Moors, it formed part of the history into which he was later born.
Much of Cervantes’ inspiration for writing the book ‘Don Quixote’ comes from the interplay between his contradictory ideologies, the event of the Christian reconquest, and the prevailing issues in Spain at the time. Cervantes’ decision to render the book partly in satire was because he wanted to create something exciting and entertaining but also serious; something real out of a vain and drab pile of books bordering on chivalric heritage. Before authoring ‘Don Quixote,’ Miguel de Cervantes had several authors who could be regarded as those who directly or indirectly influenced and inspired him to write the book Don Quixote. One of such people was the brilliant Mateo Alemán y de Nero who was, at the time, enjoying the peak of his career as a Spanish novelist. Alemán’s works such as “The Life And Adventures Of Guzman d’Alfarache” were particularly of great insight to Miguel de Cervantes and his writing career. Aside from his compatriot, Cervantes was also a great admirer of the works of Homer and Vergil, two poets who were Greek and Roman extractions respectively. Homers fine works in “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey” no doubt captivated young Cervantes, helping him grow in the art of satirical writing.
Miguel de Cervantes originally wrote the book ‘Don Quixote’ with a mix of old and medieval Spanish, but the book’s immediate rise to success ensured that it was further translated into many different languages across Europe and the Americas.
Degree in Journalism from University of Nigeria, Nsukka.