Miguel de Cervantes
Spanish novelist, dramatist, and poet
1547-1616
Don Quixote
Term “quixotic”—a person who is quixotic is
in the grip of misguided idealism.
Conflict between idealism and realism.
Illusion vs. Reality
Don Quixote as Parody
Began as a parody of romance stories popular in
Cervantes’ time. Books of chivalry.—Star
crossed lovers—a knight and his fair lady.
Parody—a magnification of the characteristics of
a particular style to the point at which its
absurdity becomes unmistakable.
Satire may be more appropriate term. Aims to
expose an object or a person to ridicule and
censure with implicit reference to a higher
standard of conduct
Satire
“Genre of comedy directed at ridiculing
human foibles and vices, such as vanity,
hypocrisy, stupidity, and greed.”
Differs from pure comedy in that its aim is
not simply to evoke laughter, but to expose
and censure such faults, often with the aim
of correcting them.”
(Hamilton, Sharon. Essential Literary Terms)
Types of satire
Horatian satire—tolerant and urbane,
indulgently mocking faults with the aim of
evoking wry amusement rather than
repulsion or indignation in the audience.
(“Rape of the Lock,” “Don Juan,”
“Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”)
(Hamilton, Sharon. Essential Literary Terms)
Types of satire
Juvenalian satire—harsh and censorious,
bitterly condemning vices and foibles and
inciting the audience to feelings of
indignation and even disgust.
(Pudd’nhead Wilson, “A Modest Proposal”
(Hamilton, Sharon. Essential Literary Terms)
Don Quixote
First novel.
First to create fully developed characters.
Lively dialogue.
Hero who sets out to reinvent his own
identity.
Buddy genre—Don Quixote and Sancho
Popularity of Don Quixote
Novel becomes quite popular. Read and enjoyed
by all ages.
No royalty for works.
Pirated copies distributed
Other writers begin using DQ as a character.
Cervantes writes second part of DQ, kills off main
character.
Even though Cervantes became popular and
famous, he died in poverty in April 1616.
Magical Realism
“Reality is above all else a variable, and
nobody is qualified to say that he or she
knows exactly what it is. As a matter of
fact, with a firm enough commitment, you
can sometimes create a reality which did not
exist before” Margaret Halsey, U.S.
novelist
Renaissance in Spain
Cervantes was born at a time when Spain
was richest, most powerful nation in
Europe.
Time of exploration.
Charles I, king of Spain, was most powerful
man in Europe. An inspiring king—known
for his bravery in battle
Life of Cervantes
Son of a poor apothecary (barber).
Part of hidalguia, noble class, yet dogged by
poverty and bad luck. Father was thrown into
prison for unpaid debts.
Spent childhood in Spain—spotty education.
Fought with the Spanish-Venetian-Papal fleet
Gulf of Lepanto, Cervantes is wounded in battle.
Left hand is left useless for life (1571)
Life of Cervantes
On his way home from war, he is captured
by Turkish pirates and held in Algiers by
pirates. (1575)
Tried to escape, recaptured, and held in
chains. Daring escapes.
Finally ransomed by family in 1580.
Family’s wealth completely depleted.
Life of Cervantes
Returns home, expecting hero’s welcome.
Discovers Spanish people have forgotten
about the war and its heroes.
Cervantes had been writing poetry
throughout most of his life.
“Two roads lead to wealth and glory, that of
letters and that of arms.”
Life of Cervantes
Settles down to a literary career in order to
support his family. Deeply in debt.
Verse was uninspired; his plays
unsuccessful; his pastoral romance
mundane.
Burdened by debt, he takes job as
commissary for Spanish Armada—
collecting grain to feed the army.
Life of Cervantes
Worked as a tax collector.
Banker to whom he had entrusted gov’t.
funds went bankrupt and deficits were
found in Cervantes’ accounts.
He is jailed
Writing Don Quixote at this time.
First part appeared in 1605.