Don Quixote is the story of the romantic idealist, Don Quixote, a middle-aged man from La Mancha. Don Quixote has spent his time immersed in tales of romance and chivalry. He becomes determined he will become a knight, and sets out on adventures with a confused worker named Sancho Panza to defend the world from wickedness. Panza is made QuixoteÆs faithful squire, while Quixote takes up his adventures on a worn nag named Rocinante that becomes his knightly steed. Don Quixote and Sancho endure a number of escapades on their adventures, including QuixoteÆs obsession over a peasant named Dulcinea del Toboso, who he takes for a princess.
Don Quixote endures a number of sacrifices, all for his princess Dulcinea. We are told in one of the poems he writes, ôDon QuixoteÆs tears are on the flow. / And all for distant Dulcinea del Toboso,ö (Damrosch et al., 2004). Don QuixoteÆs second journey is one that illustrates his less-than-noble qualities. He robs from helpless citizens because he thinks they are threats to his chivalric code and values. He is deluded by his romantic idealism. He steals a barberÆs basin and believes it is some kind of magic Mambrino helmet with magic powers. He thinks he finds and elixir that will cure what ails him, but it makes him violently ill. Nonetheless, he believes when the illness is gone his good health stems from drinking it.
Don Quixote does achieve some noble deeds while on his journey. He unknowingly helps two young couples who are estranged reunite in love. SanchoÆs attempts to get Quixote to accept reality are of little use, and Panza usually suffers the consequences for many of QuixoteÆs ôdeeds.ö Don Quixote is under the belief that Dulcinea is enchanted or under a spell. He becomes determined to rescue her, but he often excuses his actions and salves his conscience by believing he, himself, is enchanted. As he maintains, ôI know or hold that I am enchanted; and th
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