Gert Scholtz

7 years ago · 2 min. reading time · ~100 ·

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Don Quixote

Don Quixote

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“Idle reader: thou may believe me without any oath that I would this book, as it is the child of my brain, were the fairest, gayest, and cleverest that could be imagined.” So begins Don Quixote, written by Miquel Cervantes. He continues: “Tranquility, a cheerful retreat, pleasant fields, bright skies, murmuring brooks, peace of mind, these are the things that go far to make even the most barren muses fertile, and bring into the world births that fill it with wonder and delight.”

Don Quixote is from the La Mancha region in Spain. He is obsessed with the chivalrous ideals in the books he reads and decides to take up his lance and sword to defend the helpless and destroy the wicked. He persuades a befuddled laborer, Sancho Panza, to accompany him on his quest.

Panza plays the straight man to Quixote, trying his best to correct his master’s outlandish fantasies and schemes. On his horse, Rocinante, Quixote rides the roads of Spain in search of glory and grand adventure. He goes out to fight foes, real and imagined in the name of his ladylove Dulcinea del Toboso, a peasant girl who he believes is a princess.

Quixote is often deluded but to the end is an idealist seeing things through his own bright glasses. He fights impossible symbolic battles while the rest of the world says it can’t be done and mocks him for trying. His unhinged character has survived the centuries by showing readers the “right way” to live and therein is so much of his universal appeal.

The story is part a hero’s quest, part comedy, and part tragedy, all the while dissecting the human condition and the state of the world. The stories are escapades and the dialogue between Quixote and Pancha are richly layered narratives, a treat to read. It contains explorations on love, often expressed in a poem.


Love’s glory’s dear: that’s fair, and only as it should be: honest trade:
For there’s no gift as rare as one that has been properly assayed.
What easy joy is prized? What’s cheaply bought is soon despised.
But Love will persevere and sometimes do what never can be done,
And though I often fear I’m striving for the stars and for the sun,
My hope is still to rise impossibly from earth to gain the skies.


Originally published in Spanish about 400 years ago, it is considered by many to be the first modern novel as the nuances in the dialogue and characterization separate the book from preceding books. W. Somerset Maugham said: "Casting my mind's eye over the whole of fiction, the only absolutely original creation I can think of is Don Quixote."

Cervantes himself was a colorful character. He started writing the book while in jail. As a tax collector for the Spanish government his mathematical calculations were just too "creative" and he ended up in the slammer, not once but twice. He spent five years as a slave in Algiers attempting to escape on more than one occasion. From this experience comes a special sensitivity as reflected in Don Quixote’s chivalry towards the downtrodden.

Don Quixote has been translated into more than 50 languages and some estimate that it has sold more than 500 million copies making it the most popular novel in history.Despite its immediate popularity, Cervantes made little money from the book as it was common at the time for publishers to pay writers a small once-off fee with no royalties.

On my bookshelf is a copy of The Ingenious Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha. A formidable tomb. From time to time I take it and read a chapter.  On each reading I am reminded of what Cervantes said: 

“Who knows where madness lies? Perhaps to be too practical is madness. To surrender dreams - this may be madness. Too much sanity may be madness - and maddest of all: to see life as it is, and not as it should be.”


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Comments

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #21

Don Quixote was written 400 years ago – the first modern novel. I wrote this beBee Producer post a year ago and thought to would make it an anniversary share. “Too much sanity may be madness - and maddest of all: to see life as it is, and not as it should be.” – Miquel Cervantes.

🐝 Fatima G. Williams

7 years ago #20

I was taken back to my literature classes and my love for them. I enjoyed them so much I still have the books to revisit anytime.This is indeed one of the classics I never got around to reading. The bucketlist is getting heavy :)

Gert Scholtz

7 years ago #19

#19
Sara Jacobovici I could be synchronicity or serendipity :) Thank you for your comment Sara!

Robert Cormack

7 years ago #18

So did he. I think he's in Pittsburg.#26

Robert Cormack

7 years ago #17

Sorry, Renée, I thought you said "raid" not "paid" and started climbing out my window. No, writers don't get paid much. We also carry a lot more responsibility. For instance, I have to pay for returned books. Most writers I know are doing something else. My publisher even suggested I do something else. He could hear my stomach growling over the phone. Actually, it was my dog, but I thought if my agent thought I was starving, he'd send a little something. He did. He sent a little royalty cheque. Even my dog laughed at the amount. #24

Gert Scholtz

7 years ago #16

#21
Mohammad Azam Khan Thank you Mohammed. You had reminded me as well of the smiles the Don and Sancha dialogues put on my father's face.

Sara Jacobovici

7 years ago #15

I don't know if it's synchronicity or a reflection of how many readers have read your Buzz ( or both) Gert Scholtz, but every second Buzz and/or comment that I am reading is making a reference to Don Quixote. Well done!

Gert Scholtz

7 years ago #14

#7
Ken Boddie May I say Ken - if a sense of humor is a certain "madness" - you have tons of it!. Thanks for your always erudite comments.

Gert Scholtz

7 years ago #13

#15
David Navarro L\u00f3pez That is such a good quote: "They bark, Sancho, it means we are riding". Thank you David and happy to have connected on beBee!

David Navarro López

7 years ago #12

Congratulations for your post, Gert Scholtz. Just want to say something: Have a look at my profile. One of my favourite quotes of El Quijote, because it says so much with so little words is "ladran, Sancho, luego cabalgamos" "They bark, Sancho, it means we are riding" The meaning of it is that when people criticise you, it means that you are making something they don't. Glad we connected. Here you have another proof that Bebee is an affinity network

Kevin Pashuk

7 years ago #11

#13
Poets and windmills. This post (and comments) has it all!

Gert Scholtz

7 years ago #10

#9
Phil Friedman Thank you for reading and stopping by. In reply to Phil's Epitath: Beezers they're called Four all in all Wait, no there's more Able's to the fore! Guitarists look out Paschuks' about Beezer hive is more With six all in score

Gert Scholtz

7 years ago #9

#11
Sara Jacobovici Thank you for your kind words and for alerting me to the musical version - one I can't wait to see. With O'Toole and Loren - what more does one want in a movie!

Sara Jacobovici

7 years ago #8

One of my top 10 favorite books of all time Gert Scholtz. You did a beautiful job writing about it and I would have ended with the same quote. On a lighter side, if you want to see the musical version, the one with Peter O'Toole and Sophie Loren is the one to watch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPuu6ROXY2I

Kevin Pashuk

7 years ago #7

Thanks for bringing this to my attention my Scottish-Aussie (can I say Scaussie?) friend Ken Boddie, I do appreciate your fresh look at the things we deem familiar. Now excuse me while I go lance a windmill.

Phil Friedman

7 years ago #6

Gert Scholtz - A Social Media Epitaph Don Quixote was an uncle of mine, Tilted at windmills much of the time. Refused to toe the positivity line, But often pursued engagement sublime. I watched him evolve on beBee o'er time, As he jousted with concepts mainline. He eventually tired of honey, no lime, And returned to LI where I think he is fine. RIP

Pascal Derrien

7 years ago #5

I like Don Quixote , very popular in France his name there is actually Don Quichotte we have an expression which is something like '' Comme Un Don Quichotte'' which loosely translates as'' Like a Don'' indicating and mplying all the altruist and sometimes naive qualities than a person may have. Ken Boddie :-)

Ken Boddie

7 years ago #4

I plead guilty on all counts, Gert, am too often too practical and hence "know not where madness lies". My constant hope, however, is to stop "tilting at windmills" and to manage system change by assisting other to "rise impossibly" to "gain the skies". I almost missed this inspiring post and am so glad that you messaged me the link. 👍 Now where did I put that dusty old copy of Don Quixote? 🤔 Check this one out Dean Owen

Gert Scholtz

7 years ago #3

"There is a little bit of madness in us all" Lisa Gallagher Thank you for reading, commenting and sharing.

Lisa Gallagher

7 years ago #2

Sharing to my hive so I can play catch up on reading Tuesday when I get home Gert Scholtz

Paul Walters

7 years ago #1

A perenial fafourite ! Made me reapise there is a little bit of madness in us all Thanks Gert Scholtz

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