Don Quixote by Cervantes and Bouvard and Pecucher by Flaubert - Essay Example

?Introduction The different themes and materials in literature are able to provide insight into expression and what is being looked into with a specific human attribute. In both Don Quixote by Cervantes and Bouvard and Pecucher by Flaubert, human attributes are noted and drive the plot forward. Both of the stories examine the idea of failure and not being able to achieve anything. The concept of failure becomes a human attribute that many carry. Instead of the characters becoming successful, achieving end goals or changing their overall demeanor, both stories show continuous failure and the inability to meet any needs or end goals. The importance of failure in both books is used to show this human attribute and the beliefs which many have surrounding their own lives and with the failure that is achieved. With this approach by both authors, one is able to create a different understanding of what it means to succeed or fail at different tasks. Structure of the Book The first technique which is used in Don Quixote and Bouvard and Pecucher is the use of failure that is acquired through the structure of the book. Both of the books have a main focus of providing comedy in the book while creating a specific relationship to the book through the continuous quest in which the characters are on. In Don Quixote, the individual quests never amount to anything. Either the character leaves the area, loses the battle or decides not to complete the mission. This is combined with the structure leading to the understanding that the plot line does not exist. These different components show the idea of failure specifically from the viewpoint of the character and with the structure of the book, which continuously diverts from any type of success on the journey. A similar path is taken with Bouvard and Pecucher. The structure focuses on both of the characters not being able to achieve anything throughout the book. The book continues with the structure of failure by having an incomplete ending to the book and creating an endless adventure that is unable to do anything for either character. Both structures show that the failure comes from the plot, structure of the book and with the authors also not achieving the end goal with the books. Characters and Failure The concept of failure is best seen with the way in which the characters are perceived in both books. This creates the understanding of failure based on the actions which they take as well as the perceptions which they hold. The character of Don Quixote shows this with the viewpoints that he holds and the intellectual relationship which he holds to the adventures which he goes on. The failure of the character occurs first through the difficulties with the quests that are never achieved and which don’t reach the end goal. For instance, the knight’s ailments and mishaps continue to remain a theme after dealing with others, such as youth and peasants, during his travels. “Nor was Don Quixote less so, for what with blows and bruises he could not sit upright on the ass, and from time to time he sent up sighs to heaven, so that once more he drove the peasant to ask what ailed him. And it could have been only the devil himself that put his head tales to match his own adventures” (Cervantes, 53). This passage shows the reality of Don Quixote, specifically which should have the character of a knight who is able to overcome the difficulties and problems with the missions which he has been given. However, he is instead approached with ailments and the inability to win different battles while recognizing that the adventures which he has taken are not realistic to what he has heard. The continuation of failure is one that is also noted in the characters of Bouvard and Pecucher, specifically through their decision to take an intellectual quest to determine their righteousness in different situations. The different situations which they become a part of do not lead to any answers. More important, they always fail at winning the arguments or conversations that are a part of the concepts created. Even when this is pointed out to them, there is not the ability to create the right approach to defending or creating an argument over the intellect that is a part of the region. For instance, when holding a dialogue about different principles, they not only don’t win the argument but are unable to achieve any result from the argument. This is noted with the concepts that don’t receive an end after the argument and the attitudes which come from this, specifically which is noted as quibbling. For instance, after many of the arguments, the narrator states “But Coulon, drawing them aside, told them paternally that he was certainly no lover of religion, and even loathed the Jesuits. However, he would not go as far as they! Oh no, to be sure! And on the corner of the square they passed the captain, who was relighting his pipe, grumbling to himself: ‘All the same I do what I like, damn it!” (Flaubert 217). The failure which is noted with this comes from the characteristics that the two individuals have. This causes others to get angry with them and to tell them to stop fighting for no reason. It also leads to individuals being divided by worth and from creating offence to the intellectual arguments that both men continue to create. These are without any outcome and only cause individuals to become mad with them, which leads to their continuous failure throughout the novel. Plot and Failure The characters are the main way in which failure is shown specifically through the flaws that each carries. However, this continues with the plot and the way in which each of the recognized characters tap into the continuous failure as a part of the main plot. Don Quixote represents the continuous failure by the continuous information that is given then the confession that none of it is true. This change in the plot is what creates tension and the climax of the story and also associates with the main source of failure that occurs after the adventures that don’t achieve anything throughout the book. Don Quixote finally admits this as he states “ ‘I don’t know whether I am good,’ said Don Quixote, ‘but I can safely say I am not the Bad, and to prove it, let me tell you, Senor Don Alvaro Tarfe, I have never in my life been in Sargossa; so far from that, when I was told that this imaginary Don Quixote had been present in the city, I declined to enter it” (Cervantes, 603). At this point, the entire story changes with the plot line, specifically because heroic tales which were told and the ideologies which were created through the entire book. The twist with the plot becomes one which leads to the entire story being a failure and all of it coming from the imagination of the main narrator. The different levels of fame and prestige that were gained throughout the story then lose all significance. This causes the entire plot to become a failure while the stories of Don Quixote become a satire, as opposed to holding the truth of heroic tales. The same concept is seen throughout the plot line of Bouvard and Pecuchet. Even though there are specific actions taken, these continue to fail and lead into a perpetual set of actions or ideas that never reach the end. The problem becomes one of the intellectual pursuits and ideas never being achieved. The plot line is one that shows the routine of failure and the association with how this creates the main problems throughout the story. For instance, when experimenting with growing rare trees to see if they will grow, the entire experiment fails because it comes from a philosophy and intellect instead of the logic and sense which is required for the growth of the plants. “All the experiments were a failure. Each time he was quite amazed. Bouvard, like him, encountered obstacles. They took each other’s advice, opened one book, went over to another, then did not know what to decide when opinions diverged so widely” (Flaubert, 47). The initiatives which begin the quest of the two characters and which continue to lead their decisions throughout the book then create the main plot line. This is one of continuous and endless failure that never meets a specific goal. This comes from the division of opinions, misinterpretations on knowledge and the ignorance of the characters that both act on when trying to look at intellectual reason. Failure as a Human Attribute The concepts of failure that are in both books go further than the characters and plot and into a theme that highlights what it means to fail. This works as a theme that is based on the human attribute which many carry and which doesn’t build to the correct concepts of what it means to fail. By the end of both books, the idea of failure is one which is noted by the actions which are taken by individuals in society or which portray the understanding of those which are reading the book. The concept of failure is one that moves into what individuals do in society, how they reflect other concepts within society and how this stops them from attaining or achieving any goals. This leads to different developments and understanding while building a meaning which the readers can carry after reading the books. The concept of failure as a human attribute in Don Quixote comes from the character as well as from the narrator. The continuous failure is one that takes the characters then perceives them in a different light. Instead of having the attributes that many convey to others, there is an understanding that there are no attributes. Instead, it all becomes a story that is conveyed to others and done based on the intent of the author. The concept of human failure comes from the narrator in the perception of Don Quixote and the continuous attributes of the character first. For instance, there are continuous instances where the identity of the character is what creates the human failure. This is a statement to the overall perception of human failure and what this means when in given situations. “Don Quixote at such a rate was unable to protect himself with his buckler, and poor Rocinante no more heeded the spur than if he had been made of brass. Sancho planted himself behind his ass, and with him sheltered himself from the hailstorm that poured on both of them” (Cervantes, 134). This quote shows the different concepts that are a part of human failure and how those with a certain identity break this with the inability to live up to the expectations and character which they hold. This creates and defines a different approach that is used within the specific concepts of human failure. More important, is the belief that comes from the audience and other characters in the story of Don Quixote. By the end of the book, there is an understanding that the human failure of Don Quixote is the same failure of the narrator. This is from his confession that he had never met Don Quixote and had made the stories up out of his own disbelief in the character. The human failure relates to a lie that is told and which creates the myth that many begin to believe in. This is furthered with the audience interpretation. Those who are around the narrator not only decide to believe the story. The nature of the main character and the way in which he presented himself to them caused everyone to miss him and the different ideologies which he carried. The depth of this is one that shows the support of human failure and the inability to accept the realities of the character and narrator, specifically because of the different approaches which are taken. The human failure then relates to the audience and those in the story continuing to believe in something which never existed and was incorrect only because of the character that is withheld. The depth of human failure in Bouvard and Pecuchet has a similar concept which relates to the deeper meaning of failure. The point of the author is one which is based on showing the failure of intellect and how it leads to no solutions. This begins with the inability to find answers or finish any of the needed experiments through the failure. The continuation of this comes from the failure that is a part of the characters from their decision to continue to brag about their intellect, which only leads to fights and misinterpretations as well as confusion. The concepts then relate to the human condition, specifically which was based on continuing with the failure, specifically because it was something to do with idle time. For instance, after the two characters continue to fail, than give up the intellect, there is the decision to continue on the same path. “But they soon became bored, their minds needed some task, their existence some aim. Besides, what does one failure prove? What had failed with children might be less difficult with men” (Flaubert, 283). The commentary that is associated with this is one which shows how, despite men’s continuous failure, they will continue to do the same thing. This not only occurs with the same activities, but continues to move forward. Offering even more concepts to audiences and deciding to grow in the failure is the human attribute that the author points out with the two characters as an example. This becomes a commentary to the audience on how those who continue to fail also proceed to taking the next steps anyway instead of correcting the failure. The commentary of what it means to fail continues with the false beliefs and the misconceptions that are a part of the failure. There is also a sense of judgment that the characters reflect, specifically which shows how failure continues not only with the decision to continue to do the same thing. The justification comes from other failures that served as examples. For many, the justification of continuing to create failures then becomes the main attribute, leading specifically to the decision to move forward with the different alternatives that were a part of the judgment created. For instance, when speaking about plays, there is an argument about the failures. The response is an excuse about failure that proves it is fine to achieve. “According to the professor, a play’s immediate fate proves nothing. Misanthrope and Athalie were failures. Zaire is not understood any more….And he recalled all the great contemporary successes, from Fanchon la Vielleuse to Gaspardo le Pecheur, deploring the decadence of our stage. The reason for contempt for literature, or rather style” (Flaubert, 141). The concept of failure is one that then becomes embraced, idolized and made into a form where it is accepted. This describes the human condition of continuing to accept failure while believing that it is an answer that can assist one in finding other reasons why a failure can be successful. Conclusion The concept of failure as a human condition is one which is pointed out by Don Quixote and Bouvard and Pecuchet. The concept is one which is refined as failure being a part of the plot and character as well as the overall theme of the book. More important, the ideology of failure as a human condition becomes one which is reflected of ideas of society. The concept of failure becomes accepted as more important to the audience and one which is embraced for other reasons. More important, failure is one which continues to be a part of a perpetual cycle that one conveys to others and which creates and defines a different understanding of what one should be doing. The embracing of failure is one that creates a commentary on society and what individuals continue to do, specifically by stating that failure is not the important factor in different concepts. The result is one which then builds a different understanding of failure and the attributes which most carry in acting in failure instead of success. Works Cited Cervantes, Miguel. Don Quixote. Penguin Books: New York, 1989. Flaubert, Gustave. Bouvard and Pecuchet. Penguin Books: New York, 1976. Read More