Idea of Insanity and a Protagonist: Explored in Don Quixote - Essay Example

English Literature 5 December Idea of Insanity and a Protagonist: Explored in Don Quixote Miguel de Cervantes explores the ideaof insanity and the definition of a protagonist who is actually a representative of the modern man living in the 16 century in his novel. “Don Quixote” is a tale about a man named Alonso Quixano, who goes mad from reading tales of heroism and chivalry day and night, until he comes to believe he is a knight. As it is mentioned in the text as well, “lack of sleep and excess of reading…everything he reading his book took possession of his imagination: enchantments, fights, battles, challenges, wounds, sweet nothings, love affairs, storms and impossible absurdities” (Cervantes 180). Fundamentally the novel is a satirical comment on the people of Spain who’s obsession in that time period with the noble knights appeared to be absurdly old-fashioned to Cervantes and he wanted his readers to realize the absurdity of their believes and myths. Therefore it can be inferred that Cervantes’s motive for writing this novel was to show the foolishness of the chivalric traditions of the middle ages in modern Spain. In doing so through his novel he has given a new dimension to the idea and meaning of insanity and the characteristics of a modern protagonist/hero. According to the definition of ‘Insanity’ by Locke it is a state in which, “madmen do not appear to have lost their faculty of reasoning; but having joined together some ideas very wrongly, they mistake them for truths and they err, as men do argue right from wrong principles” (Prichard 14). This explanation aptly describes the situation of Alonso Quixano yet his insanity is not confined to this explication alone because it is important to explore the reasons and intricacies that are involved in making him the man he has become and the purpose of the writer for creating such a character from the middle ages existing in a modern Spain. Furthermore in literature the traditional stereotype demarcates a ‘Hero’ as, “a man of honor who dies defending his country or loved-ones. His fame and deeds inspire others to imitate him” (Mishra 75). However it is observed that in this particular novel Cervantes very strategically inverts the whole idea of a hero and relates it to the condition of the modern man. The purpose of the novel is to show the craziness of Don Quixote’s dreams who is a senile gentleman, who refuses to face facts even when the people try to reason with him and struggle to show him the rational side. On contrary Sancho Panza plays a significant role as Don Quixote’s squire because with Sancho’s wit and common sense, he is placed as a complete antithesis of his crazy master presenting the readers with parallels between sanity and insanity. Yet the parameters set by the society are completely different from the parameters set by Cervantes in the novel about insanity because for him insanity is an integral component in making of a sane man or the modern man. On the surface it appears that the novel stresses on the importance of the values and notions of the Middle Age when, “Neither fraud, nor deceit, nor malice had yet interfered with truth and plain dealing” (Cervantes 4) and since the world is no longer free of these vices it is necessary that, “the order of knight-errantry was instituted to defend maidens, to protect widows, and to rescue orphans and distressed persons” (Cervantes 4). The mention of all the vices can also be interpreted as a reference to the World Wars and this comment can be perceived as the writer’s desire for a world full of peace and tranquility. Then again if this comment is taken figuratively then it can also be interpreted as a comment on the fact that the glory that was associated with human beings does not exist anymore and now human beings can only hope for a miracle that will put an end to human misery because human beings now exist in a limbo of hatred, violence and utter chaos. However this perspective in the writer’s point of view is for the idealists like Quixote who dream for the impossible and their dream ultimately leads to madness where the boundary between reality and fiction becomes blurred. This conclusion can easily be drawn from the whole episode of Princess Dulcinea and the Quixote’s obsession with saving her from all distress. As per the definition of insanity presented by Locke it is observed that Quixote’s is not exactly insane yet it is his ideas and actions that make him appear as one. As it is also observed in the novel that occasionally he implies to his friends that he knows more than they think he does. These subtle hints are a proof of his sanity yet because of the assertiveness with which he pursues his desire to reintroduce knight-errantry and the rejection of the outside world of this idea is the reason that he appears to be crazy. Moreover it is also observed that Quixote’s vulnerability lies in his dream and he is further looked upon as an irrational individual because of the manipulative and devious conduct of the people around him like Sancho, the Duke and the Duchess in part 2 of the novel. This is also apparent from the scene where the three conspire and dress Merlin as Dulcinea who’s enchantment (which they know is a hoax) can be undone only if Sancho whips him 3,300 times on his naked backside. Under the watch of the Duke and Duchess, Don Quixote and Sancho undertake several adventures. They set out to slay a dragon on a flying wooden horse who had turned a princess and her lover into metal figurines and bearded the Princess’s servants. Moreover through Quixote’s madness Cervantes also enlightens his readers about the insincerity and selfishness that has taken over every humane emotion and feelings in human beings which forces them to instigate a spectacle rather than helping the vulnerable. As it is also mentioned in the novel that when Quixote goes into the inn, in order to get rid of Quixote as quickly as possible the innkeeper, “decides to humor him; so he said he (Quixote) was quite right to pursue these objectives…that he himself in his younger days had followed the same honorable profession” (Cervantes 21). Hence he is constantly misled by the people around him so that the society could get a chance to make fun of him and his crazy aspirations. Quixote’s obsession to reinstate the trend of Knight Errantry appears to be escalating drastically through the course of the novel and to some extent it can be inferred that there was some percentage of insanity in him. As it is visible in the scene where Quixote explains to Sancho that, “I am certain that the same sage Freston who stole my library and my books has just turned these giants into windmills to deprive me of my victory” (Cervantes 123). Though Alter explains that at times, “fiction can become a reality in imagination of its beholder even as he recognizes the materials from which the fiction has composed” (26). Yet the assertiveness with which he pursues his goal is commendable which in a way is also a characteristic of the Greek hero i.e. he does not blend in with the masses instead he has the habit of standing out. Another interesting observation that the readers make while reading the novel is the inverted definition of the word ‘Hero/Protagonist’ in a piece of literature which also coincides with the idea of the modern man. In the era of Greek drama or Classic Literature a hero had a tragic flaw yet regardless of his flaws he was a source of inspiration for both the readers and the audience likewise. However now that idea has been replaced by a new concept where a hero represents the flaws that are present in human beings and rather than acting as a source of inspiration he acts as a source of questioning human morals and values hence embarrassing them and making them realize the extent of their insensitivity and callousness and the chaos that surrounds them. A similar attitude is found in “Don Quixote” as well where Quixote’s character highlights the changes that have occurred in human behavior and there over all sense of wellbeing because his character presents a contrast between the modern man and a man with old moral values and ethics. Figuratively it is also a comment on the after effects of the World Wars that have stunted human growth and transformed them into robots that are devoid of a heart and human emotions. This degeneration and moral decay is very apparent in the novel and hence Cervantes appears to be justified in his perception of an insane modern hero. Porter also states that, “the schism of traditional ‘good guy’ and the ‘bad guy and the more modern shades of gray now cloud the definition of a hero” (5). In other words the imperfection that is depicted in a modern hero does not sets him on a higher pedestal i.e. above his fellow human beings instead it reflects the weaknesses and flaws of the masses hence making hero as a mortal being and a representative of common man rather than an out worldly creature. Hence it is observed that Cervantes makes use of comedy to deal with a complex and sensitive issue of his times i.e. deterioration and degeneration of human morals and mankind. Moreover in doing so he redefines the idea, importance and purpose of a hero in literature and the definition of insanity. Therefore the new definition of ‘Insanity’ that can be inferred from the novel is that it is the only state of mind which keeps the modern man sane in this insane world devoid of moral values or ethics. Moreover from the writer’s perspective it is apparent that every individual comprises of some percentage of insanity which keeps him alive in the modern world of chaos. Similarly the new definition of a ‘Hero’ that is introduced in the novel is that a modern hero is a flawed character like a Greek tragic hero yet his tragic flaw does not make him immortal. In fact he is as mortal as the next man because his imperfections do not provide him with a license of immortality. Moreover the glory that was associated with a hero is an idealistic notion belonging to a time when people believed in myths, knights and legends. Hence the modern man is engulfed by miseries and hardships to such an extent that he cannot take the risk of living his life as idealist because when the reality intrudes it ends all or else a person meets his demise as it is also observed in the case of Quixote as well. Works Cited Alter, Robert. Partial Magic: The Novel as Self-Conscious Genre. California: University of California Press, 1975. Print. Cervantes, Miguel. Don Quixote. London: Charles Daly, 1842. Print. Mishra, Karuna Shankar. The Tragic Hero Through Ages. New Delhi: Northern Book Centre, 1992. Print. Prichard, James Cowles. A Treatise on Insanity and Other Disorders Affecting the Mind. E. L. Carey & A Hart, 1837. Print. Porter, Lynnette. Tarnished Heroes, Charming Villains, and Modern Monsters. North Carolina: McFarland & Company Inc. Publishers, 2010. Print. Read More