World Visions
Don Quixote, "The Generous Lover", Miguel de Cervantes
Focusing mainly on Don Quixote, I came to the conclusion that a major universal application of this book is the principle of allowing imagination to grow and harboring creative thoughts VS that of conforming to society and doing everything with the sole purpose of practicality. These two visions of life are personified by Sancho Panza and Don Quixote; Panza being practical and Quixote being imaginative. This book was written by Miguel de Cervantes in the late 1500s to early 1600s, shortly after the Renaissance, when art, literature, and architecture were king, showing the peoples' creativity. The Industrial Revolution followed the publication of Don Quixote (by quite awhile, but nonetheless followed). The Renaissance outdid its previous era, the Middle Ages. This creative era was followed by the much more practical, rational time period: the Industrial Revolution. This era displayed the decreasing amounts of importance placed upon individuals and feelings. The two characters can also personify these eras; Don Quixote the Renaissance and Sancho Panza the Industrial Revolution. In the final chapter of Don Quixote, the two main characters switch points of view. Don Quixote says how poorly he lived the past few weeks and admits to his foolishness and that his books about knight errantry should have been removed to avoid tempting him. Sancho says to Don Quixote he should not give up hope, instead continue believing in his foolishness. Sancho states how they should go be shepherds as Don Quixote previously suggested. This switch in the end can show either the volatility of ideals and life decisions or the permanent switch from foolishness/creativity to redundant/practical. The Renaissance has ended; that is a given. The Industrial Revolution began. What comes next? Is it a pattern? The pendulum swinging and in some years we will enter another creative period of humanity? Is it a permanent change? The formation of a human into a zombie, with no further very creative period throughout humanity? Or does it not matter, because before we have the opportunity to find out, the Greeks will create a biological warfare weapon to infect a country; it will spread, causing a global zombie apocalypse? I am certainly under the impression the latter is the reality. Regardless, I think Cervantes wants to leave us with the question of whether or not the behavior of humanity is a pattern; we need to incorporate both creativity and practicality in our lives and make humanity the interesting mix of people it is.
¡Señora, tu novio está llegando a nuestra clase de español en lunes! ¿Estás emocianada?
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
The Diary of Don Quixote's Neice~December 1
Dear Diary,
Today is the day my Uncle, Mr. Quixada, returned for the second time. Mr. Quixada is at least what he used to be called. Now he and those travelling with him, call him Señor Don Quixote. He was not born with this title, but a few weeks ago decided he was a knight errant and left without telling any of us his intentions. He left with his horse and some needed supplies. I am absolutely sure that he has been fooled and lost his better judgment due to the fact that he was constantly reading books, fictional may I add, concerning knights errant and chivalry. Back to the present. Don Quixote, as I will refer to him as now, is in his study with his "squire" Sancho Panza. The two are most likely plotting a third venture will end worse than these last two. At the end of my uncle's first venture, he was bruised and battered, sprawled across his horse. The second, the knight was brought back locked in a cage on an oxcart, swearing he was enchanted. I do hope he takes this ordeal no farther.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhANc7SBD9xQMq_Cv7QYnO_qkWdQqeFj2dEsVp57r8Srx-_A-HLlsehkAzWOebc4BfUtzO-9gYYP2MMxnD0SOCDQi2VdNdPBwWGrU3Ae1oPPcqzQhdbJIBPtMg5fO7_o6mBZQK7socVMgk/s1600/Only-fools-and-horses_2069782.jpg
I must soon slip barricade the door before the two have a chance to escape and roam the countrysides of Spain again. I will then slip food to them under the door at nights so they do not starve and become more foolish. My uncle has believed windmills are giants; some sheep, armies; what else I do not know. How he must truly be enchanted or something of the like. I have lost all respect for this man. He used to be a quiet man; he worked the land and tended to his family. He has since left them and for what? To pillage and plunder? But my uncle I still love because he is family but I cannot wait for the foolishness to wear off. There is a third fool, a man from another city, who has already published a book and promises a sequel and tossed fame into the hooligan salad my uncle made. It certainly seems my uncle has been as changed as a human turning into a zombie. Something so simple as a reading has completely sent him into another world. He attacks random citizens, and despite this, cannot be killed. He has been tossed off his horse from such a great height I cannot comprehend how he survives. There was even a play put on in the town last week titled something like Tierra de los Zombis that mentioned my uncle's squire. Along with my uncle, Sancho has become completely numbed of all reality. All the two must desire now is brains. To think that is, not eat. The two truly must be stopped before they cause a global apocalypse of reason. I now must leave to attend church to help my family repent for the ills caused.
Goodbye my journal.
~the niece of Mr. Quixada
Uno más cosa.....No puedo hablar inglés porqué vivo en España y este diario fue traducido de un jefe de Los Estados Unidos. Su nombre es Joseph.
Today is the day my Uncle, Mr. Quixada, returned for the second time. Mr. Quixada is at least what he used to be called. Now he and those travelling with him, call him Señor Don Quixote. He was not born with this title, but a few weeks ago decided he was a knight errant and left without telling any of us his intentions. He left with his horse and some needed supplies. I am absolutely sure that he has been fooled and lost his better judgment due to the fact that he was constantly reading books, fictional may I add, concerning knights errant and chivalry. Back to the present. Don Quixote, as I will refer to him as now, is in his study with his "squire" Sancho Panza. The two are most likely plotting a third venture will end worse than these last two. At the end of my uncle's first venture, he was bruised and battered, sprawled across his horse. The second, the knight was brought back locked in a cage on an oxcart, swearing he was enchanted. I do hope he takes this ordeal no farther.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhANc7SBD9xQMq_Cv7QYnO_qkWdQqeFj2dEsVp57r8Srx-_A-HLlsehkAzWOebc4BfUtzO-9gYYP2MMxnD0SOCDQi2VdNdPBwWGrU3Ae1oPPcqzQhdbJIBPtMg5fO7_o6mBZQK7socVMgk/s1600/Only-fools-and-horses_2069782.jpg
I must soon slip barricade the door before the two have a chance to escape and roam the countrysides of Spain again. I will then slip food to them under the door at nights so they do not starve and become more foolish. My uncle has believed windmills are giants; some sheep, armies; what else I do not know. How he must truly be enchanted or something of the like. I have lost all respect for this man. He used to be a quiet man; he worked the land and tended to his family. He has since left them and for what? To pillage and plunder? But my uncle I still love because he is family but I cannot wait for the foolishness to wear off. There is a third fool, a man from another city, who has already published a book and promises a sequel and tossed fame into the hooligan salad my uncle made. It certainly seems my uncle has been as changed as a human turning into a zombie. Something so simple as a reading has completely sent him into another world. He attacks random citizens, and despite this, cannot be killed. He has been tossed off his horse from such a great height I cannot comprehend how he survives. There was even a play put on in the town last week titled something like Tierra de los Zombis that mentioned my uncle's squire. Along with my uncle, Sancho has become completely numbed of all reality. All the two must desire now is brains. To think that is, not eat. The two truly must be stopped before they cause a global apocalypse of reason. I now must leave to attend church to help my family repent for the ills caused.
Goodbye my journal.
~the niece of Mr. Quixada
Uno más cosa.....No puedo hablar inglés porqué vivo en España y este diario fue traducido de un jefe de Los Estados Unidos. Su nombre es Joseph.
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