World Visions y Bosques~December 15

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?