Critques in Don Quixote

Over the past century, critics have been discussing some of the major flaws that are found in Cervantes's classic novel Don Quixote. Even though the novel is seen as one of the best works of literature ever written, many people have found several problems in the book. Although there are several, difficult translation is the most common critique that has been made over the past hundred years. Critic Martin Amis claims, "While clearly an impregnable masterpiece, Don Quixote suffers from one fairly serious flaw – that of outright unreadability" (Williams 1). Numerous attempts at translation can be found all over the internet and even published and found in book stores. The most common translation, that has been give the most praise, is that of Edith Grossman. She was able to translate the novel into one of the most fluent translations seen today. After reading Edith Grossman's translation, it seems like the basic storyline of the novel is pretty straight-forward. A man and his friend endure many adventures together in order to achieve a greater sense of self. If not for Edith, that summary would most likely have never been noticed or formed so easily. In an article written by Bob Williams, he claims her writing can be seen "carrying the meanings forward effortlessly with definite advantage" (Williams 1). This is a common point of view that has been stated by several critics in countless different ways. To this day, compliments toward Edith are continuously being stated and will continue to be said every time the book is picked up and read by someone new. Before Edith Grossman's translation, each individual that had previously read Don Quixote had a favorite version that they, personally, thought was the most comprehendible. One critic by the name of Carlos Fuentes writes an article praising Grossman's new translation. He says, " I stop right here, as the curtain goes up -+or the pages open -- to celebrate the great new translation of ''Don Quixote'' by Edith Grossman. Nothing harder for the traduttore, if he or she is not to be seen as the traditore, than to render a classic in contemporary idiom yet retain its sense of time and space" (Fuentes 1). He continues on to compare his previous favorite version, to that of Grossman's, " Up to now, my favorite ''Quixote'' translation has been that of Tobias Smollett, the 18th-century picaresque novelist, who rendered Cervantes in the style proper to Smollett and his own age" (Fuentes 1). Even though reviews are always simply an individual's personal opinion, it is widely accepted that Edith Grossman's translation is the most clear and understandable adaptation. While searching for reviews on the internet, one can find numerous critiques containing "cavils and grumbles about narrowness and repetitions" (Byatt 1). One critic goes on to say, "Edith Grossman's new and fluent translation gives us another chance to think about the book's persisting life" (Byatt 1). There are also countless reviews claiming that after reading Don Quixote for the second time, using Grossman's version, they are able to find a newfound love for the novel, and are upset that they ever doubted Don Quixote to be a true work of literary excellence. In conclusion, Edith Grossman has been able to take one of the most incomprehensible, highly critiqued works of literature, and turned it into one that is easily enjoyable for English readers. She is able to captivate and bring to life the character of Don Quixote in a way that had never been previously done before. Without her translation, many people would never be able to experience the many adventures alongside Don Quixote throughout the novel. Many renditions of Cervantes's classic have been made, but from the looks of it, the versions may all stop at Grossman's. There seem to be nothing said but positive words about her decoding of the original Don Quixote.