Don Quixote

When first reading Cervantes’ Don Quixote, one may easily assume Don Quixote had lost his sanity. He dreamed of traveling Spain, saving maidens from harm and bringing justice to all corners of the land. However, Don Quixote’s relatives, friends, and any people he encounters quickly conclude that Don Quixote can no longer form intelligent thoughts. Even the reader may fall into this misconception, however, beneath Don Quixote’s seemingly simple character lies a man with an ambition like many other great figures in history. When studying people of the past, one often admires figures such as Saint Teresa or Martin Luther King Jr. These people challenged the stereotypes and predetermined paths set before them by doing the unthinkable- speaking
lived during a time when segregation between African-American and white people still provided much anxiety between the two peoples. Many white people strongly believed that under the Jim Crow Laws, African-Americans could exist separately, but equally along side each other. Therefore, one could witness the segregation due to the Jim Crow Laws on buses, in schools, stores, theaters, and even restaurants. African-Americans found themselves constantly separated from white people, and few African-Americans felt strong enough to challenge the pre-existing boundaries. Soon, however, African-Americans living in Montgomery, Alabama felt that something must change, so they initiated a bus boycott, and chose Martin Luther King Jr. as their representative. Just like Don Quixote, Martin Luther King Jr. believed in something that many would have never imagined possible. However, Martin Luther King Jr. set out to change the world around him regardless of what others said or thought. In the end, Martin Luther King Jr. greatly changed the world through his moving speeches and non-violent demonstrations. While Don Quixote might not have found the great success that Martin Luther King Jr. did, Don Quixote’s ideas were the same- to influence the world for the
Planning to change the world by bringing justice and kindness to all he meets, Don Quixote, the main character, sets out on his journey. However, within the first few chapters, most of the characters come to the conclusion that Don Quixote drove himself to madness by reading too many books on the subject of knights. Any reader would also come to the same conclusion upon first reading the book. However, Cervantes did not wish his readers to see an insane man with little motive in life. Cervantes wanted to show a man with great passions and dreams- someone the reader could model themselves after. Don Quixote might fail at his attempt to truly better his country, but Cervantes uses this failure show how one might look at their world in a more positive manner. By following Don Quixote’s example the reader can learn to both follow their passions and not give up on what they believe matters the