DON QUIXOTE

Miguel de Cervantes

The extraordinary tale of Don Quixote is no less humorous than it is delicately inspiring to any avid reader who seeks to indulge in the fantasy world of their noble imaginations. The misguided adventures of this chivalric knight present a very nuanced look at identity and escapism. The titular hero, a man who reads one too many books about chivalry and knighthood, becomes so engrossed in the tantalizing tales of heroic knights that he seeks to persuade all that he himself is a knight-errant under the guise of some enchanted and deceiving commonality.

After recruiting a noble and worthy squire Sancho Panza, and choosing a lady to woo per narrative convention, he sets out to conquer the forces of evil, which include, among other things, giant windmills and rogue “knights”. Cervantes’ insight and ability to parody were both ahead of his time, and in a time where escapism and voyeurism are well and thriving, it is not difficult to imagine someone watching too many TV shows and believing they’re a wild west outlaw or what-have-you.

The tale of this formidable Knight Errant and his noble squire is one that transcends all culture, generations, and society. It is timeless and tells the story of the human condition and one’s desire to succeed and be recognised as famous or at the very least appreciated. Cervantes’ book is now considered one of the greatest pieces of classic literature ever written and I myself found it well deserving of such high recommendations.