Don Quixote And Sancho Panza: Character Analysis

Categories: Don Quixote

Don Quixote, often considered a parody of romance novels in the 15th century, tells the tale of an emaciated knight and his noble steed with his bloated - and untaught - squire, Sancho Panza. His compatriots instantly accepted Don Quixote, ironically juxtaposing the author's stunning description of Quixote's ability to deride the arrogant and ridicule the politicians. The book illustrates how the protagonist lives through a world manifested by his fantasy-like perspective, fueled by his fascination with chivalric stories. He longed to change this world that he thought was full of fights, knights, giants, gallantry, and maidens.

However, his aspirations to manipulate his surroundings are often obstructed. Moreover, as his journey with Sancho progresses, his findings of irreparable truth grow. In turn, this vibrant pair provides the reader with an adventurous narrative.

Sancho Panza

Sancho Panza is an untaught drudge who becomes Don Quixote’s squire hoping to be the governor as compensation for some prank. Panza, at first, is a hesitant personality but gradually becomes more effusive.

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He believes in Don's madness, and is full of proverbs. He significantly adds wit and humor to the narration, and is a proud peasant who functions as a voice of reason throughout the story. He is a truthful and dedicated companion of Quixote as he travels with him. At the end of the story, Panza becomes rather affectionate of his companion, Quixote (Cervantes 97). At first, Panza was eager to the personal assistant with expectations of attaining a reward that would make him wealthy.

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As the story concludes, he has served his boss with nothing as a material compensation apart from friendship. However, as he monitors the hopeless, mysterious, marvelous courage, his disbelief changes to admiration and affection. He even begins to pay close attention to Quixote's speeches, as he finds them to be real and fantastic. Futhermore, he admires the kind spirit and intelligence of Quixote. Panza begins to consider the belief of self-making, which leads him to believe he can be a big-hearted, idealistic, and intellectual person if he wishes. Gradually, he begins to become rational and kind and becomes a wise and intelligent judge. It is incredible that by the end of the story Panza desires to gain Quixote’s friendship back, and even tries to cheer him up while he’s on his deathbed.

The Curate and the Barber

The curate is an intelligent clergyman of whom finds fellowship with Quixote. As an advocate for religion, he naturally views God and His word as paramount. Due to his religious beliefs, he negates literature pertaining to knights and their adventures, as he wishes God to be worshiped - not human idols. Moreover, his hatred of the novels increases upon finding they are the reason behind Quixote’s behavior.

Sansón Carrasco

Sansón Carrasco is a person who finds pleasure in nothing other than sports and ridiculing others. Moreover, he is the main character who persuades Quixote to attend the Zaragoza tournaments and join knighthood life once again. The fancy education of Sansón makes him a bit cocky and a jerk. He learns from his errors and decides to help Quixote in hope that he will receive similar assistance in the future. Akin to other characters, Sansón is not warrant or honest on issues; thus, it is difficult to detect whether he is bad or good. He is the antagonist of the story.

Cide Hamete Benengeli

Cervantes translates his writing by using a fictitious writer, known as Cide Hamete Benengeli. Amazingly, Cervantes utilizes the personality of Benengeli to elaborate on the ideas of authorship and prose. The concepts of Cide Hamete reveals his disdain for the individuals that write concerning gallantry incorrectly and with exaggeration. He is also a Muslim who honors Allah in all that he does as he says, 'Blessed be Almighty Allah' (Cervantes 77).

How is Quixote Viewed as a Hero

Much of Quixote becoming a hero significantly depends on the foundation of his own vision or his dream of what will happen, rather reality. Amazingly, what makes Quixote a hero is his perception of the universe, which is different from the way others do. This motivates him to create an imaginary world that is encouraged by a sense of hope and is grounded in optimism. He creates this world and his thoughts are influential in their indispensable aspect. Quixote includes himself into this society of idealism in which he accepts its outcome (Cervantes 99). One of his desires is to revive a world filled with love, and his dedication to this belief makes him gallant as he depicts harmony between all characters. In a world where the separation of one’s self significantly exists, and individuals like to do what they dislike, he describes a sense of alliance and association between what he believes in and who he is. Hence, in the end, it is not the ample pillage of victory that motivates him, but instead the existence of the expedition in its most perfect form that makes him heroic.

Don Quixote attempts to be a perfect model of a knight by attempting to coerce his friends to face their challenges. The separation between the new and old reaches its absolute impasse, and no one hardly understands Quixote as he feels the same way about everyone else. Sancho is ignorant but is able to understand his self-motivated pleasures and has comprehension of morality. More or less, Sancho frequently flows with daily ethics but then shocks the reader by illustrating a conviction in the old ethics of fairness and loyalty. The story demonstrates an infliction of reality into illusion through literature.

How can Don Quixote keep the Madness in Balance

The madness episodes of Quixote are nothing apart from a mindful decision in the trial of displaying his suppressed emotions to others. When the book starts, it appears as though he is crazy due to reading too many stories concerning gallant knights. These stories are the reason he begins voyaging to discover an enchanted world. The majority of people believe that this is the culprit behind his craziness, and that he is the very reason for the entire escapade being an illusion. His motive is very intelligent on his part as both an author and character (Cervantes 109). By formulating the narration in this manner, the writer helps his readers comprehend that his descriptions are not just words but encounters that are real and felt. The books inspire the decision of Quixote to go on a journey. His mission is one of the complete explanations that calls the reader to participate in reading and to live life to the fullest. It is an appeal that each one's journey is admirable and not just a delusional and crazy idea. Quixote keeps his madness in balance all throughout the book, even though people perceive it as an expression of craziness. His absurdity is just a way of trying to negotiate his personality to the audience and illustrates the notion of skewed madness. His heroic journey could not have been thrilling if he had obeyed the rules of the universe.

Updated: Feb 02, 2024
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Don Quixote And Sancho Panza: Character Analysis. (2024, Feb 05). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/don-quixote-and-sancho-panza-character-analysis-essay

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