11/5 Don Quixote (#10b)

Reality vs. Illusion
Don Quixote's perception of reality effects the people he comes in contact with in different ways based on their previous views of the world. When Don Quixote tells the innkeeper of his mission to become a knight, the innkeeper agrees to assist him in his mission and find a place for the ceremony (2234). The innkeeper relates to Don Quixote's quest to find his calling, as he himself "had through various part of the world seeking adventures" as a young man (2234). Even though he sees the craziness of Don Quixote, he takes pity on him treats him with respect. His philosophy is that he will take care all misguided travelers "out of the great affection that he bore them and that they might share with him their possessions in payment of his good will" (2234). However, he stops tolerating the knight-to-be when he starts slaying mule drivers and others who tried to remove his armor from its resting place. The innkeeper performs the knighting ceremony to expedite Don Quixote's removal from the premises (2237). While the innkeeper sees Don Quixote as crazy and a menace, he still plays along with his delusion to get him to leave. The mule drivers were not as respectful to Don Quixote's reality, however. The first mule driver removed Don Quixote's armor from the mule trough despite his objections and warnings and received a prompt strike from Don Quixote's lance (2236). Don Quixote continues to attack the other mule drivers, who were simply defending themselves from a crazy man. The main concept to be learned is that Don Quixote is not condoned for his behavior because of the respect due to all men and the code of right and wrong, as the innkeeper demonstrated.
Character
Don Quixote is a both tragic and comedic character because of the combined aspects of sadness and ridiculousness in his actions. Don Quixote is a tragic character because on one hand, he is painted as a knight living out his belief in morality and chivalry who is destroyed from an indescribable sickness and deep remorse from having failed to save his "fair maiden." At the end of his life, Don Quixote recognizes his previous delusion since "those profane stories dealing with knight-errantry are odious to [him], and [he realizes] how foolish [he] was and the danger [he] courted in reading them" (2347). One can then feel sorry for his misfortune on the basis of his steadfast pursuit of seemingly noble goals. On the other hand, these same actions can be seen as just crazy and something to amuse the public.