I was scared of this all time classic. But it didn't disappointed. It's so funny, a great window to the distant past. So worth to read even after 400 years.

Who knew a book this old could be so fun.

Where oh where was the real Dulcinea del Toboso?

3,5

I know this book is a classic. I understand it’s place in literary history as the first real novel, and it’s role in upending the mindset and mores of medieval times. Nonetheless, this book was a slog of a sausage party that was at least 600 pages too long.

Beyond its status as the first modern novel, Cervantes’ Don Quixote certainly packs its punch as a timeless classic. We’re brought along on a perilous yet exciting journey for the dreamy master, Don Quixote, and his practical squire, Sancho Panza; along the way, we explore ideas such as the contrasts between idealism and realism, the power of literature, and the author’s social and class commentary on Spanish society at the time. Don Quixote and Sancho are foils to each other and also to themselves; it was often remarked that Don Quixote was sensible yet mad, and Sancho quick-witted but simple-minded. Both are truly dynamic characters.

I found myself laughing along with the onlookers at the gimmicks of the master and his squire, yet often simultaneously face-palming at their absurdities. Cervantes’ tongue-in-cheek set-ups throughout the second book (in response to the publication of a false sequel) were amusing and quite the clever comeback, I thought.

A small critique: The story got a little repetitive at times and could have been shortened; that would’ve minimized my pain at reading about Sancho bruising yet another rib or getting blanket-tossed (haha)!

Overall, I think Cervantes did a masterful job weaving social commentary and themes into a lively plot. On the surface, I thought Don Quixote to be light-hearted and humorous; upon further thought, however, the story does strike me as a little tragic. It’s clear that Don Quixote pursues his adventures with the ideals of being a valiant knight errant, and Sancho Panza with the dreams of ruling an island; the tragedy, in my opinion, is that they let their desires of future realization cloud their (rational) judgment of the current and real situation. I see these desires as a reflection of human nature and the consequences of them a lesson that we can apply to our modern-day lives: we should be mindful of why we’re doing each action and whether our desires are clouding our judgment. We can’t be like the archer who’s so focused on hitting the bullseye that they forget to take stock of and analyze their own actions.

On the other hand, this idealism was refreshing and I found myself cheering for them often throughout the tale...how great that they made it out alive and with a wonderful story under their belts! I’ll end with a quote from a TED-Ed video titled "Why should you read Don Quixote? - Ilan Stavans":

“Don Quixote argues that our imagination greatly informs our actions, making us capable of change, and, indeed, making us human.”