Ashton Gregor
Ms. Wilson
British Literature Bell 4
May 8, 2013
Wandering Imagination of Don Quixote
The neoclassical period is known as the period when “writers looked back to the ideals and art forms of classical times, emphasizing even more than their Renaissance predecessors the classical ideals of order and rational control.” ("Introduction to Neoclassisism") Don Quixote has a wandering imagination that consists of medieval and romantic pieces. Miguel de Cervantes uses a comic lampoon, as well as horatain satire in the piece Don Quixote to emphasize the transformation and wandering imagination of Quixote.
Miguel de Cervantes, was a poor man that went to jail for debt. He had been taken by the pirates and needed to buy his freedom which in turned put him into debt. Miguel was also in the army, from his experiences came the way his writing is. Don Quixote is Miguel’s hero, who is also poor and reads nothing but medieval and romantic tales. In that way influences how Don Quixote sees things that are around him. Which is the wondering imagination.
Since the piece is written in a comic lampoon Cervantes is making fun of Don Quixote and his normal everyday life and the things that he sees. Since Don Quixote believes that he is a knight giants, as well as battle are throughout the piece.
Throughout his piece Don Quixote is constantly seeing pieces of the medieval, such as a windmill looking like a giant. “But look, your grace, those are not giants but windmills, and what appear to be arms are their wings which, when whirled in the breeze, cause the millstone to go”. “’ It is plain to be seen,’ said Don Quixote, ‘that you have had little experience in this matter of adventures. If you are afraid, go off to one side and say your prayers while I am engaging them in fierce, unequal combat’”. This is a description of horatain satire because
"Introduction to Neoclassisism." Neoclassisim. Melani, 17 Aug 2000. Web. 8 May 2013.
