However, I know from personal experience that watching people you love struggling with psychosis and delusions is difficult. It's hard to care for them when their mental illness makes them believe they don't actually need help. As rambunctious and silly this story is, it's hard not to see the underlying cause of his misadventures, which is that he can't separate his fantasies from reality. Mental illness, in real life, is far more often debilitating and heartbreaking than as charming as it is portrayed in Don Q. How did this read to you? Was this something on your mind as you were reading? Why or why not? What are your thoughts on the contrast between the genuinely hilarious or heart-warming moments in Don Quixote and the underlying cause behind it?
I never took into consideration that mental illness could play a part in the goofy and questionable actions of Don Quixote. I think a lot of the things that went through my mind while reading was "he needs a reality check" or "what is wrong with these guys". It never occurred to me that mental issues could have been the answer to that. For being such an ancient piece of writing, the comedy and heart-warming moments reminded me of a modern piece of entertainment, whether that be a novel, play, movie, or tv show. Don Quixote created an almost perfect mixture between funny and serious.
ReplyDeleteHonestly while reading this piece it never once crossed my mind about mental illness. I think the way you wrote your blog post really opened up my mind that maybe the reason for all of this was due to a mental illness. I would also agree that this was a great blend of comedy and serious issues. Myself I hate when things get super serious so I think this was a perfect blend.
ReplyDeleteI read this story as a comedy story about a delusional man thinking he's a knight and the silly adventures with his squire, Sancho. I totally agree that the slapstick in this story gives off many Monty Python vibes. As I was reading this, I was always constantly thinking "Don Quixote is out of his freaking mind" every time he thinks something's a monster or a damsel when really it's like a horse carriage or clothing mill. I was always questioning why Sancho didn't call out Quixote's crazy delusions. You would think Sancho would want to protect Quixote from not getting seriously hurt when his madness is taking over him.
ReplyDeleteBetween the funny moments and the heartwarming moments in Don Quixote, the overall relationship between Quixote and Sancho is what makes this work of literature heartwarming yet serious. At the part where Quixote dies, you would think that Sancho and the other characters would be happy that Quixote is free from his madness; wrong. I absolutely loved that everyone was super sad when Quixote died. They no longer cared that he was mentally ill, but they realized how amazing he truly was in the end.
Much like yourself, I viewed the occurrences of this book to be very "Monty Pythony", and because of that, I didn't think about the serious realities behind his actions. However, I have first hand experience with individuals who have lost their minds and it is far from humorous. I think much of the seriousness of mental illness and delusion comes from what the delusion is based on. For example, we find Don Quixote to be funny because, in a sense, he is just a harmless old man who has set him mind and heart on noble things; something difficult to take seriously or be angry about. However, most mental illness is not so innocent or pure, and I think that is the main distinction between the two. Cervantes' ability to mix the serious with the absolutely comical works flawlessly in this book. Most of the book centers on comedy, but it is the serious parts that give us a much needed breather and further reinforces the parts designed to be comedic. That being said, I don't think the realities of severe mental illness are part or the story; nor were they intended to be.
ReplyDeleteI think you are right in your final analysis here...
DeleteI find it interesting to consider the idea of suggesting that there was some sort of mental illness present in this story. I can think of several mental illnesses that could be present in this story. Illnesses like Dissociative Identity Disorder and Schizophrenia come to mind as they are illness that alter states of consciousness. I feel like if there are in fact mental illnesses being represented in this story, these would be the two likely candidates. Of course, like you said, real-life cases of these illnesses would not be as charming a tale, but there are definitely some connections to be drawn here. I think the acknowledgment of something like this makes the story that much interesting because we, as readers, can sit back and think about just what is true and what is the result of Don Quixote's struggles.
ReplyDeleteI think that the important thing about stories, whether in books or in film, is that the creator is the one who has total control and say over their own work. I personally only read things in the way that I assume they were intended, and for this reason I wouldn't consider Don Quixote or similar stories to be real examples of serious topics like mental illness or also, violence. This book is also very violent but it's easily overlooked for the sake of the comedic-ness of it all. Now, if Cervantes had said that instead of this being a parody of chivalry, his actual intent was to make a commentary about mental illness and make fun of that, then it would be different. But since that was not even close to his actual reason for writing it, I read it in the context that he wrote it. Of course this story couldn't have even happened if he didn't go mad, so it was a necessary part to his character.
ReplyDeleteExcellent point, Raquel. If "Quixote" is an exposé of anything, it's the literary absurdity of courtly love, not actual insanity...
DeleteWhen I was reaidng Don Quioxte my focus was actually almost always on Sancho, where he was considered a simpleton and uneducated, when he definitely seemed the more sane of the two. In my perspective, I took it as more of a statement on how people can be uneducated in the scholarly sense, but still be incredibly rationale and reasonable in the world.
ReplyDeleteThat's a fair point. Though Cervantes doesn't exactly spare Sancho, either...
DeleteThis read to me as more of a charming story rather than heartbreaking for this situation. While reading Don Quixote mental stability was on my mind and I was wondering if he would get worse or be cured. I think the underlying cause of this story, was possibly bring attention of mental illness, but with a different approach of humor. By having some very heart warming moments, this allows people to connect with the characters and feel pity for there situation. Allowing the reader to connect while bringing awareness and joy. It is very remarkable.
ReplyDeleteYou make a good point! I definitely read this solely in a humorous light, but it is helpful to think about what Don Quixote is actually doing when he denies the reality around him.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I thought of was, is Cervantes, in all this humor, making fun of reading too? Instead of maybe a mental illness perspective, is he making fun of himself as a person who has read entirely too many novels? Cervantes definitely makes fun of himself in the opening sections of the second part (when Don Quixote and Sancho "critique" their first book), so it would make sense that he would make fun of himself in other ways too. In addition, I believe we read that Cervantes did not have a lot of success writing before this book. I assume that Cervantes, while trying to write, read a great deal. And since the whole premise is about Don Quixote taking books quite literally, perhaps Cervantes felt that he did the same. Maybe he exaggerated the qualities of an avid reader as a way to make fun of something he knew and experienced himself. Perhaps he experienced the inundation of books in his own life, so he decided to make fun of that in Don Quixote. Just a thought:)
Well, not reading or literature in and of themselves, but most definitely what Cervantes saw as the puerile absurdity of the chivalric romances (keeping in mind that the greatest of parodies often betray a fondness for their target). But there IS a non-literary target, and that is his society. He is critical of corruption, inequality, and inept governance, and he roasts the goose of the aristocracy just as thoroughly as he roasts chivalric romance...
DeleteGood question, good discussion, Virginia. (Funny how those two things go hand in hand...)
ReplyDeleteI found this a hilarious read as most of us did. However, as a Special Education major I did find it frustrating that he didn't really get the help that he deserved. It also pains me that he was ridiculed often like when the duke and duchess invited him to their castle for their amusement without him knowing the true meaning of behind the invitation. I hope that it showed everyone who reads it that doing this to people with or without mental illness is wrong and we should treat all people with respect. I do wish there were more consequences for those who were wrong to Don to further prove this point.
ReplyDeleteI also thought that this reading was pretty funny in certain parts. I have not scene the Monty Python version before, so maybe I will have to take a look at that. I do see what you mean though that the main driving point of the plot is his mental illness. I liked this reading because of the humor in it. It made it way more enjoyable to read.
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