Don Quixote Character Analysis Essay

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Don Quixote is a static character, an insane protagonist that has a condition that justifies adventures and quests. He embodies a knight errant, a chivalrous man of the sword, a classic archetype that is a key player during the feudal era, and one of the first things that comes to mind when we think of early Europe. Nonetheless, our knight errant Don Quixote exists in the wrong time, and if Sancho Panza wasn’t his squire and loyal companion he would be a two dimensional character in a one dimensional world; Sancho Panza’s duality of character allows for Quixote to gain depth, and take form as the insanely chivalrous character he is. It’s safe to assume that if it wasn’t for the multi-faceted Sancho Panza, we would have a much shorter account of Don Quixote. On one of the first days of their adventures, Don Quixote charges a group of …show more content…
His skepticism can be associated with his constant physical harm and perpetual humiliation; one should expect nothing less from a squire following the insane Don Quixote. However, Cervantes focalizes on Sancho being a very relatable character. Not so much in character traits, but readers can find sane, human tendencies in his actions. He takes good care of his wine sack, sees thing as they actually are, and sleeps when he should. Don Quixote’s insane actions are reflected in Sancho Panza in normality and sane rationale. Sancho Panza humanizes the story.
Throughout all of the adventures they partake in, Sancho remains pragmatic, constantly doubting things. By doing this, he opens Don Quixote to criticism from the reader, as well as approval. If Sancho wasn’t present in the novel, Don Quixote would not exist in the way it does today. Cervantes created him by combining two types, that just so happen to be polar opposites; the sidekick and the skeptic. This duality of personalities reveals Don Quixote to be truly the insane knight errant he is, by showing both sides of his

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