Cervantes's Character Development In Don Quixote And Sancho Panza

Superior Essays
When Cervantes was creating the story of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza I wonder if he himself had a Sancho Panza in his life to which these historic characters were based off of. Although Don Quixote might seem to be just a book written about a “knight errant and his squire” going on ridiculous adventures that ultimately end with them being beaten up it happens to be so much more than that. Cervantes has done a great job at providing his readers with themes that are relevant to the time period he is writing in and also provides ample example of character development throughout the novel. One of the characters that the readers are able to see develop over time would be Sancho Panza. While serving as Don Quixote’s squire Sancho has developed …show more content…
According to Google.com, Humanism is defined as “an outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters. Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems”. Throughout this text we are able to see Cervantes address the three main beliefs of humanist; the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seeks rational ways of solving human problems, all of which Sancho Panza exhibit multiple situations that fall into each of those categories. For instance, when speaking about the potential and goodness of human beings Sancho Panza is able to show readers that through his development as a character he possesses the goodness of what it means to be human. He does this through his loyalty to Don Quixote and his willingness to exclaim his potential value to the larger society. In a scene where he is talking with the Squire of the Forest Panza states, “A child may persuade him it is night at noonday, and he is so simple, that I love him from the bottom of my heart, and can’t bring myself to leave him, however many silly things he does" (pg. 567).This quote shows the readers that although Sancho is not in agreeance with Don Quixote’s ridiculous doings he will continue to stick by his side because of the love he shares for Quixote. The Duchess in a later scene questions the squires loyalty to Don Quixote to which Sancho replies, “I can’t help it, I must follow him - were from the same village, I’ve eaten his bread, I’m very fond of him, he’s grateful to me, he gave me his donkeys and above all I’m a faithful fellow, so nothings ever going to part us except the pick and the shovel” (pg.715). Sancho’s development in the story also sheds light on the humanist approach of emphasizing

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Forensics scientist finds Cervantes tomb in Madrid 400 years after his death. The author was buried in 1616 in the Convent of Trinitarians, located in “Barrio de Las Letras” in Madrid; but his remains were moved on to a near new construction after a rebuilt in the 17th Century. Since then, nobody knew exactly the place where the burial was sitting. “It was a difficult and laborious investigation work”, said Dr. Garcia, member of the forensics team.…

    • 213 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The story “Enrique’s Journey” by Sonia Nazario is based on a true story about a boy named Enrique. Enrique has a expedition to reunite with him mom. The has many dilemmas on his journey, however continues too carry on. Enrique has come to the point where the has to compose a decision about leaving the United States or staying. Enrique is deciding too stay in the United States because he wants too continue making money so the could buy a house one day.…

    • 607 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Summary Enrique’s Journey, written by Sonia Nazario, was a story based on a young boy who is destined to reunite with the mother who left him when he was at the young age of five years old, to work in the United States. Enrique had no idea to why his mother has left him, and his family does not give him any type of answers to where his mother is. Over the past few years, Enrique has been in and out of different homes, while his sister, Belky attends school and is being taken care of by their aunt. Enrique is forced to work to help pay for things around the house.…

    • 1351 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Pedro is a duck that lives in a small duck community in Kentucky. Pedro had just been assimilated into the community of ducks when he found his greatest talent. In his community he was lionized for his ability to swim fast. Every guy wanted to be him and every girl wanted to be with him. His father had passed away after being shot by a hunter when he was three years old and his mother had been taking care of him on her own ever since.…

    • 525 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Essentially, humanism is the belief that emphasis should be placed on high quality education that in turn would lead to an improved society (Caspari, 2). Humanism preached that all men are noble creatures and are capable of noble acts (Cuddon, 601). It is during time that the philosophy of humanism was changing the idea of what it meant to be a gentleman (Caspari, 3). Instead of a gentlemen meaning to be of noble birth, humanist used the term to describe the ideal man, that being one of great intelligence, a thirst for Knowledge and truth, and is also governed by strong moral principles. These characteristics are demonstrated by Prince Hamlet throughout the…

    • 2238 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Hernando De Soto Analysis

    • 746 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Hernando de Soto stated that capital is like energy and that it is a dormant value. However, we know how to create energy like burning wood in stove produces energy in the form of heat to cook food, boil water, or warm a home. The same cannot be said with capital. We have a pretty good idea what it is, but we are not as good at turning capital into economic potential. De Soto also defines capital as the parallel life of an asset.…

    • 746 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    I Am Joaquin Summary

    • 1230 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Torn by the inequalities and the inability to truly acclimate himself into mainstream society, Rodolfo Gonzales’, wrote the poem “I Am Joaquin” in 1967 . Rodolfo Gonzales created an epic poem that was able to convey the feelings of his community in conjunction to that of his own. What makes this narrative into an epic is the manner in which the conflict is not a solely against his self imposed identities, but instead the externalities of society, history, and culture. He places himself at the forefront of the conflict and battles against all the predisposed thoughts that circulate society. His internal conflict with society truly allows for him to revolutionize the manner in which Mexican Americans viewed themselves.…

    • 1230 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Joaquin Murrieta Essay

    • 551 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Even a book written down by an amateur historian confirms that Joaquin must have led an illustrious life leading horse gangs in the sprawling lands of California. The personal description of Joaquin also fed the perception of a man who lived large. He is described as a great lover attracting the attention of many women. He spoke at least two languages, doing so without using conflicting accents. This even caught with his corpse as the writer notes that it was made ‘pretty’.…

    • 551 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    I remember the day as if it was yesterday, on my 14th birthday my parents finally told me we could start planning my quinceanera. I was so excited imagining how it would all come together. I was ready to plan the best party and make a million memories with my family and friends. Looking for the most amazing dress was just so overwhelming not being able to decide if I wanted it big or small, what if I gained weight or lost weight not being able to fit in it when the big day arrived? After days of looking for the perfect dress I finally found one that was just right…

    • 603 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Humanism was a movement inspired by classic subjects known as humanities: rhetoric, grammar, poetry, history, and Latin and Greek. Humanists rediscovered ancient scientific texts and advancements and believed that the human mind’s capabilities were nearly infinite (Ramírez et al.). Humanism contrasted many Church teachings, including those regarding individuality and achievement (Ramírez et al.)(“Renaissance Humanism."). Renowned humanist, Desiderius Erasmus, influenced humanism from a religious standpoint by combining it with Christian ideas.…

    • 465 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Bodega Dreams Analysis

    • 843 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Jose Ramos Latin 125/1800 Prof. Gonzalez Bodega Dreams Bodega Dreams is a novel written by Ernesto Quiñonez who teaches in the South Bronx, not far from the Schomburg Projects in East Harlem where he grew up and near where Bodega Dreams is set. Bodega Dreams occurs not in an activist age but as part of commodity culture, as Quiñonez himself well understands, for it is the difference between social involvement and personal exaggeration that lies at the heart of this touching and clearly written novel. The novels narrator, Julio Mercado, whose nickname is Chino, is a first-person character.…

    • 843 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Soto tells the lack of succeeding in his life as a homeless Mexican. He is affected intellectually by the negative idea he has set on his mind that his fate is, "To marry Mexican poor, work Mexican hours and in the end die a Mexican death, broke and despair. "(Soto) He thinks he will be in despair because he would know that he had only fulfilled a future he saw from his older coworkers. The low self teem causes him to give up on dreaming and bettering himself since he has been poor all his life.…

    • 1300 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Man of La Mancha and Don Quixote The film Man of La Mancha is a movie that is based on both Don Quixote and its canonical collection, making it a more loosely canon piece within the canon. The film, which was released in 1972, is originally based off the 1964 musical of the same name. The musical itself is also based upon a 1959 teleplay, making the movie actually a canon piece based on a canon piece based on another canon piece based upon the original material. If that isn’t crazy, I don’t know what is.…

    • 875 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Topic: Through his essay “Resignifying Preservation: A Borderlands Response to American Eugenics in Jovita Gonzalez and Eve Raleigh's Caballero”, Pablo Ramirez explores the importance of eugenics in Mexican society and how pure blood lines were crucial for marriage in the the time period when the novel takes place. At the same time, he analyzes how Gonzalez and Raleigh try to counterattack the modern views regarding the preservation of race and culture of the time when the novel was written by incorporating the integration of both societies through interrelationships to make a statement of change for integration. Argument: In his essay, the author shows how the storyline of Caballero is a form of criticism to the ideas of eugenics and keeping…

    • 870 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    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.…

    • 1300 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays