The bloat that is Don Quixote

[Razeus]

I've been off and on for almost a year now on this book (just recently book the Grossman hardcover due to my Penguin paperback losing it's binding). I'm starting to see what is taking me so long to finish this book.

Is it just me or is this just full of story after story after story for Don and Sancho. What is the point of this book? I'm mean I understand Don's problem and all but why is it that Cervantes keeps telling these little stories. I'm in part II after the Wedding (where the gentlemen fakes his death) and around the part where Don is telling about his adventure in the pit.

In reading Don, I've read and completed 4-5 other books. I have been spending my summer break (summer class to start soon) trying to blitz the book and be done with it, but I don't think I can go on reading another folly of Don Quixote. Is there something more to this? I know this (and my reading of it has been) is a great and wonderful book and I would recommend to friends to read it, but I have to dock it substanial points for its bloat. I understand these are to let the reader see Don's condition, but I think it's a bit overboard.

I hate to leave a great book unread! When will I finally see the heart of the book!

[lavendar1]

I've been pondering your post ever since I first read it, but I could'nt quite think of how to reply. I've been a fan of Don Quixote ever since I was in high school -- I suppose it's because I see many of his characteristics in myself. As human beings, I think we all (whether we admit to it or not) behave like Don Quixote at times -- "crazy?" romantic, battling our own windmills, believing that our intentions are honorable and "fighting for the right, without question or pause" (to borrow some words from the soundtrack of the musical/film called Man of La Mancha that was somewhat based on the escapades of Don Quixote).

Yes, Don Quixote is a long book; my copy (a wonderful 1941 translation by Peter Motteux that I acquired at a used book sale) has 567 pages. And those pages relate again and again Don Quixote's chivalric attempts --attempts that never quite reach their desired destination. But that he doesn't give up on what he truly believes in is a testimony to the perseverence and the resilience of humanity. When I read it (and I know this may sound corny) is makes me see the humor in life and gives me courage to continue in my own "glorious quest."

How, you may ask, does this relate to Charlie Brown? I'm alot like Charlie Brown, too, I guess (I love it when Lucy tells Charlie Brown, "Of all the Charlie Browns, you're the Charlie Browniest!"). Think about it: When even his own sister is calling Christmas something that's "run by an East Coast syndicate," Charlie Brown is holding true to his beliefs that there's got to be something more to it -- and his perseverence in seeking that 'something' helps others to see it, too. Sure, he's gullible and romantic (won't he ever realize Lucy is going to pull that football out from under him just when he's ready to kick it?), but he's got soul, just like Don Quixote.

The bottom line: I guess I'd rather be regarded as a crazy romantic than like so many of the cynics I encounter every day. And for me, that's where the charm of Don Quixote lies. So what if you don't read the whole book? Read whatever it takes to make you believe in the unfailing power of humanity again, and then put it away -- until you need to be reassured again. I wouldn't call it the 'bloat' that is Don Quixote -- I'd call it the 'inspiration.'

[Razeus]

I've been pondering your post ever since I first read it, but I could'nt quite think of how to reply. I've been a fan of Don Quixote ever since I was in high school -- I suppose it's because I see many of his characteristics in myself. As human beings, I think we all (whether we admit to it or not) behave like Don Quixote at times -- "crazy?" romantic, battling our own windmills, believing that our intentions are honorable and "fighting for the right, without question or pause" (to borrow some words from the soundtrack of the musical/film called Man of La Mancha that was somewhat based on the escapades of Don Quixote).

Yes, Don Quixote is a long book; my copy (a wonderful 1941 translation by Peter Motteux that I acquired at a used book sale) has 567 pages. And those pages relate again and again Don Quixote's chivalric attempts --attempts that never quite reach their desired destination. But that he doesn't give up on what he truly believes in is a testimony to the perseverence and the resilience of humanity. When I read it (and I know this may sound corny) is makes me see the humor in life and gives me courage to continue in my own "glorious quest."

How, you may ask, does this relate to Charlie Brown? I'm alot like Charlie Brown, too, I guess (I love it when Lucy tells Charlie Brown, "Of all the Charlie Browns, you're the Charlie Browniest!"). Think about it: When even his own sister is calling Christmas something that's "run by an East Coast syndicate," Charlie Brown is holding true to his beliefs that there's got to be something more to it -- and his perseverence in seeking that 'something' helps others to see it, too. Sure, he's gullible and romantic (won't he ever realize Lucy is going to pull that football out from under him just when he's ready to kick it?), but he's got soul, just like Don Quixote.

The bottom line: I guess I'd rather be regarded as a crazy romantic than like so many of the cynics I encounter every day. And for me, that's where the charm of Don Quixote lies. So what if you don't read the whole book? Read whatever it takes to make you believe in the unfailing power of humanity again, and then put it away -- until you need to be reassured again. I wouldn't call it the 'bloat' that is Don Quixote -- I'd call it the 'inspiration.'

I think you may have misunderstood me. I love the book. My thing is the author chooses to keep telling story after story after story about Don's follies. I understand the character and why he does what he does and I truly love the book (and memorable stories told within). However, it seems like I'm waiting for something more to happen besides folly after folly.

[lavendar1]

What we've got here is an inability to communicate .

You're right that there's "story after story about Don's follies" ... and maybe you're right about having the reasonable expectation that maybe something else ought to happen, but what I was getting at was this: Maybe it doesn't happen, and instead Don keeps on with his ridiculous battles, just like all of us human beings do, in one way or another -- Don Quixote is an excellent satire, and its presentation points out our humanity. Take it as it is... a one-of-a-kind classic. I'm glad you like the book!

[Razeus]

Hmm I see your point which puts it more in perspective. Ya, I love the book. Even my Everquest 2 avatar shares is last name!

[Sitaram]

(I love it when Lucy tells Charlie Brown, "Of all the Charlie Browns, you're the Charlie Browniest!").

I once read a scholarly paperback entitled "The Many Ramayans"; a study of the more than 300 versions of the Ramayan story which evolved during the centuries after Valmiki's first redacted version of the Ramayan in Sanskrit.

If you ever get a chance to see the 28 television episodes, produced by Ramanand Sagar (whose name means literally "Ocean of the Bliss of Ram"), in Hindi with English subtitles, then you will notice in the credits a reference to all the many versions, in languages like Hindi, Tamil, Malialam. There was even a Jain version of the Ramayan in which Ram was the VILLIAN while his arch enemy Ravanna was the good guy who had studied under a Jain spiritual master. Anyway, in "The Many Ramayans", there is mention of one of those 300 versions in which Ram is arguing forcefully with Sita, to dissuade her from accompanying him into exile in the forest. Sita wins the argument by saying to Ram, "How many countless renditions of the Ramayan have you heard, and in which one did you ever hear that Sita did not accompany her Ram?" Well, Ram was speechless, defeated and reluctantly persuaded.

Yes, Charlie Brown, of all the many Charilie Browns in all the possible universes, YOU are the CHARLIE-BROWNIEST!

But then, is it not the essence of postmodernism to step out from behind the wizards' OZ curtain, and speak directly to the reader about the task of writing and the experience of reading?

Hegel stepped back and spoke of the "philosphy of philosophies." Godel (in his incompleteness theorem) speaks of META-mathematical statements, which is a mathematics of mathematics. New-age spirituality is basically an eclectic potpourrie, a "religion of religions."

Self-referencing statements are really the forbidden apple of paradise: Bertrand Russel's "set of all sets which do not contain themselves."

[Sitaram]

Chapter 73

My greatest wish --- other than salvation --- was to have a book. A long book with a never-ending story. One I could read again and again, with new eyes and a fresh understanding each time. Alas, there was no scripture in the lifeboat. I was a disconsolate Arjuna in a battered chariot without the benefit of Krishna's words. The first time I came upon a Bible in the bedside table of a hotel room in Canada, I burst into tears. I send a contribution to the Gideons the very next day, with a note urging them to spread the range of their activity to all places where worn and weary travellers might lay down their heads, not just to hotel rooms, and that they should leave not only Bibles, but other sacred writings as well. I cannot think of a better way to spread the faith. No thundering from a pulpit, no condemnation from bad churches, no peer pressure, just a book of scripture quietly waiting to say hello, as gentle and powerful as a little girl's kiss on your cheek.

At the very least, if I had had a good novel!

Curiously, the forum's editor software is giving me an error message that my post is too short. I quess it does not consider a quote by itself to contribute to the length of the post.