Don Quixote Hero or Fool Essay example - 1035 Words

During the Middle Ages, medieval romances were popular among popular among aristocrats from the start of Early Modern Europe. However, in the 1600s, these stories of chivalry and knighthood were no longer popular. In The Ingenious Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha, author Miguel de Cervantes attempts to satirize the medieval romance through his character, Don Quixote. The tale tells the story of a man who loses his sanity out of his desire to become a real-life knight. This story was highly acclaimed for the time; even though it poked fun at the main character and medieval romances in general, it brought back the ideals of this genre. The legacy of Don Quixote continues with Joe Darion’s songs from the 1965 musical Man of La Mancha.†¦show more content†¦The mocking tone continues to tease Quixote when the character decides that he will not only become and knight in reality, but will also change his name to â€Å"Don Quixote†- which means â€Å"Sir Thigh Pieceâ € . The already degrading tone because even more blunt when Quixote decides to use his â€Å"ingenuity† to refurbish an undeveloped helmet: â€Å"†¦he was ingenious enough, however, to overcome this problem, constructing out of cardboard something resembling a visor and face-guard which, once inserted into the steel cap, gave it the appearance of a full helmet†(Cervantes 827). Stating that Quixote’s cleverness only allowed him to construct the helmet with pasteboard is a rather direct insult the character. This again proves how foolhardy, naà ¯ve, and how much of a foil Quixote is to the traditional admired knight in medieval romances. The parody continues in chapter eight, when Quixote and his friend Sancho Panza (who he appoints as his squire) go on an adventure together. Quixote states that he must slay the monstrous giants that stand before them, but there are only windmills in front of him. Panza attempts to convey this obvious fact to him, but t he ignorant Quixote refuses to listen and instead hints that Panza may be acting out of cowardice: â€Å"â€Å"It is perfectly clear,† replied Don Quixote, â€Å"that you are but a raw novice in this matter of adventures. They are giants; and if you are frightened, you can take yourself away and say yourShow MoreRelatedUse Of Don Quixote De La Mancha By Miguel De Cervantes1324 Words   |  6 PagesDaniela Dicheva Professor Salena Fehnel ENG 106 08/19/2014 The Character of Don Quixote De La Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes A writer, no matter how great, no matter how brilliant his work, does not exhaust the literary wealth of a nation in a given era, but with all your heritage or just one of his work, he can score the highest peaks of the literature. Based on merit and dignity Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra takes the first place in the literature of the Spanish Renaissance, because most profoundRead More Don Quixote Essay466 Words   |  2 Pages Don Quixote Don Quixote is a fool in many respects. His speech is ridiculous, his ideas are hopelessly out of date, and he has lost touch with reality. Yet readers admire him and know immediately he is the hero of the story. All the things which make him a fool, however unbelievable as it may be, add to his heroic appearance and lets the reader know where Quixote is coming from. Along with this, his foolish nature adds a sense of artlessness and purity, very heroic aspects. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;DonRead MoreSummarys on Don Quixote, Othello, Paradise Lost and Popol Vuh1818 Words   |  8 PagesSummarys on Don Quixote, Othello, Paradise Lost and Popol Vuh Fools and tricksters are very closely related and are used simultaneously in poetry and other literary works. A fool can be described as one who is deficient in judgment, sense, or understanding and also can be someone who acts unwisely on a given occasion. A trickster is defined as someone that swindles or plays tricks. Often a trickster is a mischievous or roguish figure in myth or folklore.(Websters Online Dictionary) Fools and tricksterRead More##sanity And Reality In Don Quixote By Miguel De Cervantes893 Words   |  4 Pagesdistinction being ideals. A novel that heavily delves into this topic is Don Quixote, written Miguel de Cervantes. First published in 1605, this novel has remained a prevalent novel because of the timeless concepts it presents and the powerful imagery it produces to entrance the readers in following the journey of the title character. In one way or another, this novel can be considered the most truthful tale of an adventure of a hero. In this novel, the author attempts are to make the readers questionRead More Don Quixote de la Mancha Essay5548 Words   |  23 PagesTwo lost tales concerning the valiant knight Don Quixote de la Mancha and other such interesting things Prologue After reading for the first time the true history of The Ingenious Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha, originally scribed by the brilliant Arab historian Cide Hamete Benengeli, I was captivated by it and somehow began to relate it to all that happened to me in my daily life, wondering how our famous hero would interpret these things in my life and what I might learn from his good senseRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s A Midsummer Night s Dream1752 Words   |  8 Pagesâ€Å"Lord, what fools these mortals be!†Ã¢â‚¬Å"The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.† â€Å"A tragedy is a tragedy, and at the bottom, all tragedies are stupid. Give me a choice and I ll take A Midsummer Night s Dream over Hamlet every time. Any fool with steady hands and a working set of lungs can build up a house of cards and then blow it down, but it takes a genius to make people laugh.† The combination of William Shakespeare, Horace Walpole,and Steven King runRead MoreAn Analysis of the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as a Picaresque Tale2155 Words   |  9 PagesAn Analysis of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as a Picaresque Tale A picaresque novel is based on a story that is typically satirical and illustrates with realistic and witty detail the adventures of a roguish hero of lower social standing who lives by their common sense in a corrupt society. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, is an eminent example of picaresque literature. There are many aspects of the novel that portray picaresque through the history and personality of the mainRead Morewisdom,humor and faith19596 Words   |  79 Pageslaughter is just as admissible in great literature, posing universal problems, as seriousness. Certain essential aspects of the universe are accessible only to laughter.†10 Bakhtin includes the Frenchman Rabelais, the Spaniard Cervantes (author of Don Quixote), and the Englishman Shakespeare as the three great writers of this early era when humor often reflected wisdom. He also mentions the Dutchman Erasmus’s In Praise of Folly (1509) as â€Å"one of the greatest creations of carnival la ughter in world literature

Capital Punishment- Informative Essay - 1272 Words

An innocent man is wrongly executed whilst a man who raped and murdered a mother and her thirteen year old daughter spends the rest of his life with three meals a day and cable television. Which of these is the bigger injustice? The use of the death penalty to punish serious crimes is a very controversial topic and there is much debate surrounding the issue. This paper will briefly discuss arguments supporting and against the use of the death penalty. The death penalty which is also known as capital punishment is the punishment of a crime by execution. (Washington Post 2008: e.data) Such extreme sentences are awarded for very serious crimes such as premeditated murder, multiple murders, repeated crimes, rape and murder and so on, where†¦show more content†¦(Death Row on Trial 2001: video) Religiously, the death penalty can also be morally justified because the Bible states â€Å"an eye for an eye† (Exodus 21:23-27) which can be interpreted as a life for a life. The death penalty is also widely opposed by people across America because it is argued to be immoral, a form of torture, economically biased, susceptible to error and does not act as a deterrent. In contrast to the opponent’s view, supporters believe that religiously the death penalty is wrong because the Bible says â€Å"Thou shalt not kill†. (sixth commandment) It is also argued that if killing is wrong, then the government should not use it as a form of punishment (Death Row on Trial 2001: video) â€Å"how can we kill people who kill people to show its wrong† (Death Row on Trial 2001: video) Also when a person is sentenced to death, they are told how they will be killed and when, until finally they are taken to be executed, which could be years after receiving the original sentence. (Washington Post 2008: e.data) This period in which the convicted person must wait is considered to be a form of torture, (Washington Post 2008: e.data; Death Row on Trial 2001: vi deo) especially when in some cases the person will often see or even hear being tested the chair in which they will be executed. (Death Row on Trial 2001: video) Another majorShow MoreRelatedKoch Body Paragraphs860 Words   |  3 PagesKoch Body Paragraphs In April 1985, Edward I. Koch published his essay on capital punishment in the liberal magazine New Republic. Koch was a hardworking congressman who eventually became the gutsy mayor of New York between 1978 and 1989. In his essay â€Å"Death and Justice†, he addresses common arguments liberals make against the death penalty. According to Koch, â€Å"Life is indeed precious.... had the death penalty been a real possibility in the minds of these murderers, they might well have stayedRead MoreThe Death Penalty by David Bruck Essay1123 Words   |  5 Pagesagainst capital punishment. His purpose is to persuade readers against the death penalty in order for them to realize that it is inhuman, irrational, and that â€Å"neither justice nor self-preservation demands that we kill men whom we have already imprisoned.† Bruck does not employ an array of devices but he does employ some such as juxtaposition, rhetorical questions, and appeals to strengthen his argument. He establ ishes an informal relationship with his audience of supporters of capital punishment suchRead MoreThe Issue Of The Death Penalty1795 Words   |  8 Pagesbe answered through this informative and perspectivally essay addressing the issue of the Death Penalty, explaining why it should be abolished and wiped off the face of this earth, never to be conceived of again. I believe that it should be exterminated for many reasons, mainly because it violates human rights, it does not deter crime, and it’s running the risk of executing innocent people. This essay entails many topics and subtopics throughout it’s exquisite informative structure. To kick thingsRead MoreGun Control859 Words   |  4 PagesScholarly Essay: Gun Control There has been considerable debate recently in Canada over the issue of gun control. The Canadian parliament enacted the Firearms Act to enforce gun control by requiring gun owners to register their firearms. Just recently, the government of Alberta lead in a charge, including five other provinces and numerous pro-gun groups, complaining that the law is unconst... Gun Control Gun control Gun Control Part I:Introduction The issue of gun control and violenceRead MorePublic Criminology Essay3270 Words   |  14 Pageslevel, as discovered through this essay. It doesn’t just include lab work, research and discoveries, it involves community based teaching in a way that the public can be informed and educated through upfront communication. Throughout this essay, the broad definition of public criminology will be discussed as well as its relevance to society. As with anything, there are challenges and promises that accompany public criminology and those will be stated in this essay. Examples will be given to help youRead More Comparing and Contrasting the Novel and Movie Version of The Scarlet Letter3029 Words   |  13 Pagesa movie script is a juvenile form of writing, a shrub to the oak of a novel. Upon reading both the novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and viewing the film produced by Roland Joffe, one notices the tremendous effort put into both. This essay will explore the many differences and similarities between the book and movie. nbsp; The film is freely adapted from the novel. The word free describing the adaptation is well used- there are major differences in terms of time frame, charactersRead MoreHow to Write a Business Report Essay18530 Words   |  75 PagesReports and proposals After reading this chapter you should be able to: †¢ Explain the differences and similarities between formats, types or sub-genres of reports †¢ Explain the differences and similarities between reports and essays †¢ Explain why documents need to contain an appropriate balance of information and persuasion †¢ Demonstrate competence in writing a longer, analytical research report †¢ Explain the differences between reports and submissions, proposals and tenders So you’ve got toRead MoreMr Benett and the Failures of Fatherhood8365 Words   |  34 Pagesattributing no theoretical to her work; she admitted preten having significance sions at all, claiming only accuracy and proportion and wit for her vir tues.1 once Despite again the her well-known of demurrers, subject in Jane I want Austens in this essay to raise canvass problem novels?to to social from a sociological point of view the nature of her response and economic in English society. My reason for sifting over the changes in the evidence is that I think an adjustment already finely groundRead MoreEssay on the Role of Women in Ancient Greece14417 Words   |  58 Pagesneighboring land and people, which fundamentally changed the marginal products of Spartan men’s and Spartan women’s labor. To exploit the potential gains from a reallocation of labor—specifically, to provide the appropriate incentives and the proper human capital formation—men granted women property (and other) rights. Consistent with our explanation for the rise of women’s rights, when Sparta lost the conquered land several centuries later, the rights for women disappeared. Two conclusions emerge that mayRead MoreCalculus Oaper13589 Words   |  55 Pageshttp://www.terry.uga.edu/~dawndba/4500compulsoryhet.htm Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence †¨ Adrienne Rich    Adrienne Rich s essay constitutes a powerful challenge to some of our least examined sexual assumptions. Rich turns all the familiar arguments on their heads: If the first erotic bond is to the mother, she asks, could not the natural sexual orientation of both men and women be toward women? Rich s radical questioning has been a major intellectual force

World Literature Touch in Pedro Paramo and Dom Casmurro Free Essays

In novels as sensual as Pedro Paramo and Dom Casmurro, it is not surprising that the authors employ a variety of literary techniques and imagery. Amongst them, not as prominent as the sense of hearing but still salient, is the sense of touch. I will examine how narrators in Dom Casmurro and Pedro Paramo use the sense of touch to reveal their inner motivations and feelings about a situation or character. We will write a custom essay sample on World Literature: Touch in Pedro Paramo and Dom Casmurro or any similar topic only for you Order Now Touch can symbolize relationships. When two characters touch shoulders in Pedro Paramo, for example, this seems to show siblinghood. Juan and Abundio walk â€Å"side by side, so close [their] shoulders [are] nearly touching† (5). Juan and Abundio turn out to be half brothers. They share a father and are nearly brothers, just as their shoulders nearly touch, but their different mothers create both a genetic and physical gap between them. Later in the story, Donis’s sister â€Å"[goes] to stand beside him, leaning against his shoulder† (53). Their shoulders do not merely touch, which would confirm that they are siblings; she leans against Donis, suggesting their relationship extends beyond a familial one. Although this has already been strongly implied, Donis’s sister leans against Donis before asking Juan whether he truly understands the relationship between her and Donis. Rulfo has already revealed that they are incestuous, but the action coupled with her question shows that neither the reader nor Juan realizes fully the nature of this relationship. Like Rulfo, Machado de Assis uses one way of touching, in his case, men brushing against Capitu’s arms, in different situations. This results in different repercussions. Capitu’s shapely arms draw attention whenever she and Bento attend balls. However, during the first night they are merely admired and when other men touch her it seems incidental, innocuous: â€Å"however much they might touch other frock coats† (183). Bento mentions this touch fleetingly. His focus is on Capitu’s arms, not male attention. On the second night, the men are crasser, going from admiring to staring, â€Å"almost begging for them, and brushed their black sleeves against them† (183). Bento lingers more on the males’ touching and less on Capitu’s arms, like he is more concerned about the attention his wife is garnering than the object of the attention. The details he notes also speak of his uneasiness. Whereas during the first night, the men wear gentlemanly frock coats, the second night they are dressed in black, which can symbolize evilness. As a matter of fact, detail is used in both Dom Casmurro and Pedro Paramo by the narrators to reveal their feelings about other characters. When either narrator describes the touching at length, or notices even the smallest aspects of it, he shows how important this touch is to him. As young Pedro Paramo and Susana San Juan fly kites together, Pedro urges, â€Å"‘Help me, Susana. ’ And soft hands would tighten on [his]† (12). The fact that Pedro notes Susana’s hands are soft suggests that he harbours a liking for her, for to notice her soft hands, he would need to pay more attention to her hands than the string he is letting out or the kite he is flying. This action is also indicative of their relationship. Susana is Pedro’s lifelong love, and though she enjoys his company and likes him, it is only as a friend. Thus, while she is simply happy to fly kites with him and tightens her hands around his only to help him let out more string, Pedro takes note of how she acts around him and treasures her harmless actions. They appear much more meaningful to him than to her. Machado de Assis uses details in very similar circumstances. As Bento combs Capitu’s hair, â€Å"[his] fingers [brush] her neck, or her back with its cotton dress: it [is] a delicious sensation† (64). He does not simply concentrate on the task at hand, he takes pleasure in accidental touches, no matter how minor, just like Pedro. While this can show the reader his sexual inexperience, as he has not seemed to have had a romantic encounter previously and thus enjoys a seemingly chaste activity, it also shows his affection for Capitu. If Bento was combing the hair of another girl, he may not notice such minor details. The contact may also not feel as delicious. He also touches Capitu although it is not necessary to do so. Even if this is accidental, he does not make a move to shy away from it, suggesting that he wants to touch Capitu and likes her in a more-than-platonic fashion. The fact that he brushes her hair is also significant. Hair is considered a symbol of femininity, especially long hair. Combing her hair could put Bento in a position of power. In fact, in the chapter after he combs her hair, Bento â€Å"[utters] these proud words: ‘I am a man! ’† (67). Hair is important when looking at their history, as well. When Bento thinks about his and Capitu’s past, he remembers how she â€Å"ran her hand through [his] hair, saying she thought it was very beautiful† (24). However, he never reciprocated. By touching him so, and through other gestures such as counting his fingers, Capitu demonstrates her affection for him and shows that she is aware of her fondness. Bento remains oblivious, though, as shown by his lack of response. After he realizes that he too feels warmly about Capitu, he asks to brush her hair, proving both to himself and Capitu that he is finally aware of his feelings. In Dom Casmurro, touch can reveal character traits. Ezequiel is shown to be a warm and affectionate boy: â€Å"Ezequiel hugged [Bento’s] knees, stood up on the tips of his toes, as if to climb up and give [Bento] his usual kiss† (229). He is comfortable with touching his father, and does so regularly to illustrate his love. This can be contrasted with Jose Dias who, even when everyone else is hugging and kissing Bento farewell, remains â€Å"composed and grave† (98) and does not touch Bento at all. Jose Dias is not cold, but occasionally his respect and charm seem debatably genuine. Moments such as when he does not hug Bento farewell add on to this idea. In Pedro Paramo, Juan Preciado does not touch the residents of Comala when he arrives. He cannot; they are ghosts while he is still alive. Donis’s sister touching his shoulder is the first time touch occurs in Juan’s Comala. She is also the first living person he encounters. Although there is some disagreement over whether Juan actually died when â€Å"[his] soul turned to ice† (59), the fact that Dorotea is dead and lying in his arms, touching him, suggests that if he can touch the dead, then he is dead also. Moments of change are expressed through touch as well. After Bento sees that Capitu carved ‘Bento and ‘Capitolina’ into the wall, their hands â€Å"[took] hold of each other, clasping each other, melting into one another† (28). Whereas previously mutual touching was done in childish jest, and Bento was oblivious to Capitu’s attraction to him, now they touch each other with the ntention of holding hands like lovers. â€Å"Melting into one another† (28) can also show how they are thinking as one – they both feel the same way toward each other. When Donis leaves, Juan wakes up beside Donis’s sister. The majority of the tactile imagery thus far has been brief and subtle, but here Juan can â⠂¬Å"feel the woman’s naked legs against [his] knee, and her breath upon [his] face† (55). After being unable to touch the ghosts, Juan is all of a sudden pressed against a woman, a gesture that stands out from previous paragraphs due to its straight-forwardness. For Juan, it appears that the physical contact is like having to take care of the woman; neither pleasant nor unpleasant, simply thrust-upon and unexpected. Unlike in Dom Casmurro, even feelings about environment can be revealed through touch in Pedro Paramo. As Juan approaches Comala, he observes that he and Abundio â€Å"[have] left the hot wind behind and [are] sinking into pure, airless heat. The stillness [seems] to be waiting for something† (5). While this airless heat adds on to the atmosphere, it also shows Juan’s state of mind. The surroundings in this scene mirror Juan’s mood, showing that he is waiting for something too. He may not expect to find his father, but he is coming with Comala with expectations, and the closer he gets to the town, the closer he is to finding out the truth. The sense of touch is an important tool in both Pedro Paramo and Dom Casmurro. It can reveal aspects of character personality, relationships and inner thoughts and motivations. This symbolism, coupled with the other literary techniques Machado de Assis and Rulfo employ, helps create the vivid alternate reality of the novels. Word count: 1470 words How to cite World Literature: Touch in Pedro Paramo and Dom Casmurro, Essay examples

Concealed Carry Arguement free essay sample

Carry Citizens of Illinois, is it so wrong to carry a concealed weapon for personal protection? There are multiple citizens of the United States believe that it is their constitutional right to carry. Statistics show that the crime rates have dropped in states with concealed carry and the death rates have not really grown. There are multiple figures of authority that are for and then there are those that still believe that concealed carry is unhealthy for a community. I for one am for the concealed carry laws in the state of Illinois. There are many Citizens of the state and other states that agree with me and the numerous law makers that concealed carry in Illinois is a constitutional right passed down from our fore fathers. One Illinois citizen in particular, Mrs. Sue Darnall, teaches a gun safety class in Bloomington, IL. Her students upon passing the course are eligible to apply for a Florida concealed carry permit that is valid in 32 other states, excluding Illinois. We will write a custom essay sample on Concealed Carry Arguement or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Mrs. Darnall says You have to answer the question: do I have it in me to take someone elses life? We dont know. We can train for that possibility but we never know until we have the experience. Firearms should always be considered a tool of last resort, she is an advocate for the concealed carry law in Illinois [Brady]. There are multiple lawmakers in the state of Illinois that are for concealed carry and yet there are equally as many that disagree and believe that it is a bad idea. We look kind of silly being the only state not to have it. It works very well, the 49 other states prove it every day, said state Rep. Donald Moffitt, R-Galesburg. Under the legislation, anyone 21 years of age or older who has a Firearm Owners Identification Card would be eligible to apply for a concealed carry permit. Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, the sponsor, estimated the permit would cost around $100. Phelps pointed to Wisconsin, which passed a concealed carry law last summer. They sold 67,000 permits the first week, Phelps said [Ehley]. Phelps also says, â€Å"Right now were at the mercy of criminals [Brady]. Yet there are still law makers such as, Governor Pat Quinn, who says, â€Å"The concept of concealed, loaded handguns in possession of private citizens does not enhance public safety, on the contrary, it increases danger for everyday people [Ehley]. † Each side in the intense debate has its own interpretation of what the framers of the Constitution meant when they penned the Second Amendment. The right of citizens to keep and bear arms is the bedrock upon which concealed carry support has been built across the country. Its a constitutional guarantee. I think people should have the right to protect themselves because law enforcement is not equipped to totally protect them. The only people carrying guns now are cops and crooks, said Madison County Sheriff Robert Hertz, president of Illinois Sheriffs Association that in 2009 dropped its neutral position and approved a resolution endorsing concealed carry [Brady]. The arguments are endless on the topic, whether it is a constitutional right or not. Some people say it is because we should be able to carry when and where we feel that we are in danger and need the extra personal protection. Looking at states such as Missouri where the city of St. Louis was voted the most dangerous city in America, the crimes against individuals has slowed and dropped in numbers since the passing of concealed carry there. Now if a criminal is uncertain that you have a gun or not, it makes him less likely to attack. Not forgetting to mention if criminals are already breaking these laws and carrying, what makes it so difficult to make it legal for others to â€Å"pack heat? † I personally believe that if a law was passed for concealed carry the crime rates would drop in the state of Illinois. The current votes against concealed carry on based on the majority of ruling over Chicago. What about the southern part of the state, we have crime too. 90% of Illinois state laws are passed because of the happenings in Chicago. If a law were to be passed I believe that a registration and screening process would and should be put in place to weed out â€Å"unfit† candidates. The Illinois laws already state that felons cannot posses firearms, cannot purchase ammunition, and aren’t eligible to receive a F. O. I. D card. We could even be like the state of Wisconsin who just passed a carrying law; theirs is not concealed but open carry. Illinois is the only state in the entire union that doesn’t have a legal concealed carry law. There are multiple precautions that could be taken to prevent increased crime. In example, there are states that have local ordinances that make it illegal to carry a concealed weapon around such as Washington D. C. made it illegal to carry a handgun around, the rest of the state has a concealed carry law. I say in conclusion I believe that concealed carry is a smart and safe bet, besides it is a constitutional right to carry. â€Å"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.