Friday, January 15, 2010

I, Don Quixote or Whithersoever They Blow



Cervantes has a bit of Dutch humor in him.  I am reminded of Sancho producing ejecta (I mean schijt) next to the Knight of the Rueful Figure in the dark who startled at the smell.  Also, when Sancho is governing his "island" he writes Quixote and tells him he would send him something, though the only thing the island produces are enema tubes which are "curiously turned and mounted".  I found the episode in which Don Quixote and Sancho vomit on each other after having consumed the magical elixir hilarious as well.  I digress, I make the book sound perverse.  It is far from it.

Looking back on the 2 parts of Don Quixote, I must say that I believe the 1st part to be my favorite.  Everyone knows the windmill scene.  I am reminded of the windmill scenes in the old black and white Frankenstein movie and the one in Evil Dead.  I could philosophize on this single adventure for an eternity.  I will never forget Dorotea, Cardenio, Don Fernando, Luscinda, the Curate, Camacho... This book is one of the greatest--containing an occult knowledge of life.  This is why men such as Voltaire carried it with them.  Read Isaac Disraeli's essay  "The Man of One Book" to understand me.  This perhaps could be my "One Book".  It has not only it's own wealth but also a wealth of past histories and chivalrous works within it.

Take to the mountains and fields with this book, ye goat herders!  BTW, I am looking to purchase a life-sized carving of Quixote, such as the one pictured below.





 

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