One month ago, precisely on 29th September, the Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes would complete 470 years old, so this post is a tribute to him. When I was in the university I had to analyse his main book, and in order to do this I read almost entirely his masterpiece, and read two others books that analysed his book "Dom Quixote." "The Theory of the Novel," by Gyorgy Lukacs and "Myths of Modern Individualism," by Ian Watt. The subject Theory of Literature was one of my favorite when I was studying Idioms in the university. "Dom Quixote" is one of most read and studied books of all time, and is considered the birth of the modern novel. This post is a summary of three articles. The first was published at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miguel_de_Cervantes. The second was published at https://www.britannica.com/biography/Miguel-de-Cervantes. The third was published at https://www.expatica.com/es/about/The-enduring-literary-legacy-of-Don-Quixote-writer-Cervantes_453828.html
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547-1616) was a Spanish writer who is widely regarded as the greatest writer in Spanish language. His masterpiece Dom Quixote has been translated into more languages than any other book except the Bible. His major work, Dom Quixote is considered the first modern novel, a classic of Western literature, and is regarded among the best works of fiction ever written. In 1569, in forced exile from Castile, Cervantes moved to Rome, where he worked as chamber assistant of a cardinal. Then he enlisted as a soldier and continued his military life until 1575, when he was captured by Barbary pirates. In Rome, he focused his attention on renaissance and knowledge of Italian literature. In Esquivias, Toledo, in 1584, he married Catalina de Salazar. Her uncle Alonso de Quesada is said to have inspired the character of Dom Quixote. Over the next 20 years, Cervantes led a nomadic existence, working as a purchasing agent for the Spanish Armada and as a tax collector. In 1606, Cervantes settled in Madrid, where he remained for the rest of his life. If a remark which Cervantes himself makes in the prologue of Dom Quixote is to be taken literally, the idea of the work occurrred to him while in jail. Cervantes' idea was to give a picture of real life and manners, and to express himself in clear language. The intrusion of everyday speech into a literary context was acclaimed by the reading public. Dom Quixote certainly reveals much narrative power, considerable humour, a mastery of dialogue, and a forceful style. Of the two parts written by Cervantes, perhaps the first is the more popular with the general public, containing the famous episodes of the tilting at windmills, the attack on the flock of sheep, and the episode with the barber and the shaving basin. The second part shows more constructive insight, better delianeation of character, improved style, and more realism and probability in its action.
On the voyage his ship was attacked and captured by pirates, Cervantes and his brother were sold into slavery in Algiers. The letters he carried magnified his importance in the eyes of his captors. This had the effect of raising his ransom price, and thus prolonging his captivity, while also, it appears protecting his person from death or mutilation. In 1580, three years after his brother had earned his freedom, Cervantes's family with the aid and intervetion of the Trinitarian friars demanded for his release. Cervantes's striking modern narrative gives vioces to a dazzling assortment of diverse beliefs and perspectives. His inclusion of many differing opinions constitues a provision of multiple voices, who deemed it essential to the development of the modern novel. Cervantes's influence resonates in the popular term "quixotic" and the and the immediately recognizable forms of his two major protagonists, whose adventures reappear continually across the cultural landscape in theatre, film, opera and even comic books. By illuminating the many differences in and surrounding his world. Cervantes placed in doubt the previous ways of portraying that world. Whether those were literary or historical. Criticism in the late 20th century began to focus on Cervantes's preoccupations with contemporary economic and historical events. The 1609 expulsion of the Moriscos, the correct governance of Spain's colonies, and the exploitation of slaves are often considered polemical topics for his readers.
Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes, who died in 1616 is considered the father of the modern novel, with his Don Quixote often is listed as one of the world's greatest works of fiction. Cervantes biographer Jean Canavaggio, a literature professor, explains why the author remains an enduring literary figure and what makes Don Quixote popular more than 400 years after it was written. Is Cervantes a literary giant? Answer: "We say that Cervantes created the modern novel. He let his character speak for themselves instead of a narrator recounting their tale. They somehow internalise their adventures. In the 17th century, his novel was greatly appreciated but he was not considered a major writer. It was translated and enjoyed great success but was seen as typifying Spain at the time. We say that Don Quixote is an encarnation of Spain, a character that embodies its decadence and its missed encounter with modernity. Then in the 18th century things begin to change. People realised that there is something new in the characters and in the telling of their adventures. This revolutionised the novel since it was no longer what was being told but the way in which the character told it. The German romantics will see in Don Quixote the bible of humanity. Various writers in different countries follow in his footsteps - Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary is a sort of feminine Don Quixote and there are the Russians with Dostoyevsky. Why is Don Quixote famous world-wide? Answer: This book is well-known for two reasons. Firstly, it has many readers, altough certainly not as many as Harry Potter or Millenium. And then there are those who have heard of the character mainly through his adventures with the windmill. On the other hand, he makes you laugh because he is anachronistic. But on the other hand, he sticks to his ideals. This has captured the imagination of the art world. No other myth in the history of modern literature is as universally recognisable. Not even Faust or Don Juan.
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