Don Quixote A Parody

Don Quixote A Parody It is a masterpiece that is known all over the world. Since its first publication more than two hundred and seventy seven years ago it has remained one of the favorites of university students and those who appreciate a great piece of literature. It is a novel that is easy to remember and appreciate because the title itself, Don Quixote.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Don Quixote: A Parody specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The title is already an invitation to read. According to one commentator there is popular appeal and the novel strikes a chord among readers (Cascardi, 2002, p.127). There is a reason why Miguel de Cervantes Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra’s novel is well-known and greatly appreciated. This is because the novel is a good example of how an author used parody. What is a Parody? It is therefore important to first understand the meaning of parody. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary a parody is â€Å"a literary or musical work in which the style of an author or work is closely imitated for comic effect† (Merriam-Webster, 2010, p.1). There are two things that need to be emphasized here in order to have a clear understanding of what a parody is. First of all there is a previous work that has been completed and used as a basis by the writer to create a parody. In other words there is an artistic work that was completed beforehand and that work will be parodied by the author. Secondly, it must be made clear that the author who is doing the parody is not simply copying or using another person’s work as a basis or inspiration of his work. To parody means to imitate or create something that ridicules the original. The purpose of course is for entertainment. A parody can be very effective depending on the ability of the writer and the subject matter used as a basis for writing the parody – the more popular and well-love the subject matter the better. Chiva lry and Romance In the case of Don Quixote it is a literary masterpiece and the popular body of work used as a basis for the parody are the numerous novels of chivalry that were famous three centuries ago. In a time when there was no television and radio, the stories about knights and their adventures are the most important form of entertainment available in post-medieval Europe (Paulson, 1998, p.3). There were knights in shining armor and there were beautiful women in trouble that requires to be rescued. The romance and adventure created a powerful mixture that resulted in a form of entertainment that serves as a distraction from a monotonous life before modern conveniences like cars, refrigerators, and microwave ovens became the norm. But after a while there are those who became tired of reading the same thing.Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More There are those wh o desired for alternatives and there are those who cannot believe the simplicity and the exaggerated stories found in those novels. This is the reason why Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra parodied these chivalric novels, there was a significant response from the reading public (Paulson, 1998, p.4). It has to be understood that â€Å"parody in Don Quixote is not simply a technique but the backbone of all the adventures in the novel† (Cascardi, 2002, p.173). The author wanted everyone to see the truth behind the exaggerated tales of knights who are almost invincible and always gets to save the day no matter the odds that were stacked against them. The author was able to show this not by giving a serious lecture but by using parody and in effect using humor to show that something is going on for so long that people are used to it and no one dared question the effect or significance of these chivalric novels. The author therefore went on to create a character that is very much differ ent from the usual characterization of a strong and courageous knight. The byproduct is Don Quixote. The parody is seen in the fact that he was not a young man on the verge of discovering his identity and trying to prove to the world his courage and skill in battle. In stark contrast, Don Quixote is already fifty years old and the only reason that he was able to play the part of a knight is because he had time in his hands and he had access to a small amount of money that allowed him to own a bony old horse. He also was in possession of a few tools he mistaken as weapons that a real knight could use and he also had in his service a servant that he thought was a knight’s page. The parody starts at the very beginning of the novel because the author said that Don Quixote sold his property so that he can buy books about knights and their adventures. The reader is immediately made aware of the foolishness of his actions and that mirrors what happened to the people living in 17th c entury Europe. The parody gets to the next level when Don Quixote even in his old age and very limited means decided to not only read but to become a knight. He wanted to emulate what he has read in romances of chivalry. Thus, with an old armor and a bony old horse he went out to rescue damsels in distress and perform mighty deeds even if to the outside world he seemed ill-suited for the job and more so, he looked ridiculous (Paulson, 1998, p.1).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Don Quixote: A Parody specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is a masterpiece that both young and old can enjoy because they can relate to it. The teenager who happens to hold Don Quixote in his or her hands will immediately understand the parody. They will appreciate how Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra tried to make an indirect but effective criticism with regards to the excesses of the Spanish court and society’s obsession with knights in shining armor who seem perfect no matter from what angle they are viewed from. Those who are older can also appreciate this novel because of the sad and ridiculous behavior of an old man who had seen better days and desperately tried to recapture the glory of the old days. This means that a parody is not only meant to make people laugh and distract them from the monotony of daily existence. A parody is meant to point out a problem but done using humor instead of using a boring and ineffective lecture. Conclusion A parody is to use what is already popular and well-known and then to use it as a basis for writing something about an important topic. But it is common knowledge that people will not listen or take time to read a boring piece of literature. They would only read if they are not only informed but also entertained. This is the genius of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. He wanted to speak out against the 17th century’s obsession with romantic novels about knights and damsel s in distress. But instead of writing an article that no one would read, he decided to create Don Quixote and his message came across loud and clear. This is the power of parody. Cascardi, Anthony. The Cambridge Companion to Cervantes. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2002. Merriam-Webster. Parody. Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 2010. Web. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parody. Paulson, Ronald. Don Quixote in England: The Aesthetic of Laughter. MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1998.Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More