So as I further progress into the MISadventures of Don Quixote, I feel like I am reading the manual of "What Not To Do If You Go Insane And Suddenly Think You're A Knight" by Miguel De Cervantes.
This book is the idiots guide to getting yourself beat up over and over again. Be it by windmills, shepherds or any person who happens to pass by you on the road. It also gives great detail in how to attack religious men, respectfully sexually harass women (although sister, you shouldn't be walking into strange men's rooms in the middle of the night), and kill sheep. A lot of sheep. But I am willing to let that one slide because everyone mistakes a herd of sheep for a menacing army at some point in their lives--it happens to the best of us.
And at this point not only has Don Quixote put himself through hell, he has dragged his ever faithful Sancho across the coals as well. One would think that after everything poor Sancho has gone through he at least can have one wordy, verbose moment of his own. But no. Don Quixote calls the story on account of sheep. Or more preciously, the counting of sheep.
I will admit Sancho's story telling abilities are not up to par. And I sure as heck didn't want to hear how 300 sheep were one by one brought over a river. But apparently it was crucial to the story of a young man leaving and the young girl that admired him, running not far behind.
But in spite of all Don Quixote's shortcomings, occasionally he lets loose a few golden nuggets of wisdom.
"This is the natural disposition of the sex [women], said Don Quixote, to disdain those who adore them, and love those by whom they are abhorred [...]"
Yes ladies! Even Don Quixote knows how much we love cocky, sarcastic, insanely hot assholes!
If only I read this book seven years ago. My life would be totally different!
Well, not really. I would occasionally have little "Don Quixote warned me about this" moments and a greater fondness for lamb steaks and woolly creatures. Maybe some sheep memorabilia scattered around my apartment. Who knows!
I agree that Sancho seems to get the short end of the stick! No matter how hard he tries to get Don Quixote to realize that he is not actually fighting an adversary, he's just completely ignored or lectured on how he just doesn't understand because he is not a knight errant himself. One of these days Sancho is going to beat up Don Quixote himself!
ReplyDeleteAnd I could completely hear you muttering, "Don Quixote warned me about this...." every so often had we read this ages ago! But isn't it interesting in the long run the attitude women have held towards men has changed little? Hollywood still portrays women loving the cocky, sarcastic assholes, but they end up really loving the geeky guy who stood by them the entire movie. And in several cases, the girl still gets the asshole (who has a deep wounded side he shows to none but her!). Just a thought!