Don Quixote makes sense?

For the first time in 52 chapters, Don Quixote discusses a valid point. In chapter 38 he rants about the differing roles of student vs soldier. I found this rant amusing because it was the first monologue of his that I found understandable. Additionally he provided valid points and arguments on whether one could rely on the other. He says “Letters say that arms cannot exist without them, because war also has its own laws that must be obeyed, and laws are the profession of the man of letters” (365).

Real life recount

While discussing these chapters, we found out the the “captive” in the chapter tells a story about his imprisonment. These accounts of prison life were actually Cervantes reflecting on his time in prison. I found this very interesting because in the novel he already sneaks in jabs at the Spanish regime at the time the book was written. This led me to a question that I am hoping will be resolved by the end of this course.

If Cervantes was so brilliant in conveying different concepts in his novel, why did he choose to make Don Quixote such a weirdo? 

Also in these chapters I found it interesting that the people at the inn essentially defend Don Quixote. Don Quixote wears basins as his “helmet” in his knights armor. He steals a basin and the owner comes looking for it but the inns people defend him by saying that the helmet was indeed Don Quixote’s and he won it fair and square.

Why did they do it?

I think that the people of the inn did it because they are scared of Don Quixote’s craziness. While being a weirdo, he is still a dangerous person because of some of his intentions to carry out requests and slay anything that he thinks is a giant. I believe that the people took his side to stay on his good side and not be seen as a potential target.