Optimism In The Novel 'Don Quixote'

Optimism is a necessary quality for the average person. It allows one to strive for the best and persevere. But, can there be such thing as too much optimism? Can it blind individuals from the harsh truths of the world? The answer to both of these questions is yes; as is exemplified by the novel Don Quixote as well as numerous instances in history, Optimism overshadows the more realistic negative consequences of achieving a dream. Protagonist Alonso Quesada, self-dubbed knight-errant Don Quixote, embarks on a rather ill conceived journey in search of a quest. Upon seeing the windmills as giants, Quixote opportunistically takes advantage of the situation and attacks the harmless contraptions resulting in his inevitable defeat. However, the moment that shows the reader the optimistic

qualities of Quesada is when he perceives his defeat as a result of the unjust position he was put in by the imaginary sorcerer. In being too positive, Quesada fails to realize the disparity between his mental reality and physical present causing the negative consequence of his impending death.

The naiveté of the main characters actions parallel the types of people that exist in society today. Such people strive for much more than they can realistically aspire to be with the belief of the possibility of success obscuring their perspective. On the other hand, people erring on the side of caution, or rather, pessimism, have a less biased opinion and thus mold their actions to better accommodate the possible adverse aftermath. Unfortunately for King Ferdinand and Queen Isabel, they had more in common with Don Quixote than the “Debbie Downers” of the world. Miguel de Cervantes alludes to the beginning of the gradual decline of Spain to point out that such optimism is prevalent in the everyday workings of society. During the late 1400s, the Spanish Monarchy, with the goal of spreading Christianity, outlawed the practice of Islam and Judaism, forcing followers of these “abominations” to flee. The grandeur of the aftereffects concealed the extent to which the so-called “Heretics” aided and catapulted Spain’s

economy. This, on the part of Ferdinand and Isabel, was a tragic error that started the decline of Spain be ending the golden age of social and economic prosperity. Although qualities like those of Don Quesada and the Spanish Sovereigns seem useless and detrimental to the well-being of society, they are more useful than we might think. In fact, society can use such people as examples of what not to do. Without them, there wouldn't exist that one person who, against all odds, achieved fame and glory, continuing to inspire many more, nor would there be the example of the person who dreamed high but aimed low. Both types of people, optimists and pessimists, are necessary in our small yet complex world.