What Is Don Quixote Authentic

A pretty basic definition of what it means to be authentic is something or someone that is genuine or real. In terms of people, it is rather defined as being true to one’s character despite the circumstances or environment one finds themselves to be in. An authentic person can grow from the experiences they undergo. Many people can argue that authenticity can only apply to static characters because they are the ones in a book or novel who do not undertake a form of change. However, this can be proven wrong because as one gets older, the mindset changes causing one to become a wiser version of their earlier selves. This is only logical being that any person who deems his or herself authentic is always open for improvement in their everyday lives.

After the first adventure, it is quite obvious that Don Quixote failed miserably in a lot of areas because he was not fully prepared. Also he had no assistance and took on adversities on his own. This led him to utilize the famous Sancho Panza in his next journey. Sancho Panza was formerly “a farmer who was a neighbor of his, an honourable man” whom Don Quixote “reasoned with and promised him so much that the poor villager decided to go away with him and serve him as squire” (Cervantes 61). Sancho became his second hand man and embarked on the rest of the journeys with Don Quixote. By hiring Sancho as his assistant, Don Quixote displays his ability to learn and grow in his journey as a knight. This peasant is a very essential character in the question of whether or not Don Quixote is authentic. If Don Quixote were in fact an imposter. Sancho would have found out sooner or later in the mist of the adventures, and he would have returned home to his wife and children. However, the trustworthy squire stuck with his master through the entire novel and even suffered physical as well as emotional pain with his master. When Don Quixote died in the end, Sancho was right beside him on his death bed and grieved with the rest of the family. Even when Don Quixote declared himself as Alonso Quixano on his dying bed, Sancho insisted that they “go off into the countryside dressed up as shepherds as

The famous Don Quixote knowingly has a passion for being a knight. Many could argue that fame is Don Quixote’s only reason for becoming a knight. Although his initial reason with being a knight does include obtaining fame, he has other sincere reasons for wanting to take on such journeys. In fact, it is the daring adventures themselves that would gain him the fame which only makes logical sense, being that any knight who put their life on the line for their village would benefit from fame. Therefore, having fame is not his main priority to becoming a knight errant. To take on the fake persona as a knight is a pretty bold stance for someone to mimic. He made his decision knowing he would “practice all those activities that he knew from his books were practiced by knights errant, redressing all kinds of grievances, and exposing himself to perils and dangers that he would overcome” (Cervantes 27). If he had claimed to be a knight and did not intend to face those oncoming dangers, he would not have been consistent with his authentic character. Instead he would have taken the easiest route possible which would be to remain at home and not engage in such treacherous acts. As stated earlier authenticity does not alter because of certain circumstances. There are many cases in which the environment around Don Quixote are extreme, and it