DON QUIXOTE and IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS

  I begin with an acknowledgement (or apology): I have never read Miguel Cervantes's novel Don Quixote, second only to the Bible as the most-translated book in the world.  Many years ago, I saw  a stage production and the movie version of The Man of LaMancha.  Consequently, I lack qualification to offer literary interpretation.  Variously characterized as farcical, moralistic, tragic and idealistic, the book/dramatizations continue to open profound vistas into the human soul/psyche.

  Recently we went again to Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina where I have always been drawn to the statue of Don Quixote (and to the one of his traveling companion Sancho).  On our most recent visit, I realized that I was moved almost to tears . . .  without clear understanding of "Why?".  So these are my personal projections of 'meaning' of the story and the statue.  While 'orthodox interpretations' make DQ a deranged idealist  out of touch with 'reality', I wonder if a surface view of 'reality' blinds many of us to other ways of understanding and 'Meaning'.

   When I first heard the song The Impossible Dream, my reaction was dismissive : I thought it something akin to 'schmaltzy.  Then  I saw  the dramatization and the movie and the compelling context.
Defining his 'quest', DQ spoke of "to fight the unbeatable foe; to run where the brave dare not go. . . to right the unrightable wrong. . .to fight for the  Right without question or pause;  . . . to be willing to march into hell for a heavenly cause. . . and the world will be better for this."

   Squalor, corruption, "I-ness",  and other  expressions of dehumanization need no elaboration.  And, confronted with such, 
"why try to change things for the better ?" becomes a prevailing cynicism .  A clear expression of such occurred in the musical 
The Sound of Music when Captain VonTrapp's friends attempted to persuade him to violate his principles and serve the Nazi movement, declaring 'There's No Way to Stop It'.  "You dear attractive dewy-eyed Idealist. Today you have to learn to be a Realist. You may be bent on doing  deeds of daring-do, but up against a shark, what can a herring do?  Be wise, compromise . . .     Let them think you're on their side, be non-committal"  The Captain's protest that "I will not bow my head to the men  I despise" was met with "You won't have to bow your head, just stoop a little".

  Whatever DQ's motivations may have been, capitulation to the status quo of evil was not acceptable.  For aspiring DQ's, clarity of motivation as well as awareness of our own inconsistencies (some would argue "hypocrisy") in the presence of 'evil' can offer protection against self-righteousness.  

   So, what did DQ accomplish?  How to evaluate his 'quest'? Or, what difference did he make?  Let's ask Aldonza who while absent in the novel was prominent in Man of La Mancha.  When he insisted on calling her a 'lady', she protested that she was anything but a lady.  Ultimately, according to the dramatization/movie interpretation, a  transformation occurred and she became 'a different person'.  Pursuit of the 'impossible dream' does not always (often) produce immediate positive outcomes. Do we then accept Captain VonTrapp's friend's admonition ? Is it naive to be 'good for Goodness's sake' (even if Santa Claus is not watching) ?  Have you seen the movie A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood? that is based on Mr. Rogers (Fred Rogers) life changing relationship with a magazine writer?  

   In the eulogy for his murdered brother, Robert, Edward Kennedy remembered his belief that "some men see things as they are and say why; I dream things that never were and say why not ?"  Might that mean that 'quixotic' behaviors can result in scorn, ridicule and possible death ?  Well, there are several notable examples in the 'real world' and not exclusively in literature.

Sancho's statue at Brookgreen Gardens

    I'm still holding the matter of  DQ, his statue, and 'meaning' open for further understanding.  When Aldonza asked Sancho why he travelled with DQ, his answer was "I like him, I simply like him".




      
                  Satchel