“Don Quixote” Blog

“Don Quixote” Blog     

Due April 28th  

World Literature

• Megan Braine •

••Self Identity vs. Conformality••

Self Identity and conformity are two different things. Self Identity is the recognition of one's potential and qualities as an individual. Conformity is behavior in accordance with socially accepted conventions or standards. “Don Quixote,” a novel written by Miguel de Cervantes, magnifies the theme of self identity vs. conformity in many sections of its text. The first section we see this theme is in chapter one. In the start of this novel we are introduced to the main character, a gentlemen whom does not provide a name. He is described to be poor and simply boring. He likes and engages in chivalry romance books and desires nothing more.

“You must know, then, that the above-named gentleman whenever he was at leisure (which was mostly all the year round) gave himself up to reading books of chivalry with such ardour and avidity that he almost entirely neglected the pursuit of his field-sports, and even the management of his property; and to such a pitch did his eagerness and infatuation go that he sold many an acre of tillage land to buy books of chivalry to read, and brought home as many of them as he could get.” (Cervantes, Ch.1)

You’d think this character would stay poor, powerless, and continue to live beneath his poverty, but this character changed his conformality to what he wanted, what he wanted his self identity to be. And that was to become a knight, and keep chivalry alive (this was based off his books he read). This character remade himself, and changed his self identification, by changing his name to Don Quixote de la Mancha. “...he made up his mind to call himself “Don Quixote,” whence, as has been already said, the authors of this veracious history have inferred that his name must have been beyond a doubt Quixada, and not Quesada as others would have it.” (Cervantes, Ch.1) Quixote beliefs were toward self identity not conformality. He believed that circumstances of your birth did not matter, what did matter was your strength and the strength within your character. This novel shows Don Quixote, the knight who wants to spread chivalry and kindness. But within this novel, the society in which Quixote is trying to influence is very spectible. There is a great influence of social change from Quixote, which can relate to the present day. And just like this present day, judgments are made toward those influencers of social change. In chapter five, a farmer tries to bring Quixote to realize the truth of his existence, but Quixote ignores it and explains his point of view to the farmer. He is believed to be insane.

“Don Quixote was firmly persuaded that this was the Marquis of Mantua, his uncle, so the only answer he made was to go on with his ballad, in which he told the tale of his misfortune, and of the loves of the Emperor’s son and his wife all exactly as the ballad sings it.

The peasant stood amazed at hearing such nonsense, and relieving him of the visor, already battered to pieces by blows, he wiped his face, which was covered with dust, and as soon as he had done so he recognised him and said, “Senor Quixada” (for so he appears to have been called when he was in his senses and had not yet changed from a quiet country gentleman into a knight-errant), “who has brought your worship to this pass?” But to all questions the other only went on with his ballad.” (Cervantes, Ch.5)

With this specific section, we can clearly view and examine the theme of self identity vs. conformality. This character believed himself to be Don Quixote, that was his real self identity to him. While society knew him as Senor Quixada, this being when he lived with sanity. The theme self identity vs. conformality is shown greatly in this novel. This character did believe is self identity to be something else, while his village people knew him as someone else, his conformality.

Journey to the West: Redemption

“Journey to the West” Blog      Due April 21st  

World Literature

• Megan Braine •

••Redemption••

Journey to the West elaborates on the topic of redemption well. As I expressed in my journal, redemption is being able to fix your mistakes, or show you can improve from your mistakes. Journey to the West is a book full filled with journals and the story tells of disciples who are traveling to the Western Heaven. Sanzang is the monk or master who is on the journey, as well as others. The Monkey, a rebel in Journey to the West, is born and raised to power. He had such great power and strived for immortality. He named himself,  “Great Sage Equal of Heaven.” To achieve immortality the Monkey abused his magical powers and was a huge disruption. For example, he abrupted a festival of immortal peaches by eating all the peaches and getting drunk off wine, in which was stolen. With all of his disruptions he had no remorse. He continued to show off his martial arts and magic powers, and all he had to say for himself was, "My apologies for disturbing you." There is truly no match for him, and he is uncontrollable. (Wu Ch’eng-en, 44) The Monkey needed to be stopped. He was eventually when the Buddha imprisoned him underneath the mountain of five elements.

In this story, we see the redemption is never too late for anyone. There are many passages within it that show progression of redemption. A specific passage where the Monkey shows good power over bad power is in Chapter 27. Sanzang, the Monkey’s was about to send him and his disciples aways. But Monkey began to beg on his knees for forgiveness.

“Monkey knelt down and kowtowed. "When I wrecked the Heavenly Palace," he said, "I put myself in a very dangerous position, and the Buddha crashed me under the Double Boundary Mountain. Luckily the Bodhisattva Guanyin administered the vows to me, and you, master, released me, so if I don't go with you to the Western Heaven I'll look like a 'scoundrel who doesn't return a kindness, with a name that will be cursed forever.’” (Wu Ch’eng-en, 388)

With this statement from the chapter, we see that the Monkey realized he was wrong for murdering a girl for food. Master Sanzang stills threatens to send him away, until he gave in. The Monkey promises to never murder again. “"I never will," said Monkey, "never again." He helped his master mount the horse and led the way forward.” (Wu Ch’eng-en, 390)

Although throughout the journey the Monkey was a rebel, he still contributed in fighting off the monsters and demons. The Monkey is still being watched by the Heavens because of his sins and murderous acts though. So, did the Monkey ever reach redemption? I believe he did. Throughout the journey they didn’t let the battles, rough patches, and other troubles stop them. They used their faith and beliefs to get to nirvana. We read,

“Thus, it is that all the Buddhas of every world Are willing with this achievement To adorn the Pure Land of the Buddha. Above we can repay the fourfold kindness, Below we save those suffering in the three paths of life. Let anyone who sees or hears Cherish the enlightened mind. May all be reborn in the Land of Bliss, To end this present life of retribution.” (1406)

From this, we can conclude that redemption was reached because of the dedication and will to continue the journey, the religious journey based on faith. The journey ended up being such a positive because of worshipment to buddhism, helping others, and rebuilding character, which are all factors of redemption.

Dante Blog

“Dante” Blog       

Due April 7th

World Literature

• Megan Braine •

••Hell••

Inferno addresses the definition of hell in a horrific and unpleasant place. For example the poem reads, “Many tongues, a terrible crying, words of sadness, accents of anger, voices deep and hoarse, with sounds of hands amongst them, making a turbulence that turns forever, in that air, stained, eternally, like sand spiralling in a whirlwind.” (III:22-69) From this single piece of writing from the poem, we can infer that the definition of hell within this poem is horrific. When reading, “These wretches, who never truly lived, were naked, and goaded viciously by hornets, and wasps, there, making their faces stream with blood, that, mixed with tears, was collected, at their feet, by loathsome worms.” (III:58-69), I can witness the suffering going on within hell. The way the poem address hell, I perceive that it is the for the people who didn’t praise god, and only managed themselves. “This is the miserable mode in which those exist, who lived without praise, without blame. They are mixed in with the despised choir of angels, those not rebellious, not faithful to God, but for themselves.” (III:22-69) Furthermore, the people who are in hell don't believe in fate, hope, or any god. They are very hopeless people who live in such a dark mindset. “They have no hope of death, and their darkened life is so mean that they are envious of every other fate. Earth allows no mention of them to exist: mercy and justice reject them: let us not talk of them, but look and pass.’” (III:22-69) Inferno addressing hell with such vouger and descriptiveness, really allowed me to picture what it’d look like. Which is dark, flammable, loud, violent, and more. “‘Woe to you, wicked spirits! Never hope to see heaven: I come to carry you to the other shore, into eternal darkness, into fire and ice. And you, who are there, a living spirit, depart from those who are dead.’” (III:70-99)