What's the point of Don Quixote?

Question

I have to read it for Spanish class, and I feel I'm missing the point of the tale. Is it a satire or what?

Answer 1

Don Quixote tries to be a flesh-and-blood example of a knight-errant in an attempt to force his contemporaries to face their own failure to maintain the old system of morality, the chivalric code. This conflict between the old and the new reaches an absolute impasse: no one understands Don Quixote, and he understands no one. Only the simple-minded Sancho, with both self-motivated desires and a basic understanding of morality, can mediate between Don Quixote and the rest of the world. Sancho often subscribes to the morals of his day but then surprises us by demonstrating a belief in the anachronistic morals of chivalry as well.


Don Quixote, which is composed of three different sections, is a rich exploration of the possibilities of narration. The first of these sections, comprising the chapter covering Don Quixote’s first expedition, functions chiefly as a parody of contemporary romance tales. The second section, comprising the rest of the First Part, is written under the guise of a history, plodding along in historical fashion and breaking up chapters episodically, carefully documenting every day’s events. The third section, which covers the Second Part of the novel, is different since it is written as a more traditional novel, organized by emotional and thematic content and filled with character development.

Answer 2

It's both a satire, yes, but also a statement about the continual pursuit of an ideal, even when it means that doesn't make sense. The song from the musical "The Impossible Dream" is exactly what the novel is all about.

Answer 3

To a man of 50 as Don Quixote and I as an older man tend to look at the past as glorious days where we were chivalrous in our daily routines; treating all fairly and justly.

Answer 4

A satire? why you ask such a question? , is because you know about that? with your Daddy perhaps uhm mmmm.

Answer 5

There is no point!!, the guy is just crazy, they make you read that 'cause is a classic HE IS INSANE!!!!