Donquixote

Don Quixote, whose full name is Alonso Quijano and who is commonly known as Don Quixote, is a fictional character and the protagonist of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra's novel Don Quixote. The work, published in two parts (Part I in 1605 and Part II in 1615), is considered one of the foundational works of Western literature and a landmark of the modern novel. Quijano, a retired hidalgo from La Mancha in Spain, becomes convinced of the ideals of knight-errantry after reading too many chivalric romances. He adopts the name Don Quixote, equips himself with patched armor, renames his old horse Rocinante, and sets out with Sancho Panza, a practical farmer who serves as his squire.

Don Quixote pursues noble deeds and defends the helpless, hoping to revive a decayed code of chivalry. His adventures frequently mix lofty, idealistic rhetoric with comic misadventure, and he often misrecognizes reality: the famous episode in which windmills are imagined as giants is emblematic. He idealizes a distant lady, Dulcinea del Toboso, though she exists largely as a construct of his imagination. The narrative critiques both the outdated romance tradition and aspects of contemporary society, while exploring themes such as the tension between reality and illusion, the fluidity of identity, and the power of literature to shape perception.

The character's influence extends beyond the novel: the term quixotic describes impractical idealism, and Don Quixote has had a lasting impact on literature, theater, and film, shaping the development of the modern novel and inspiring numerous adaptations and allusions worldwide.