Date: Mon, 03 Nov 1997 14:06:10 -0800
From: "Thad Q. Alexander" <rattler-AT-inreach.net>
Subject: Re: PLC: Quote without Source




Kevin Goetz wrote:

> Without boasting of it, Sancho Panza succeded over the years, by devouring a
> great number of romances of chivalry and adventure in the evening and at
> night,
> in so divorcing himself from his demon, whom he later called Don Quixote, that
> his demon thereupon set out in perfect freedom on the maddest exploits, which,
> however, because they lacked a pre-determined object (which should have been
> Sancho Panza himself), harmed nobody. A free man, Sancho Panza philosophically
> followed Don Quixote on his crusades, perhaps out of a sense of
> responsibility,
> and derived from them a great and edifying entertainment to the end of his
> days.
>
> --Franz Kafka

> If anyone here
> might be able to tell me from where this quote was taken, I would be
> extremely appreciative, as I have decided to enter into some study of the
> Quixote figure for a bit.  All help would be appreciated.
>

Hey Kevin, how you doing!
I think I have what you are looking for, but it will cost you dearly (insert
sinister laugh here!). I would like to have copies of your sources and findings if
you don't mind. As you remember, I'm very interested in Cervantes's, "Don Quixote
De La Mancha" as well. Even if it is just a character analysis. I hope I can help,
perhaps in some fact finding? May I ask what study it is that you are working
towards, or find so interesting? If not, I will understand, still, I would love to
hear of any interesting tidbits you may whish to throw my way.
Thank You
Regards
Thad

Here you go!


Robert Paul wrote:

> Without boasting of it, Sancho Panza succeded over the years, by devouring a
> great number of romances of chivalry and adventure in the evening and at night,
> in so divorcing himself from his demon, whom he later called Don Quixote, that
> his demon thereupon set out in perfect freedom on the maddest exploits, which,
> however, because they lacked a pre-determined object (which should have been
> Sancho Panza himself), harmed nobody. A free man, Sancho Panza philosophically
> followed Don Quixote on his crusades, perhaps out of a sense of responsibility,
> and derived from them a great and edifying entertainment to the end of his
> days.
>
> --Franz Kafka
>
> Robert Paul
> robert.paul-AT-reed.edu

Also is some other references with this post as well, not, I believe, for Franz
Kafka, but perhaps helpful.


HOFFIUSB-AT-AOL.COM wrote:

> Books per se were not banned, but the authors may well have been condemened
> to be burnt if they did not abjure any heretic  creed . If a book was not
> acceptable it was not published.The majority of those that died ( in autos-da
> fe)in the first years after the Reconstruction were those that did not
> renounce their religion, "judios y musulmanos." Later on it came to include
> all those that were not catholic. Cervantes may well have descended from
> "judios," since many in his family had been doctors a profession well favored
> by the Jews in Spain and in Portugal.
> During the Golden Age (El Siglo de oro)which includes Lope de Vega, Tirso de
> Molina, Cervantes, Calderon, Aleman and many others, theatre was the favoured
> form. The arts had three patrons,: the Church, the Court and the general
> public. Attention was given to the writing of "Autos Sacramentales"
> tragedies,tragicomedies etcs.
> The novel is born with Cervantes's "Don Quijote" , a work that  has
> influenced  writers of different trends, and continues to influence.  even
> postmodernists. Cervantes tried very hard to become a play writer but was not
> successful.
> Throughout the novel there is a lot of talk about books and  about
> literature; it is a self-reflexive work in the sense that it constantly
> discusses the work in progress, its characters, actions, form and efficacity
> and/or validity of the event involving the reader. Many of the criticism and
> jokes were directed to many of the writers of the present and past time  but
> in a humorous manner (jocosa). What is Cervantes criticising when he talks
> about book burning? He  is having fun just as Borges, centuries later, will
> mention some fictitious books, some real books and giving this or that book a
> critical look. Is he criticising romances of chilvary? Is that what "Don
> Quixote" is about? Or is it perhaps a book about the opposing values of M.A.
> and Renaissance? He may be well saying that there is no need for other books
> since Alonso Quejada is now his own book, since he will live most of the
> books he had read, in his new created self, i.e.Don Quijote living his own
> fantastic reality.
> Nevertheless Don Quixote surpasses  any attempt to pigeonhole. The hero is
> mad and lucid at the same time. He is funny, sad, corteous, impudent, right,
> wrong. He dreams and he is constantly humiliated and beaten for his dreams.
> Sancho Panza, his squire, cares nothing for this knight-errantry, He is
> common sense, always preoccupied with food, drink and his own sleep. But he
> follows Don Quixote, he also dreams of the island that one day he will
> govern. And, Don Quixote at the end in one of the interpretations given to us
> by the text,  recognizes that what he had tried to live as real was false and
> he returns to reality. In front of Death, our great and sole reality, he
> accepts and says goodbye to all illusions.  Sancho Panza takes over his
> master's dream and story and will start his own adventures.
> I would recommend the reading of Ortega y Gassett, Unamuno and specifically
> Borges plus several more readings of Don Quixote to discover more and more in
> this great novel. It never ceases giving and that is what literature is...
>
> Beatrix Hoffius
> Hoffiusb-AT-aol.com
> P.S.I failed to understand the allusion that reading was not well "seen" or
> was judged inacceptable, by the authorities. No doubt, censorship increased
> during Franco's time, but just as much as in many other countries  under
> dictatorship.
>
> BH

--
Thad Q. Alexander
(rattler-AT-inreach.net)
OCC Undergraduate
Long Beach, CA.
USA
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