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Deep Analysis of Don Quixote: The Cave of Montesinos (The End of the Novel) (Patreon)

Published:
2021-09-27 16:48:19
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

This video comes to you from a heavy heart, as we reach the end of Don Quixote.

Tread carefully, gentle readers. Not for fear of lions, fortune-telling monkeys, puppet masters, or bottomless caves, but because we are going to embrace the end of the novel. 

Note your responses to certain scenes through the second part of the novel, as they are quite revealing:

  • How did you feel when Don Quixote destroyed the puppets?
  • What did you make of his plunge into the depths of the cave?
  • And what was your response to that final chapter?

Video Timestamps

  • 0:00 what is an abyss?
  • 4:00 Don Quixote's death-impulse 
  • 8:00 the symbolism behind the Cave of Montesinos
  • 11:00 losing one's quixotism 
  • 13:00 seeking the destruction of one's ideal
  • 18:00 the puppet-show 
  • 20:00 the symbolism of money
  • 24:00 metatheatre and stage/fictional conventions
  • 29:00 Cervantes in the novel
  • 32:00 is Don Quixote mentally ill?
  • 38:00 the final scene of Don Quixote
  • 41:00 the drive to go on living 

I personally wept at the close of Don Quixote, but let us know how you felt. All responses are valid, revealing, and valuable. 

We'll collate our impressions of the ending together in a dedicated video.

Thank you so much for sallying across La Mancha with our knight errant, squire, and myself.

Happy reading!

Files

Previews only

Deep Analysis of Don Quixote: The Cave of Montesinos (The End of the Novel)

0:00 what is an abyss? 4:00 Don Quixote's death-impulse 8:00 the symbolism behind the Cave of Montesinos 11:00 losing one's quixotism 13:00 seeking the destruction of one's ideal 18:00 the puppet-show 20:00 the symbolism of money 24:00 metatheatre and stage/fictional conventions 29:00 Cervantes in the novel 32:00 is Don Quixote mentally ill? 38:00 the final scene of Don Quixote 41:00 the drive to go on living

Comments

Peter F

At the end of Chapter XXVII (Part II), DQ leaves a battered SP. SP is in bad shape not able to mount his dun, but then the subsequent chapter extolls the virtues of DQ’s bravery; “the prudent man insures he will fight another day.” DQ/author justifies DQ’s cowardice. He made no attempt to rescue SP. SP could have been left to die. Then when SP calls him out on this and negotiates fair Squire wages, DQ turns the miser. (When the subject of compensation appears during the novel, DQ always transforms into an alligator, with short arms unable to reach to his wallet). A nasty miser! It reminds me of the negotiation between Scrooge and Bob Cratchit, although Bob (“All the earlier tomorrow and not a pound more…”). However, Cratchit was not quite as brave as SP. But give SP his due. His arguments are strong. He should be compensated for the hazardous service of a lunatic. However, DQ reverts, as always, to quasi-history of knight errant squires as his defense does not remit pay for anything or admit wrongs done to SP. He refers to SP as an ungrateful ass, “an animal”. This tirade beats SP into submission, and it is a pity. DQ is a miserly bully, whose elevator does not ascend to the top levels. At the end of Chapter XXVIII, I wanted SP to leave this loser DQ. Just leave DQ and his poor, insane character - but he doesn’t. He begs forgiveness for attempting to negotiate fair wages. Perhaps Cervantes’s wanted to reassure his contemporaries: Under no circumstances can SP leave his caste, his station in life. He can kick, prod, articulate good arguments, but he cannot move up in class.

Peter F

It is sad when DQ realizes his folly in his final confession. He renounces knight errantry, but we wish he didn’t. Perhaps the confession should have come earlier, but now it is late. At times, the Duke and Duchess, and the people of Barcelona were brutally cruel to DQ, but their lives became interesting because of DQ. They also became accomplices in DQ’s fantasies, often contriving more insane escapades to join in DQ’s delusion. It was fun, above their banal existence at court. No, as a reader, DQ must remain a knight, born in the wrong epoch, but true to his character. He can be no other. Very touching part (Penguin – Rutherford pg. 979), when SP knows is master is dying, he says, “Oh no, don’t die master…because the maddest thing a man can do in this life is to let himself die, just like that, without anybody killing him or any other hands except the hands of depression doing away with him.” Perhaps man should not awake from his sleep. Perhaps the allusion or delusion is man’s raison d’être. Perhaps life is jousting at windmills. Take it away, life ceases. The “real” DQ had no life, except his books. His fantasies of Knight errantry allowed him to live beyond the confines of his small village. We can all find ourselves in DQ. I have engaged in many delusional pursuits; mad, and perhaps the most insane pursuits are deemed ‘practical’. For example, toiling all hours in the day for money. It feels delusional sometimes. Being a cog in the machine. Yes, we have responsibilities, families, and we need to provide. But sometimes, the quest feels a bit delusional. Doesn’t it? Even just a little? Thank you to Cervantes and Don Quixote for the respite from our mundane lives, and a gentle reminder that we all joust at our own windmills from time to time.