As the adventures of Don Quixote occur throughout the story, we notice that Don Quixote has a sort of madness to all of his actions. According to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, the word “mad” is defined as, “suffering from a disorder of the mind; insane and temporarily or apparently deranged by violent sensations, emotions, or ideas (“Mad”). Don Quixote’s madness distinguishes who he is and the stated definition of madness describes Don Quixote’s condition. This leads to the question: is Quixote‘s behavior supported by a medieval medical condition?
According to medieval medical doctors, Don Quixote’s madness account for his mental illness. In medieval times madness was a sign of sin or punishment. The physicians believed that, “loss of reason,” seemed to be the worst of all diseases and it restrained man from his most personal qualities that were given to him by God (Rawcliffe 82). Medieval doctors saw this as detrimental and believed these people were no longer creations of God.
Other, more scholarly, medical physicians believed this madness showed a sign of possession by the devil or demons. Therefore, many religious proceedings occurred in attempt to rid these demons from the possessed body. Such proceedings that medieval doctors performed; exorcized these mad people of their demons with a starvation regime in order to relieve these people of their mental illness from the “natural madness” that “could be guaranteed to clear the head of unwanted humors and exhaust a hyperactive patient”(Rawcliffe 83).
In the case of Don Quixote, his natural madness is described by these medical physicians as having a humoral imbalance. His actions shown in his adventures were caused by one humor overtaking another and explain why his actions also led to bad consequences. Medieval medical doctors believed an imbalance in the humors can cause certain illnesses and diseases, such as Don Quixote’s madness. Thus, explaining why Don Quixote’s madness was displayed in his ruthless actions as a consequence.
Works Cited 1. Rawcliffe, Carole. Sources for the History of Medicine in Late Medieval England. Kalamazoo, MI: Medieval Institute
Publications, 1995.
FYS 101
Garcia
2/11/07
Wiki #3, The Reason Behind Don Quixote’s Madness
As the adventures of Don Quixote occur throughout the story, we notice that Don Quixote has a sort of madness to all of his actions. According to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, the word “mad” is defined as, “suffering from a disorder of the mind; insane and temporarily or apparently deranged by violent sensations, emotions, or ideas (“Mad”). Don Quixote’s madness distinguishes who he is and the stated definition of madness describes Don Quixote’s condition. This leads to the question: is Quixote‘s behavior supported by a medieval medical condition?
According to medieval medical doctors, Don Quixote’s madness account for his mental illness. In medieval times madness was a sign of sin or punishment. The physicians believed that, “loss of reason,” seemed to be the worst of all diseases and it restrained man from his most personal qualities that were given to him by God (Rawcliffe 82). Medieval doctors saw this as detrimental and believed these people were no longer creations of God.
Other, more scholarly, medical physicians believed this madness showed a sign of possession by the devil or demons. Therefore, many religious proceedings occurred in attempt to rid these demons from the possessed body. Such proceedings that medieval doctors performed; exorcized these mad people of their demons with a starvation regime in order to relieve these people of their mental illness from the “natural madness” that “could be guaranteed to clear the head of unwanted humors and exhaust a hyperactive patient”(Rawcliffe 83).
In the case of Don Quixote, his natural madness is described by these medical physicians as having a humoral imbalance. His actions shown in his adventures were caused by one humor overtaking another and explain why his actions also led to bad consequences. Medieval medical doctors believed an imbalance in the humors can cause certain illnesses and diseases, such as Don Quixote’s madness. Thus, explaining why Don Quixote’s madness was displayed in his ruthless actions as a consequence.
Works Cited
1. Rawcliffe, Carole. Sources for the History of Medicine in Late
Medieval England. Kalamazoo, MI: Medieval Institute
Publications, 1995.