Miguel Cervantes’ ability to intertwine reality with fiction is impeccable and it is greatly exemplified with the episode of chapter 54 part two of Don Quijote. The account of the Morisco, Ricote, was synonymous the events going on in Spain at the time. Many Muslims, or Moriscos (as they were referred to), whether they were nationals or conversos, were expelled from Spain. There were many who, only knowing Spain as their homeland, would find ways to return to Spain even if they do not come back as themselves. And in Chapter 54, we, the readers, encounter Ricote, The expuled Morisco who poses himself as a German pilgrim. Sancho’s encounter with Ricote reveals the ambivalence which resides in both Ricote about his current state and test his identity.
In chapter 54, Sancho has just departed the “island of Barataria, he has just governed. A group of pilgrims approached asking him for money, in a language he didn’t know. He motioned, to them, that he didn’t have any and they left him except for one. In perfect Spanish, one pilgrim, called out to him. It was his old neighbor, Ricote, an expuled Moor who has returned to Spain as a German Pilgrim. They talk and Ricote reveals to Sancho his plan in reclaiming some of the treasures he buried to save and recover and what he plans to do in order to regain the possessions of his once good life.
Early in the story, the reader is informed that Ricote is a neighbor (or was a former neighbor of Sancho) he is an old man and, when acquainting himself with Sancho, he addressed Sancho “in a loud voice and In very good Spanish.” (Cervantes 645 Automatically, these descriptions and actions eliminate the idea of alienation that is associated with the Morisco Persona. ( Hitchcock 180) and reveals instantly the knowledge Ricote encompasses. Because he poses as a pilgrim who does not speak the language, speaks the language, he in turn places himself as a part of the society which rejected him.. But nevertheless, Ricote is a foreigner in his native land. In 1609, all Muslims of every denomination whether native or converso, were expelled from Spain, forced to leave in every pretense. Ricote tells Sancho of his experience he say: “I had to leave our village by His Majesty’s [ the king] threatening such harsh punishment of my people- as you well know” ( Cervantes 645) This is what leads to the motivation for his disguise .
After their introduction, Ricote invites Sancho to eat lunch with him and the rest of the pilgrims. After they have eaten, Ricote talked about his being expelled:
Not all of us were equally guilty, some moors having become firm and reliable Christians, but most were mere and the minority among us could not have successfully opposed the vast majority, …….truly the penalty of perpetual exile fell upon us for good cause and though some may think it a mild and gentle punishment, to cause and though some may think it gentle punishment, to us it was the most terrible to receive. Wherever we are weep for the Spanish homeland where, after all, we were born and raised, nor have we found, anywhere else, the welcome our miserable hearts long for.
Cervantes 647
Ricote address a very important issue is how the possibility being able to express so much love for Spain but resentment and anger from being expelled from it but at the same time praise the edict of the expulsion of the Moriscos. This highlights his ambivalence he has. He cannot hate the country that he identifies himself with but he, too cannot love the country which rejects him from the only society he knows. Ricote later expresses in the text that he had to abandon his wife and children in order to return to Spain. “It may be that those inner contradictions need not refute one another but rather impel the individual to self-assertion” (Fajardo 322). Instead of the ideas fighting each other, they reinforce his place in the Spanish society, which in turn confuses his identity.
In chapter 54, Sancho has just departed the “island of Barataria, he has just governed. A group of pilgrims approached asking him for money, in a language he didn’t know. He motioned, to them, that he didn’t have any and they left him except for one. In perfect Spanish, one pilgrim, called out to him. It was his old neighbor, Ricote, an expuled Moor who has returned to Spain as a German Pilgrim. They talk and Ricote reveals to Sancho his plan in reclaiming some of the treasures he buried to save and recover and what he plans to do in order to regain the possessions of his once good life.
Early in the story, the reader is informed that Ricote is a neighbor (or was a former neighbor of Sancho) he is an old man and, when acquainting himself with Sancho, he addressed Sancho “in a loud voice and In very good Spanish.” (Cervantes 645 Automatically, these descriptions and actions eliminate the idea of alienation that is associated with the Morisco Persona. ( Hitchcock 180) and reveals instantly the knowledge Ricote encompasses. Because he poses as a pilgrim who does not speak the language, speaks the language, he in turn places himself as a part of the society which rejected him.. But nevertheless, Ricote is a foreigner in his native land. In 1609, all Muslims of every denomination whether native or converso, were expelled from Spain, forced to leave in every pretense. Ricote tells Sancho of his experience he say: “I had to leave our village by His Majesty’s [ the king] threatening such harsh punishment of my people- as you well know” ( Cervantes 645) This is what leads to the motivation for his disguise .
After their introduction, Ricote invites Sancho to eat lunch with him and the rest of the pilgrims. After they have eaten, Ricote talked about his being expelled:
Not all of us were equally guilty, some moors having become firm and reliable Christians, but most were mere and the minority among us could not have successfully opposed the vast majority, …….truly the penalty of perpetual exile fell upon us for good cause and though some may think it a mild and gentle punishment, to cause and though some may think it gentle punishment, to us it was the most terrible to receive. Wherever we are weep for the Spanish homeland where, after all, we were born and raised, nor have we found, anywhere else, the welcome our miserable hearts long for.
Cervantes 647
Ricote address a very important issue is how the possibility being able to express so much love for Spain but resentment and anger from being expelled from it but at the same time praise the edict of the expulsion of the Moriscos. This highlights his ambivalence he has. He cannot hate the country that he identifies himself with but he, too cannot love the country which rejects him from the only society he knows. Ricote later expresses in the text that he had to abandon his wife and children in order to return to Spain. “It may be that those inner contradictions need not refute one another but rather impel the individual to self-assertion” (Fajardo 322). Instead of the ideas fighting each other, they reinforce his place in the Spanish society, which in turn confuses his identity.