In understanding the reason behind the hidalgo’s unconventional behavior, it is necessary to know who he is. Don Quijote as the fictional character is expressed is merely no more than a hidalgo who claims he is a great knight errant out to set the wrongs into rights. The qualities of Don Quijote represent a normal hidalgo in that he has no heroic traits or natural ability to be a leader. Don Quijote, is described by L.A. Murillo, as relating back to his ancestors in that he has a “frugal diet and his dress is simple, by necessity (19). He is not married at the age of fifty, but lives with his niece and a housekeeper. The hidalgo is early to rise and loves to hunt for his food.
It is his passion to read chivalric books, which brings his change in behavior and belief that he can be a knight errant. “The occasion for the hidalgo’s transformation was reading, but the ‘cause’ that brings it about lies deep in his character, in what readers of Cervantes’ time would have recognized as his ‘temperament’ or ‘humor’…”(Murillo 20). Could the theory of the humors really be the cause to Don Quijote’s change in attitude toward fantasy? As noted earlier by Murillo, he had a dark complexion, thus stating that Don Quijote must have had the choleric humor. Some qualities about Don Quijote relating to this choleric humor are stated that he must have been clever with his words, quickly angered, smart, imaginative, and “they are lovers of justice, but not always good at executing it” (Murillo 20). Readers of Cervantes era, Middle Ages and Renaissance, could quickly related Don Quijote to the choleric humor.
It is the balance of the four humors that has kept this hidalgo represented has been represented by short burst of anger, then quickly changing his behavior into a passionate character. By reading his chivalric books for long periods of time, as well as his long journeys to correct the wrongs of others; Don Quijote’s brain was considered to be “dried up,” thus explaining why he can be considered to be choleric (Murillo 21).
The reasoning behind Don Quijote’s madness can be explained medically through the imbalance of the four humors. Did they really change his attitude and behavior?
According to medieval medical doctors, Don Quijote’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 Quijote, 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 Quijote’s madness. Thus, explaining why Don Quijote’s madness was displayed in his ruthless actions as a consequence.
Works Cited
1. Murillo, L.A.. A Critical Introduction to Don Quixote. New
York: Peter Lang Inc.
Garcia
FYS
3/1/07
Don Quijote’s Madness
In understanding the reason behind the hidalgo’s unconventional behavior, it is necessary to know who he is. Don Quijote as the fictional character is expressed is merely no more than a hidalgo who claims he is a great knight errant out to set the wrongs into rights. The qualities of Don Quijote represent a normal hidalgo in that he has no heroic traits or natural ability to be a leader. Don Quijote, is described by L.A. Murillo, as relating back to his ancestors in that he has a “frugal diet and his dress is simple, by necessity (19). He is not married at the age of fifty, but lives with his niece and a housekeeper. The hidalgo is early to rise and loves to hunt for his food.
It is his passion to read chivalric books, which brings his change in behavior and belief that he can be a knight errant. “The occasion for the hidalgo’s transformation was reading, but the ‘cause’ that brings it about lies deep in his character, in what readers of Cervantes’ time would have recognized as his ‘temperament’ or ‘humor’…”(Murillo 20). Could the theory of the humors really be the cause to Don Quijote’s change in attitude toward fantasy? As noted earlier by Murillo, he had a dark complexion, thus stating that Don Quijote must have had the choleric humor. Some qualities about Don Quijote relating to this choleric humor are stated that he must have been clever with his words, quickly angered, smart, imaginative, and “they are lovers of justice, but not always good at executing it” (Murillo 20). Readers of Cervantes era, Middle Ages and Renaissance, could quickly related Don Quijote to the choleric humor.
It is the balance of the four humors that has kept this hidalgo represented has been represented by short burst of anger, then quickly changing his behavior into a passionate character. By reading his chivalric books for long periods of time, as well as his long journeys to correct the wrongs of others; Don Quijote’s brain was considered to be “dried up,” thus explaining why he can be considered to be choleric (Murillo 21).
The reasoning behind Don Quijote’s madness can be explained medically through the imbalance of the four humors. Did they really change his attitude and behavior?
According to medieval medical doctors, Don Quijote’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 Quijote, 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 Quijote’s madness. Thus, explaining why Don Quijote’s madness was displayed in his ruthless actions as a consequence.
Works Cited
1. Murillo, L.A.. A Critical Introduction to Don Quixote. New
York: Peter Lang Inc.