O, For Pete's Sake discussion

Another question for those who finish.

I thought there was an interesting thematic development in that the people who sought to manipulate Don Quixote's madness in the first section (the 'friends', relatives and innkeepers) were presented rather unfavorably. But in the second section, we are exposed to people of wealth who find in Don Quixote an opportunity to create elaborate illusions for their own amusement. While they are presented more favorably (I guess we should have more sympathy for nobilis ennui), I found them equally self-centered and malicious.

While Cervantes never resolves the matter of Don Quixote's SANITY, I think Don Quixote's confession at the end makes it somewhat clear that his actions had a willful and conscious aspect. I was actually kind of disappointed in this. I understand that Cervantes seems to be wanting to diffuse his character in such a way as to discourage further attempts to abscond his work, but I was disappointed with that endeavor.

In this strain, I saw Don Quixote as a person who was longing for something of another time. Kind of like people of today who long for a younger America, or an age before technology, etc.

I guess through writing this I think I have concluded he wasn't insane, but was acting willfully, rationally and consciously.