Don Quixote: Statue of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza
This statue brings to life the two main characters of the novel. It shows them both as real beings. In the novel Don Quixote seems very fictional and it might be hard to picture him as a knight. The statue validates the characters and makes them more relatable. These two men are neighbors until Don Quixote hires/bribes Sancho to be his squire. Don Quixote makes many promises of land and wealth, which to someone who comes from poverty is a very good offer. At first Panzo questions his knights mental state and his actions a lot. This is especially prevalent when they encounter the windmills. Panzo doesn't understand how or why Don Quixote thinks they are giants and wants to fight them. The contrast between Panza's clear mind and Quixote's imaginative one is refreshing and is why their relationship is so interesting. Eventually Panzo gives in to Quixote's madness/creative imagination. Throughout their adventures together the pair become really close. It is important to note that this occurs without Sancho actually receiving anything in return.
The location on the map is la plaza de España in Madrid, Spain. This location is important because it is where the statues of Don Quixote and his partner are located. This is a very popular tourist destination due to the presence of the statues of Don Quixote and as well as the author, Miguel de Cervantes. It is also believed that Cervantes and his wife are buried in Madrid. The statue of Don Quixote is meaningful to me because he wasn't afraid to do what made him happy even if others didn't understand it. Many think that his character is crazy, but I think that it is important to look at the novel with an open mind. By doing so, it might be easier to see Don Quixote as a knight like his is in the statue.
