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In Miguel de Cervantes'' world famous novel, Don Quixote, Cervantes presents to the readers his perspectives on the book, the relationship between dream and reality, and the relationship between Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. Besides, Cervantes clearly states that his intention of writing this new form of book of chivalry is to put an end to the romances of chivalry.
Though Cervantes tries to confuse his readers with the question of Don Quixote being a story or history, any clear minded people would know that Don Quixote is in no way a history, but a story. Thus, Cervantes uses various writing techniques to inform the readers the distinctions between a story and a history.
The detailed discussion on dream and reality emphasizes on the relationship between the two coexisting and yet distinctive worlds. As much as the real world is different from the dream world, yet, the dream world can be so close to the real world. After all , it is up to the readers to distinguish between dream and reality.
From a country hidalgo to a knight-errant, and back to an honest gentleman, Don Quixote lives through a series of transformational stages. He was once living in an imagintive world, but, before his death, he awakens to the real world.
As for Sancho Panza, though he has always been Sancho Panza, his value, attitude, and point of view are all transformed after he went to seorch for adventures with Don Quixote. He is no longer the poor and simple-minded peasant but is now a "vulgar knight."
The switching in roles between Don Quixote and Sancho Panza is Cervantes'' way of telling his readers that there are various possibilities in every situation. As for the readers, it is important to be critical and judgmental while reading. Though the death of Alonso Quixano means an end to Don Quixote''s imaginative world, a new spirit of chivalry is ready to be carried on by Sancho Panza. The story of the ingenious knight and his squire is sure to be remembered forever.
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