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La Mancha
QUIXOTE TIMES
Editors: Kimberly Uong and Paige Hamilton

Fall, 1615

Exclusive Q&A
Paige Hamilton
:What made you want to join Don Quixote as his squire? I had been a useless peasant for much of my life and I didnt feel like I was being much help to my wife, Teresa, or my children. I wanted to do something with my life that would make me feel needed and important to someone. When Don Quixote approached me with his offer I found it hard to resist. Early on in the novel you have a hard time adjusting to being on the road with Don Quixote. How did you get through that period? As a squire I had to come to understand that my job was to serve my master no matter what and if that meant agreeing that a windmill was a giant I needed to do that. Often Don Quixote brought out fear inside me because I wasnt able to allow my imagination to run as freely as his did at first. One night we were out in the country together and all I heard was the braying of sheep but Don Quixote insisted that he could hear the neighing of the horses, the call of the clarions, [and] the sound of the drums (129). He told me the reason I couldnt hear what he was hearing was because of my fear and that one of the effects of fear is to cloud the senses and make things appear other than they are (129). After this insightful comment he threatened to leave me alone in the countryside as he proceeded to examine where the sound was coming from. It was in this moment that I realized I couldnt be without him, I couldnt face the wilderness alone. For me, that was the turning point when I realized how much I truly depended on him. Throughout the novel many people comment on your use of proverbs. What is your response to their critiques? As I told my wife, its enough if God understands me and I still think thats true (486). I find pleasure in my use of proverbs and, in my opinion, they help add perspective to different situations. Don Quixote was often critical of my use of proverbs and warned me against using them during my governorship. Ironically, different proverbs helped me solve tough situations as a governor. Speaking of your governorship: everyone wants to know, what made you give that up? I left because the post of governorship seems like a dangerous one to me (815). I realized it wasnt what I truly wanted out of my life. Originally, I wanted to be a governor to raise the social status of my family and help bring a better life to my children, but I began to understand that being nobility wasnt that wonderful. I knew that I was making good decisions with the issues of the people as governor but I was struggling to enjoy my personal life. I learned that the riches you can gain in governorships come at the cost of your rest and your sleep and even your food (815). It was no longer worth it to me to sacrifice my happiness all for a noble position in society. Do you think Don Quixote died a knight-errant even though he couldnt accept he had been one? Yes. Obviously as a friend and servant it was very hard for me to see my master in such pain both mentally and physically before his death. He desperately wanted to make sense of his life and the person he had become. Even though he refused to acknowledge that he had spent time traveling the countryside with me as a knight, I believe deep down Don Quixote will always remain a part of Alonso Quixano.

Timeline
Alonso Quixano is born (date unknown)

Quick Takes:
How would others describe you? Gluttonous How would you describe yourself? Helpful, wise, necessary What is your favorite color? Gray, like my wonderful donkey. Who do you enjoy spending time with other than Don Quixote? The Duchess

Becomes Don Quixote and recruits Sancho Panza as squire. Establishes love for Dulcinea, a supposed princess of vague background... Fights windmills. His first of many visits to an inn.

DQ inspired artwork
Thanks for contributing your talents to us, fans!

Meets the bachelor Sanson Carrasco Knight of Mirrors/ Knight of Wood/Knight of the Sorrowful face/ Knight of the Lions/ Knight of the Green Coat

Sancho and Don Quixote attend a wedding

A visit to the mystical cave of Montesinos

Sancho must whip himself

Don Quixotes influence is so great that even artists had to take note!
Alonso Quixano dies. Don Quixote still lives.