–Mainly from 4:44 to 6:15–
I find this video commentary the most appealing because it talks about the irony that exists within the story of Don Quixote. The author of Don Quixote, Miguel de Cervantes, has a negative perspective towards all the Spain romantic literature. He believes that romantic literature can influence a person’s mind and trap people into the imaginary world. The existence of this novel is the best proof; however, the irony that lives within the story contradict Cervantes’ belief. In the story, Don Quixote represents the romantic literatures that Cervantes hates so much. Cervantes writes as he describes the romantic literature and its influence in his mind. Cervantes describes Don Quixote’s brain as dried up when his brain is full of the romantic literature that he had read. He keeps increasing the seemingly “stupidity” of Don Quixote to state his claim of the negative influence of romantic literature. However, the irony in the story contradicts Cervantes’ view on romantic literature. Despite all the stupid acts that Don Quixote has performed throughout the story, the result come out positive. Some people may think that reading all those romantic literatures caused Don Quixote to perform those stupid acts and consider romantic literature as something negative but without those romantic literature, Don Quixote wouldn’t have gone for adventure. And if Don Quixote didn’t go for adventure, then many things such as the reunion of the two couples, and Sancho’s acknowledge of what really matters in this world wouldn’t occur. Also, after the romance leaves Don Quixote’s mind, he becomes just an ordinary person with sadness and illness. And he dies not long after his romance fakes too. Therefore, the question of whether romance is necessary rises. Although romance caused Don Quixote to act stupid, but it also produced some great outcomes. Afterall, romantic literatures are not as bad as how Cervantes describes them. Maybe Cervantes made a mistake when writing this story or maybe this was his intention, but either way, this story makes me realize that romance can have a positive and a negative effect on people.