“I don’t see the likes of him taking a long rest in a quiet place.” I will miss Teresa, the no nonsense character who spoke her mind. Loved the warm goodbye scene.
Yes! I love MQ and Sancho, but Teresa captured my heart from the moment she appeared on the page. A woman, per usual, who may not debate with men, who hides in the kitchen but keeps her ears open and eyes sharp, understands MQ from beginning to end.
When MQ read his letter from the bishop, I had a strange feeling: I knew this was coming, yet I know MQ will escape this torment, either in body or spirit. The petty clerical/medical bureaucracy in El Toboso will not be able to take away MQ’s freedom.
Having previously read Greene's The Power and the Glory, I feared that when the boy approached MQ for a sort of follow-up confession, the delay might allow Father Herrera to prevent the pair from escaping. In the earlier novel, the protagonist, also a priest, walks into a trap when he hears a confession and is arrested. In both books, Greene depicts a conscientious priest more concerned with other people's souls than his own safety.
This is a telling statement from Quixote riffing on his existential doubts: “I am riddled by doubts. I am sure of nothing, not even of the existence of God, but doubt is not treachery as you Communists seem to think. Doubt is human. Oh, I want to believe that it is all true - and that want is the only certain thing I feel. I want others to believe too - perhaps some of their belief might rub off on me. I think the baker believes”.
A mantra to live by: Embrace "aware[ness] always of a shadow, the shadow of disbelief haunting [your] belief." Uncertainty as an essential ingredient of being human and being free. MQ's clarity regarding his perpetual uncertainty - and its value - is refreshing, and rings so true (to me): "Knowing? How terrible that might have been."
The garage boy was such a delightfully bad liar. Teresa's running commentary provided some lightheartedness before the ache of their separation. When Father Quixote didn't finish making the cross at their parting, it made the scene even more sad to me. And the "death sentence" in the letter -all of these good byes & talk of death seem to accelerate the impending tragedy. Like the reader is watching the Father stand on the tracks with a train hurtling toward him. The friendship between Sancho & the Father is the one remaining bright light. (& I also loved that line about the balloon.)
First of all, I found a 1985 ITV British TV film version of the book on YouTube. I'm not going to watch it until I've finished reading, but according to wikipedia, it was filmed entirely on location with inimitable Alec Guinness as Fr. Quixote. Greene was apparently involved in the production.
MQ's sentiments regarding "home" (found within friendship) touched my heart. The purity and vocalized vulnerability illuminated in his words brought a tear to my eye, as well as, hope for humanity: "I am glad you came, Sancho. I feel safe here with you and with Rocinante ... El Toboso is no longer home for me and I have no other, except here on this spot of ground with you."
"Do you know what drew me to you in El Toboso, Father?... I thought you were the opposite of myself. A man gets tired of himself..." True, Sancho. He goes on to say he thought Father Quixote was a man without doubt--and earlier in the book the priest speaks of the Mayor's certainty. Both have found the other to be less certain than they imagined, making them perhaps more alike. But I still think their differences are an important part of their friendship. Would Father Quixote have painted Rocinante blue and assiduously picked the lock of the cabinet with Father Herrera's razor? And the Mayor is unlikely to go around giving his shoes to hapless thieves. Happy travels, guys. I think they are leaving El Toboso for good this time.
“I don’t see the likes of him taking a long rest in a quiet place.” I will miss Teresa, the no nonsense character who spoke her mind. Loved the warm goodbye scene.
Yes! I love MQ and Sancho, but Teresa captured my heart from the moment she appeared on the page. A woman, per usual, who may not debate with men, who hides in the kitchen but keeps her ears open and eyes sharp, understands MQ from beginning to end.
When MQ read his letter from the bishop, I had a strange feeling: I knew this was coming, yet I know MQ will escape this torment, either in body or spirit. The petty clerical/medical bureaucracy in El Toboso will not be able to take away MQ’s freedom.
MQ: “Did the Don really believe in Amadis de Gaul, Roland and all his heroes—or was it only that he believed in the virtues they stood for?”
Having previously read Greene's The Power and the Glory, I feared that when the boy approached MQ for a sort of follow-up confession, the delay might allow Father Herrera to prevent the pair from escaping. In the earlier novel, the protagonist, also a priest, walks into a trap when he hears a confession and is arrested. In both books, Greene depicts a conscientious priest more concerned with other people's souls than his own safety.
This is a telling statement from Quixote riffing on his existential doubts: “I am riddled by doubts. I am sure of nothing, not even of the existence of God, but doubt is not treachery as you Communists seem to think. Doubt is human. Oh, I want to believe that it is all true - and that want is the only certain thing I feel. I want others to believe too - perhaps some of their belief might rub off on me. I think the baker believes”.
"...I believe it of course, but how is it that when I speak of belief, I become aware always of a shadow, the shadow of disbelief haunting my belief?”
A mantra to live by: Embrace "aware[ness] always of a shadow, the shadow of disbelief haunting [your] belief." Uncertainty as an essential ingredient of being human and being free. MQ's clarity regarding his perpetual uncertainty - and its value - is refreshing, and rings so true (to me): "Knowing? How terrible that might have been."
The garage boy was such a delightfully bad liar. Teresa's running commentary provided some lightheartedness before the ache of their separation. When Father Quixote didn't finish making the cross at their parting, it made the scene even more sad to me. And the "death sentence" in the letter -all of these good byes & talk of death seem to accelerate the impending tragedy. Like the reader is watching the Father stand on the tracks with a train hurtling toward him. The friendship between Sancho & the Father is the one remaining bright light. (& I also loved that line about the balloon.)
First of all, I found a 1985 ITV British TV film version of the book on YouTube. I'm not going to watch it until I've finished reading, but according to wikipedia, it was filmed entirely on location with inimitable Alec Guinness as Fr. Quixote. Greene was apparently involved in the production.
https://youtu.be/nZeQGHt67fA?si=tQzxXaPJqf0gdxVO
Great find! I look forward to watching once I finish reading.
Wow!
Oh, wow. I finished early because I couldn't stop reading. The TV version will be a treat, I hope. The friendship, filled with dialogue.
“Bad trouble can wait until we’ve had a bottle of manchegan...” the perfect epigraph for this novel!
MQ's sentiments regarding "home" (found within friendship) touched my heart. The purity and vocalized vulnerability illuminated in his words brought a tear to my eye, as well as, hope for humanity: "I am glad you came, Sancho. I feel safe here with you and with Rocinante ... El Toboso is no longer home for me and I have no other, except here on this spot of ground with you."
"Do you know what drew me to you in El Toboso, Father?... I thought you were the opposite of myself. A man gets tired of himself..." True, Sancho. He goes on to say he thought Father Quixote was a man without doubt--and earlier in the book the priest speaks of the Mayor's certainty. Both have found the other to be less certain than they imagined, making them perhaps more alike. But I still think their differences are an important part of their friendship. Would Father Quixote have painted Rocinante blue and assiduously picked the lock of the cabinet with Father Herrera's razor? And the Mayor is unlikely to go around giving his shoes to hapless thieves. Happy travels, guys. I think they are leaving El Toboso for good this time.
I think today I’ll stick to cheese. Sausage is for stronger men!!
beckett was mentioned earlier. I'm thinking that this novel would make a great off-broadway play.
It's a play at its core, isn't it? Wanting to be heard?