The miserable life and posthumous fame of Miguel de Cervantes

Anyone who has read classical literature knows the name, Miguel de Cervantes, the author who wrote the novel “El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha” in two parts, the first in 1605 and the second in 1615. He changed literature forever. it became that great masterpiece, which has been credited as the first literary work whose influences seem infinite and unmatched. It is second only to the printed Bible which has sold the most copies and has been translated into most languages ​​around the world. It may come as a surprise that with such success, Cervantes led an unfortunate life, but the enormous fame of his novel spread rapidly just before and after his death.

In 1605, Cervantes published the first part of Don Quixote, which tells the story of a man in his fifties who becomes so obsessed with centuries-old stories about brave knights that he seeks out his own adventures. He is nicknamed a knight, but is soon lost in his own fantasy world, believing himself to be an important knight. He convinces a poor peasant, Sancho Panza, to be his squire. Possibly the most famous scene in the novel is when the deluded Don Quixote fights a windmill, which he believes to be a giant. Cervantes created many other comic scenes in which the occasional knight sees reality as a medieval fairy tale. As the novel continues into the second book, Quixote finally comes to his senses before the end of the novel.

Cervantes attempted to write novels, plays, sonnets, and short stories before 1613. However, his literary works were published but never made him famous or rich. He wrote many literary works that were not successful until after his death. Even after writing and publishing “Don Quixote”, like most writers of the day, he received little or no money during his lifetime for one of the world’s most famous literary productions.

Cervantes was a soldier who fought against the Ottoman Empire in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, he suffered serious injuries in the conflict. He suffered two chest wounds and his left hand was completely mutilated. However, despite his disability, Cervantes continued to serve as a soldier for several more years.

Cervantes and Rodrigo, his brother, were captured during their voyage by a group of Turkish ships returning to Spain. Cervantes subsequently spent five years as an enslaved prisoner and made several unsuccessful but daring attempts to escape his imprisonment. In 1580 he was finally able to return home after a ransom was paid for his release. When he returned to Spain, he worked as a supplier of the goods needed by the Invincible Armada but was unable to acquire the funds, which he was unable to help. As a result, he was put in jail, although it was not his fault.

In 1597, he was imprisoned again due to financial problems. Here he began collecting ideas for Don Quixote based on his life and his influences.

When Miguel de Cervantes died in 1616, his obituary would have summed up his life this way: Cervantes was a financially poor soldier of misfortune. He served many years in various prisons. He wrote and published literature that few people read. However, he wrote a novel that quickly became popular throughout the world, known colloquially as “Don Quixote” or “Don Quixote”. The name “Cervantes” became synonymous with Spanish “language” and “literature”. All Spaniards recognize the name, “Miguel de Cervantes”, and for many years, “Don Quixote de la Mancha” has been required reading in Spanish classrooms. If Cervantes’ life had continued beyond 1616, he would have been the most famous celebrity in Spain, as he is today.