The spirit of Don Quixote in the Zapatista revolution
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Date
2007-05
Authors
Krogh, Julie Anne
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
In 1605, Miguel Saavedra de Cervantes published the literary masterpiece Don
Quixote that has impacted the literary, political, and social world. Cervantes created the
crazy knight-errant Don Quixote and his humble peasant sidekick Sancho Panza in order
to criticize the popular tales of chivalry ofthe time. Additionally, Cervantes effectively
commented on the social, economic, and political condition of 1i h century Spain. While
many of his observations are negative criticisms, the character Don Quixote encourages
the reader as a living example of hope in the ability of an individual to shape his own
reality.
On January 1, 1994, the Ejercito Zapatista Nacional de Liberaci6n (EZLN) seized
San Crist6bal de Las Casas of the Mexican region Chiapas and declared war on the
Mexican Army demanding rights such as liberty, land, democracy, health, and education
for indigenous people. While the EZLN has roots in indigenous traditions and Marxist
ideologies, the hope of Don Quixote that people truly do possess the ability to change
their condition permeates the Zapatista movement. The writings of the most prominent
EZLN leader, Subcomandante Marcos, help to reveal the influence that Don Quixote has
had on the Zapatistas and their mission.
Description
iv, 52 p. A THESIS Presented to the Department of Romance Languages and the Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for degree of Bachelor of Arts, May 2007. A print copy of this title is available through the UO Libraries under the call number: SCA Archiv Krogh 2007
Keywords
Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de, 1547-1616. Don Quixote, Ejercito Zapatista de Liberacion Nacional (Mexico), EZLN