Spanish literature
Saavedra Miguel Cervantes
Biography
Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de (1547−1616), Spanish writer. Born in Alcala de Henares (Province of Madrid). His father, Rodrigo de Cervantes, was a modest surgeon, and his large family constantly lived in poverty, which did not leave the future writer throughout his sorrowful life. Very little is known about his childhood, other than that he was baptized on October 9, 1547; the next documentary account of him, some twenty years later, names him as the author of a sonnet addressed to Queen Isabella of Valois, third wife of Philip II; Soon after this, while studying at the city college of Madrid, he is mentioned in connection with several poems on the death of the queen (October 3, 1568).
Cervantes probably studied in fits and starts until scientific degree it didn't work out. Not finding a means of subsistence in Spain, he went to Italy and in 1570 decided to serve under Cardinal G. Acquaviva. In 1571 he was listed as a soldier in the naval expedition that the Spanish king, pope and lord of Venice were preparing against the Turks. Cervantes fought bravely at Lepanto (7 October 1571); one of the wounds he received crippled his hand. He went to Sicily to recuperate and remained in southern Italy until 1575, when he decided to return to Spain, hoping to be rewarded for his service with a captain's post in the army. On September 26, 1575, the ship on which he was sailing was captured by Turkish pirates. Cervantes was taken to Algiers, where he stayed until September 19, 1580. In the end, with money raised by Cervantes’ family, he was redeemed by Trinitarian monks. He expected a decent reward upon returning home, but his hopes were not justified.
In 1584, 37-year-old Cervantes married 19-year-old Catalina de Palacios in Esquivias (province of Toledo). But family life, like everything else with Cervantes, came in fits and starts; he spent many years away from his wife; Isabel de Saavedra, his only child, was born from an extramarital affair.
In 1585 Cervantes became commissioner for the purchase of wheat, barley and olive oil in Andalusia for the "Invincible Armada" of Philip II. This unremarkable job was also thankless and dangerous. On two occasions Cervantes had to requisition wheat that belonged to the clergy, and although he carried out the king's orders, he was excommunicated. To add insult to injury, he was put on trial and then imprisoned because his reports were found to have irregularities. Another disappointment came with an unsuccessful petition for office in Spain's American colonies in 1590.
It is assumed that during one of his imprisonments (1592, 1597 or 1602) Cervantes began his immortal work. However, in 1602 judges and courts stopped pursuing him over his alleged debt to the crown, and in 1604 he moved to Valladolid, where the king was staying at that time. From 1608 he lived permanently in Madrid and devoted himself entirely to writing and publishing books. In the last years of his life he supported himself mainly by pensions from the Count of Lemos and the Archbishop of Toledo. Cervantes died in Madrid on April 23, 1616.
The above facts give only a fragmentary and approximate idea of Cervantes’s life, but, in the end, the greatest events in it were the works that brought him immortality. Sixteen years after the publication of the school poems, the First Part of Galatea (La primera parte de la Galatea, 1585), a pastoral romance in the spirit of Diana H. Montemayor (1559), appeared. Its content consists of the vicissitudes of love between idealized shepherds and shepherdesses. In Galatea, prose alternates with poetry; there are no main characters or unity of action here; the episodes are connected in the most simple way: the shepherds meet each other and talk about their joys and sorrows. The action takes place against the backdrop of conventional pictures of nature - these are unchanging forests, springs, clean streams and eternal spring, which allows you to live in the lap of nature. Here the idea of divine grace, sanctifying the souls of the elect, is humanized, and love is likened to a deity whom the lover worships and who strengthens his faith and will to live. Faith, born of human desires, was thus equated with religious beliefs, which probably explains the constant attacks by Catholic moralists on the pastoral romance, which flourished and faded in the second half of the 16th century. Galatea is undeservedly forgotten, because already in this first significant work, the characteristic idea of life and the world for the author of Don Quixote was outlined. Cervantes repeatedly promised to release a second part, but a sequel never appeared. In 1605, the first part of the Cunning Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha (El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha) was published, and the second part appeared in 1615. Edifying short stories (Las novelas exemplares) were published in 1613; in 1614 the Journey to Parnassus (Viaje del Parnaso) was published; in 1615 - Eight comedies and eight interludes (Ocho comedias y ocho entremeses nuevos). The Wanderings of Persiles and Sigismunda (Los trabajos de Persiles y Segismunda) were published posthumously in 1617. Cervantes also mentions the titles of several works that have not reached us - the second part of Galatea, Weeks in the Garden (Las semanas del jardn), The Deception of the Eyes (El engao los ojos) and others. Edifying short stories unite twelve stories, and the edifying nature of the title (otherwise their “exemplary” character) is associated with the “moral” contained in each short story. Four of them - The Magnanimous Suitor (El Amante liberal), Senora Cornelia (La Seora Cornelia), Two Maidens (Las dos donzellas) and the English Spaniard (La Espaola inglesa) - are united by a common theme, traditional for the Byzantine novel: a pair of lovers separated unfortunate and capricious circumstances, in the end he is reunited and finds long-awaited happiness. The heroines are almost all ideally beautiful and highly moral; they and their loved ones are capable of the greatest sacrifices and with all their souls are drawn to the moral and aristocratic ideal that illuminates their lives. Another group of “edifying” short stories is formed by The Power of Blood (La fuerza de la sangre), The High-born Scullery Maid (La ilustre fregona), The Gypsy Girl (La Gitanilla) and The Jealous Estremadure (El celoso estremeo). The first three offer stories of love and adventure with a happy ending, while the fourth ends tragically. In Rinconete and Cortadillo, El casamiento engaoso, El licenciado vidriera and A Conversation between Two Dogs, more attention is paid to the characters involved than to the action - this last group short stories Rinconete and Cortadillo is one of Cervantes' most charming works. Two young tramps get involved with a brotherhood of thieves. The comedy of the solemn ceremony of this gang of thugs is emphasized by the dryly humorous tone of Cervantes. Among his dramatic works, the Siege of Numancia (La Numancia) stands out - a description of the heroic resistance of the Iberian city during the conquest of Spain by the Romans in the 2nd century. BC. - and funny interludes such as the Divorce Judge (El Juez de los divorcios) and the Theater of Miracles (El retablo de las maravillas). Cervantes's greatest work is the one-of-a-kind book Don Quixote. Briefly, its content boils down to the fact that hidalgo Alonso Quihana, having read books about chivalry, believed that everything in them was true, and he himself decided to become a knight errant. He takes the name Don Quixote of La Mancha and, accompanied by the peasant Sancho Panza, who serves as his squire, goes in search of adventure.
Cervantes Saavedra Miguel de was born into the family of a poor Spanish surgeon in 1547. He lived in his large family in the province of Madrid, Alcala de Henares. Cervantes was baptized on October 9, 1547. Due to the poverty of the family, the guy studied in fits and starts. Being broke, he moved to Italy in 1570 and went to serve. From 1570 he joined the ranks of the navy until October 7, 1571, when he was commissioned due to a hand injury received in battle. He goes to Italy, where he lives until 1575. He is captured by pirates on September 26, 1575, while sailing to Spain, who take Cervantes to Algeria until September 19, 1580. Miguel met Esquivias in the province of Toledo, whom he married in 1584. Their family life did not work out, Cervantes was often not around, he even had an illegitimate daughter, Isabel de Saavedra. From 1585, Miguel goes to work as a commissioner for the purchase of provisions for the army of Philip II, but soon ends up in prison due to violations in his reports. While in prison, Cervantes begins to write. He combines prose and poetry, taking as a basis the relationship between a shepherd and a shepherdess. The First Part of Galatea was born in 1585. In 1604 he was released, and Miguel moved to Valladolid, and in 1608 to permanent residence in Madrid. He begins to diligently study literature. Grandiose masterpieces come from his pen. In 1605, Don Quixote was published, in 1613 - Edifying Novels, Journey to Parnassus in 1614, and in 1615 the author released the continuation of Don Quixote, the second part, and Eight Comedies and Eight Interludes. Cervantes took up writing another book, “The Wanderings of Persiles and Sigismunda,” which he never managed to publish during his lifetime. It was published in 1617.
The poet became the author of many publications and books that, of course, did not find such fame as “Don Quixote”, but were still published: “The Generous Admirer”, “The English Spaniard”, “Two Maidens” and “Senora Cornelia” and many others .
Miguel was born on September 29, 1547 into a bankrupt noble family in the Spanish town of Alcala de Henares. There is no reliable information about the writer’s childhood and adolescence.
At the age of 23, Cervantes enlisted in the Spanish Marines. During one of the battles, he was seriously wounded: a bullet pierced the young soldier’s forearm, permanently depriving his left arm of mobility.
Having recovered his health in the hospital, Miguel returned to duty. He had the opportunity to participate in sea expeditions and visit many overseas countries. During his next voyage in 1575, he was captured by Algerian pirates, who demanded a large ransom for him. Cervantes spent five years in captivity, making several escape attempts. However, each time the fugitive was caught and severely punished.
The long-awaited liberation came with Christian missionaries, and Miguel returned to service.
Creation
Cervantes realized his true calling at a fairly mature age. His first novel, Galatea, was written in 1585. Like several dramatic plays that followed it, it was not a success.
However, even in the most difficult times, when the money he earned was barely enough to feed himself, Miguel did not stop composing, drawing inspiration from his wandering life.
The muse took pity on the persistent writer only in 1604, when he wrote the first part of his imperishable novel “The Cunning Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha.” The book immediately aroused keen interest among readers not only in his native Spain, but also in other countries.
Unfortunately, the publication of the novel did not bring Cervantes the long-awaited financial stability, but he did not give up. Soon he published a continuation of the “heroic” exploits of the hidalgo, as well as several other works.
Personal life
Miguel's wife was the noblewoman Catalina Palacios de Salazar. According to short biography Cervantes, this marriage turned out to be childless, but the writer had one illegitimate daughter, whom he recognized - Isabella de Cervantes.
Death
- While serving in the Marine Corps, Cervantes proved himself to be a brave soldier. He took part in battles even during a severe fever, not wanting to let his comrades down and lie down on the deck of the ship.
- Unfortunately for Miguel, during his captivity a letter of recommendation was found on him, which is why the Algerian pirates decided that they had come across an influential person. As a result, the ransom amount was increased several times, and the writer’s widowed mother had to sell all her modest property in order to free her son from captivity.
- Cervantes's first fee was three silver spoons, which he received at a poetry competition.
- On the Sunset life path Miguel de Cervantes completely reconsidered his position in life, and literally a few days before his death, he cut his hair as a monk.
- For a long time, no one knew the exact burial place of the outstanding Spanish writer. Only in 2015 did archaeologists manage to discover his remains, which were solemnly reburied in the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Madrid.
In 1575, Cervantes remained in Sicily for treatment. After recovery, it was decided to return to Spain, where he could obtain the rank of captain in the army. But on September 26, 1575, the future writer was captured by Turkish pirates, who transported him to Algeria. The captivity lasted until September 19, 1580, until the family collected the amount necessary for the ransom. Hopes for a reward in Spain were not realized.
Life after the army
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In 1585, the former soldier received the post of commissioner for the purchase of olive oil and grains for the Invincible Armada in Andalusia. The work turned out to be hard and thankless. When Cervantes, on the king's orders, requisitioned the clergy's wheat, he was excommunicated. For errors in reporting, the would-be commissioner was put on trial and sent to prison.
Attempts to find happiness in Spain were unsuccessful, and the writer applied for a position in America. But in 1590 he was refused. Subsequently, Cervantes survived three more imprisonments, in 1592, 1597, 1602. It was then that the immortal work known to everyone began to crystallize.
In 1602, the court cleared the writer of all charges for alleged debts. In 1604, Cervantes moved to Valladolid, which was then the residence of the king. Only in 1608 did he settle permanently in Madrid, where he became seriously involved in writing and publishing books. Last years the author lived on a pension granted by the Archbishop of Toledo and Count Lemos. The famous Spaniard died of dropsy on April 23, 1616, having become a monk a few days before.
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The first school poems were published in 1569. Only 16 years later, in 1585, the first part of the pastoral novel “Galatea” was published. The work tells the story of the vicissitudes of the relationships between idealized characters, shepherdesses and shepherds. Some pieces are written in prose, some in verse. United storyline and the main characters are not here. The action is very simple, the shepherds simply tell each other about troubles and joys. The writer had been planning to write a sequel all his life, but never did.
In 1605, a novel about “The Cunning Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha” was published. The second part was published in 1615. In 1613, “Edifying Novels” saw the light. In 1614, “Journey to Parnassus” was born, and in 1615, “Eight Comedies and Eight Interludes” were written. In 1617, The Wanderings of Persiles and Sikhismunda were published posthumously. Not all works have reached us, but Cervantes mentioned them: “Weeks in the Garden”, the second volume of “Galatea”, “Deception of the Eye”.
The famous “Edifying Stories” are 12 stories in which the edifying part is indicated in the title and is associated with a moral written at the end. Some of them have a common theme. Thus, in “The Generous Suitor”, “Senora Cornelia”, “Two Maidens” and “The English Spaniard” we are talking about lovers separated by the vicissitudes of fate. But by the end of the story, the main characters are reunited and find their long-awaited happiness.
Another group of short stories is devoted to the life of the central character, focusing more on the characters rather than the unfolding actions. This can be seen in “Rinconete and Cortadillo”, “A Fraudulent Marriage”, “The Licentiate of Vidrier”, “A Conversation between Two Dogs”. It is generally accepted that “Rinconete and Cortadillo” is the author’s most charming work, telling in a comic form about the life of two vagabonds who became involved with a brotherhood of thieves. In the novella one can feel the humor of Cervantes, who describes with solemn comedy the ceremonial adopted in the gang.
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The book of a lifetime is the one and only Don Quixote. It is believed that Cervantes copied the simple-minded hidalgo Alonso Quihan. The hero was imbued with the idea of chivalry from books and believed that he himself was a knight errant. The search for adventures of Don Quixote of La Mancha and his faithful companion, the peasant Sancho Panzo, was a huge success then, and still is, four centuries later.
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra(Spanish: Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra; September 29, 1547, Alcala de Henares, Castile - April 23, 1616, Madrid) - world famous Spanish writer and soldier.
Born in Alcala de Henares (Province of Madrid). His father, hidalgo Rodrigo de Cervantes (the origin of Cervantes’s second surname, “Saavedra,” on the titles of his books, has not been established), was a modest surgeon, a nobleman by blood, his mother was Dona Leonor de Cortina; their large family constantly lived in poverty, which did not leave the future writer throughout his sorrowful life. Very little is known about the early stages of his life. Since the 1970s In Spain, there is a widespread version about the Jewish origin of Cervantes, which influenced his work; probably, his mother came from a family of baptized Jews.
Cervantes's family often moved from city to city, so the future writer was not able to receive a systematic education. In 1566-1569, Miguel studied at the Madrid city school with the famous humanist grammarian Juan Lopez de Hoyos, a follower of Erasmus of Rotterdam.
Miguel made his debut in literature with four poems published in Madrid under the patronage of his teacher Lopez de Hoyos.
In 1569, after a street skirmish that ended with the injury of one of its participants, Cervantes fled to Italy, where he served in Rome in the retinue of Cardinal Acquaviva, and then enlisted as a soldier. On October 7, 1571, he took part in the naval battle of Lepanto and was wounded in the forearm (his left hand remained inactive for the rest of his life).
Miguel Cervantes participated in military campaigns in Italy (he was in Naples), Navarino (1572), Portugal, and also carried out service trips to Oran (1580s); served in Seville. He also took part in a number of sea expeditions, including to Tunisia. In 1575, carrying a letter of recommendation (lost by Miguel during captivity) from Juan of Austria, commander-in-chief of the Spanish army in Italy, he sailed from Italy to Spain. The galley carrying Cervantes and his younger brother Rodrigo was attacked by Algerian pirates. He spent five years in captivity. He tried to escape four times, but failed each time, and was only miraculously not executed; in captivity he was subjected to various tortures. In the end he was ransomed from captivity by the monks of the Brotherhood of the Holy Trinity and returned to Madrid.
In 1585 he married Catalina de Salazar and published a pastoral novel, La Galatea. At the same time, his plays began to be staged in Madrid theaters, the vast majority of which, unfortunately, have not survived to this day. Of Cervantes' early dramatic experiments, the tragedy "Numancia" and the "comedy" "Algerian Manners" have been preserved.
Two years later, he moved from the capital to Andalusia, where for ten years he first served as a supplier to the “Great Armada” and then as a tax collector. For financial shortfalls in 1597 (In 1597 he was imprisoned in a Seville prison for a period of seven months on charges of embezzlement of government money (the bank in which Cervantes kept the collected taxes burst) was imprisoned in a Seville prison, where he began writing a novel " The cunning hidalgo Don Quixote de La Mancha" ("Del ingenioso hidalgo Don Quixote de La Mancha").
In 1605 he was released, and in the same year the first part of Don Quixote was published, which immediately became incredibly popular.
In 1607, Cervantes arrived in Madrid, where he spent the last nine years of his life. In 1613 he published the collection “Edifying Stories” (“Novelas ejemplares”), and in 1615 the second part of “Don Quixote”. In 1614 - in the midst of Cervantes's work on it - a false continuation of the novel appeared, written by an anonymous person hiding under the pseudonym "Alonso Fernandez de Avellaneda". The Prologue to "The False Quixote" contained rude attacks personally against Cervantes, and its content demonstrated a complete lack of understanding by the author (or authors?) of the forgery of the full complexity of the original's plan. “The False Quixote” contains a number of episodes that plotally coincide with episodes from the second part of Cervantes’s novel. The dispute among researchers about the priority of Cervantes or the anonymous author cannot be resolved definitively. Most likely, Miguel Cervantes specifically included revised episodes from Avellaneda’s work in the second part of Don Quixote in order to once again demonstrate his ability to transform artistically unimportant texts into art (similar to his treatment of knightly epics).
“The second part of the cunning caballero Don Quixote of La Mancha” was published in 1615 in Madrid in the same printing house as the “Don Quixote” edition of 1605. For the first time, both parts of “Don Quixote” were published under the same cover in 1637.
Cervantes finished his last book, “The Wanderings of Persiles and Sigismunda” (“Los trabajos de Persiles y Sigismunda”), a love adventure novel in the style of the ancient novel “Ethiopica”, just three days before his death on April 23, 1616; This book was published by the writer's widow in 1617.
A few days before his death, he became a monk. His grave remained lost for a long time, since there was not even an inscription on his tomb (in one of the churches). A monument to him was erected in Madrid only in 1835; on the pedestal there is a Latin inscription: “To Michael Cervantes Saavedra, king of the Spanish poets.” A crater on Mercury is named after Cervantes.
According to the latest data, the first Russian translator of Cervantes is N. I. Oznobishin, who translated the short story “Cornelia” in 1761.
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra(Spanish) Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra ; presumably September 29, Alcala de Henares - April 22, Madrid) is a world famous Spanish writer. First of all, he is known as the author of one of the greatest works of world literature - the novel “The Cunning Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha”.
Biography
early years
Church where Cervantes was baptized, Alcala de Henares
Miguel Cervantes was born into a family of impoverished nobles, in the city of Alcala de Henares. His father, Hidalgo Rodrigo de Cervantes, was a modest doctor, his mother, Doña Leonor de Cortina, was the daughter of a nobleman who lost his fortune. There were seven children in their family, Miguel was the fourth child [ ] . Very little is known about the early stages of Cervantes' life. The date of his birth is considered to be September 29, 1547 (the day of the Archangel Michael). This date is established approximately on the basis of the records of the church register and the then existing tradition of giving a child a name in honor of the saint whose feast day falls on his birthday. It is reliably known that Cervantes was baptized on October 9, 1547 in the Church of Santa Maria la Mayor in the city of Alcala de Henares.
Some biographers claim that Cervantes studied at the University of Salamanca, but there is no conclusive evidence for this version. There is also an unconfirmed version that he studied with the Jesuits in Cordoba or Seville.
According to Abraham Chaim, president of the Sephardic community in Jerusalem, Cervantes’ mother came from a family of baptized Jews. Cervantes's father was a nobleman, but his hometown of Alcala de Henares is the home of his ancestors, which is located in the center of the juderia, that is, the Jewish quarter. Cervantes' house is located in the former Jewish part of the city [ ] .
Activities of the writer in Italy
The reasons that prompted Cervantes to leave Castile remain unknown. Whether he was a student, or a fugitive from justice, or fleeing from a royal arrest warrant for wounding Antonio de Sigura in a duel, is another mystery about his life. In any case, having left for Italy, he did what other young Spaniards did for their careers in one way or another. Rome discovered its church rituals and grandeur for the young writer. In a city replete with ancient ruins, Cervantes discovered ancient art, and also concentrated his attention on Renaissance art, architecture and poetry (his knowledge of Italian literature can be seen in his works). He was able to find in achievements ancient world a powerful impetus for the revival of art. Thus, the enduring love for Italy, which is visible in his later works, was in its own way a desire to return to the early period of the Renaissance.
Military career and the Battle of Lepanto
There is another, unlikely, version of the loss of a hand. Due to the poverty of his parents, Cervantes received a meager education and, unable to find a means of subsistence, was forced to steal. Allegedly, it was for theft that he was deprived of his hand, after which he had to leave for Italy. However, this version is not credible - if only because at that time thieves’ hands were no longer cut off, as they were sent to the galleys, where both hands were required.
The Duke of Sessé, presumably in 1575, gave Miguel letters of introduction (lost by Miguel during his capture) for the king and ministers, as he reported in his testimony dated July 25, 1578. He asked the king to show mercy and help to the brave soldier.
In Algerian captivity
In September 1575, Miguel Cervantes and his brother Rodrigo were returning from Naples to Barcelona aboard the galley "The Sun" (la Galera del Sol). On the morning of September 26, on the approach to the Catalan coast, the galley was attacked by Algerian corsairs. The attackers were resisted, as a result of which many members of the Sun's crew were killed, and the rest were captured and taken to Algeria. :236 Letters of recommendation found on Miguel Cervantes led to an increase in the amount of the required ransom. Cervantes spent 5 years (-) in Algerian captivity, tried to escape four times and was only miraculously not executed. In captivity he was often subjected to various tortures.
Father Rodrigo de Cervantes, according to his petition dated March 17, 1578, indicated that his son "was captured in a galley" Sun“, under the command of Carrillo de Quesada,” and that he “received wounds from two arquebus shots in the chest, and was maimed in the left arm, which he could not use.” The father did not have the funds to ransom Miguel due to the fact that he had previously ransomed his other son, Rodrigo, who was also on that ship, from captivity. The witness to this petition, Mateo de Santisteban, noted that he had known Miguel for eight years, and met him when he was 22 or 23 years old, on the day of the battle of Lepanto. He also testified that Miguel “ on the day of the battle he was sick and had a fever", and he was advised to stay in bed, but he decided to take part in the battle. For his distinction in battle, the captain presented him with four ducats in addition to his usual pay.
The news (in the form of letters) about Miguel’s stay in Algerian captivity was delivered by soldier Gabriel de Castañeda, a resident of the mountain valley of Carriedo from the village of Salazar. According to his information, Miguel was held captive for about two years (that is, since 1575) by a Greek convert to Islam, captain Arnautriomas.
Miguel's mother's petition from 1580 reported that she asked " give permission for the export of 2000 ducats in the form of goods from the kingdom of Valencia" to ransom her son.
Service in Seville
Intention to travel to America
Miguel de Cervantes. Edifying short stories. Translation from Spanish by B. Krzhevsky. Moscow. Publishing house " Fiction" 1983
Personal life
Almost on his deathbed, Cervantes did not stop working; a few days before his death, he took monastic vows. On April 22, 1616, his life ended (he died of dropsy), which the bearer himself in his philosophical humor called “long indiscretion” and, leaving which, he “carried away on his shoulders a stone with an inscription that read the destruction of his hopes.” However, according to the customs of that time, the date of his death was recorded as the date of his funeral - April 23. Because of this, it is sometimes said that the date of death of Cervantes coincides with the date of death of another great writer - William Shakespeare, in fact, Cervantes died 11 days earlier (since, at that time, the Gregorian calendar was in force in Spain, and the Julian calendar in England). April 23, 1616 is sometimes considered the end of the Renaissance. For a long time, no one knew the exact burial place of the outstanding Spanish writer. Only in 2015 did archaeologists manage to discover his remains, which were solemnly reburied in the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Madrid.
Heritage
Monument to Miguel de Cervantes in Madrid (1835)
The monument to Cervantes was erected in Madrid only in 1835 (sculptor Antonio Sola); on the pedestal there are two inscriptions in Latin and Spanish: “To Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, king of the Spanish poets, year M.D.CCC.XXXV.”
Cervantes's worldwide significance rests chiefly on his novel Don Quixote, a complete, comprehensive expression of his varied genius. Conceived as a satire on the knightly romances that flooded all literature at that time, which the author definitely states in the “Prologue,” this work little by little, perhaps even independently of the author’s will, turned into a deep psychological analysis of human nature, two sides of mental activity - noble, but crushed by reality, idealism and realistic practicality.
Both of these sides found brilliant manifestation in the immortal types of the hero of the novel and his squire; in their sharp opposition they - and this is the deep psychological truth - nevertheless constitute one person; only the fusion of these two essential aspects of the human spirit constitutes a harmonious whole. Don Quixote is funny, his adventures depicted with a brilliant brush - if you don’t think about their inner meaning - cause uncontrollable laughter; but it is soon replaced by a thinking and feeling reader with another laughter, “laughter through tears,” which is an essential and integral condition of any great humorous creation.
In Cervantes’s novel, in the fate of his hero, it was precisely world irony that was reflected in a high ethical form. In the beatings and all kinds of other insults to which the knight is subjected - although they are somewhat anti-artistic in a literary sense - lies one of the best expressions of this irony. Turgenev noted another very important point in the novel - the death of its hero: at this moment all the great significance of this person becomes accessible to everyone. When his former squire, wanting to console him, tells him that they will soon go on knightly adventures, “No,” the dying man answers, “all this is gone forever, and I ask everyone for forgiveness.”
Bibliography
- "Galatea", 1585
- "The Destruction of Numancia"
- "Algerian Morals"
- “Sea Battle” (not preserved)
- “The cunning hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha”, 1605, 1615
- “Edifying Stories”, collection, 1613
- "Journey to Parnassus", 1614
- “Eight comedies and eight interludes, new, never presented on stage,” collection, 1615
- "The Wanderings of Persiles and Sikhismunda", 1617
Russian translations
The first Russian translator of Cervantes, according to the latest data, is N. I. Oznobishin, who translated the short story “Cornelia” in 1761. Then it was translated by M. Yu. Lermontov and V. A. Zhukovsky.
Memory
- The asteroid (529) Preciosa, discovered in 1904, was named in honor of the heroine of Cervantes' novella “The Gypsy Girl” (according to another version, it was named after the title of a play by Pius Alexander Wolff, written in 1810).
- The asteroids (571) Dulcinea (discovered in 1905) and (3552) Don Quixote (discovered in 1983) are named in honor of the heroine and hero of the novel “The Cunning Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha”.
- In 1965, Salvador Dali made the series "Five Immortal Spaniards", which included Cervantes, El Cid, El Greco, Velazquez and Don Quixote.
- In 1966, a USSR postage stamp dedicated to Cervantes was issued.
- In 1976, a crater was named in honor of Cervantes. Cervantes on Mercury.
- On September 18, 2005, in honor of Cervantes, the asteroid, discovered on February 2, 1992 by E. V. Elst at the European Southern Observatory, was given the name “79144 Cervantes”.
- The Plaza de España in Madrid is decorated with a sculptural composition, the central figure of which is Cervantes and his most famous heroes.
- A monument to Miguel Cervantes was erected in Moscow in Friendship Park.
- An Argentine Churruca-class destroyer is named after Cervantes.
- A monument to Cervantes was erected in the Spanish city of Toledo.
- A monument to Cervantes is erected in the city of Seville.
- The monument to Cervantes was erected in the Greek city of Nafpaktos (formerly Lepanto).
- A street in the Sosenskoye settlement of the Novomoskovsk administrative district of Moscow is named after Cervantes.
see also
Notes
- Cervantes Saavedra Miguel de // Great Soviet Encyclopedia: [in 30 volumes] / ch. ed. A. M. Prokhorov. - 3rd ed. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969-1978.
- "Cervantes, Miguel de", The Encyclopedia Americana, 1994
