The purpose of this study was to classify the lies of the characters that appear in the first part of Don Quixote. To that end was borrowed Warren Shibles' definition of a lie as "merely a contradiction between belief (self-talk) and expression." Although gestures are a form of expression and can be used to deceive, this study has limited itself to verbal, oral and written, expression. Thus, every contradiction between what a character thinks or believes and what he says or writes has been examined and the following questions posed: who lies, why, how, to what end, how does the reader know, and what are the consequences of lying? / The results of this analysis show that Cervantes gives indications to the reader before or after the lies are told through the narrators' voices or the characters of the characters lies. Churchmen, noblemen, rich and poor peasants, ladies and prostitutes, innkeepers and servants, parents and children lie. Men, women, and boys, learned people and ignorant people, Spaniards and Moors all lie. Contrary to what many critics have stated, even Don Quixote lies; thus gentlemen who want to be knight-errants also lie. The characters lie for different reasons: in self-interest, to help others, for entertainment, and for a combination of these. Most of the characters want to have fun and use their lies as a form of entertainment; even when, as in Pero Perez' and Maese Nicolas' case, they have an important mission to accomplish. Lies are part of everyday life and therefore, appear throughout the novel as false or unfulfilled promises, jokes or practical jokes, tales, life stories, conversations, excuses, and untold truths. Among the few characters who do not lie are, ironically, the merchant and the criminal Gines de Pasamonte--characters whose professions are linked with lying. Very few lies have malicious intent. In those cases, the liars either rectify their mistakes or suffer punishment. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 51-04, Section: A, page: 1249. / Major Professor: David H. Darst. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1990.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_78225 |
| Contributors | del Rosario, Mari Pino., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 306 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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