Question

How does the main character in Don Quixote experience both internal and external conflict? Provide specific examples from the text of both types of conflict. Make sure to explain why each conflict is either internal or external.

Answer 1

Answer and Explanation:

The internal conflict that Don Quixote experiences is established by his refusal to accept reality as it is. That's because Don Quizote, was so focused on the books of chivalry he read, that he started to apply those unreal stories in reality. He started acting like the world was like in the books and that created a lot of problems for him. Don Quixote is trapped in his own world of illusions and refuses to attend to the realistic part of him, which needs to get back to reasoning correctly and take care of his problems. This is an example of internal conflict, because it shows the character's struggle with himself. This happens when two contrary thoughts fight within the same mind.

The external conflict in which he finds himself is established with society's repulsion on the way he behaves. This is a conflict called person versus society and it is established in history, because Don Quixote includes society in his daydreams and this society does not accept this and fights him so much, calling him crazy and fighting with him. This is an external conflict because it takes place outside the character and includes elements that don't belong to him.

"Don Quixote" was written by Miguel de Servantes and is the most important book in the Spanish language. In this story, we know how Don Quixote gave himself up to his love for stories of chivalry and abandoned everything to live as a knight errant.