Take a closer look at how the objects and imagery in Volume I embody Don Quixote’s ideals.
1. Windmills: Embody the clash between innocence, idealism, and harsh reality. Don Quixote’s fight against windmills has come to symbolize futile but noble efforts—“tilting at windmills”.
2. Dulcinea: Represents unattainable ideals. She is a product of Quixote’s imagination, underscoring how belief can shape one’s reality.
3. Rocinante: A symbol for perseverance and imagination, as Quixote sees his old, bony horse as a mighty steed.
4. Books and Manuscripts: Highlight literature’s power and the blurred line between fact and fiction.
5. The Helmet of Mambrino (Barber's Basin): Underscores the theme of illusion versus reality.