I've tolerated having to teach my students how to have conversation with sentient fruit, how to organize a pajama party, and countless awkward or even just plain wrong phrases. Today, though, the book went too far.
The story was about "Don Quijote." Except he was an attractive young man and functioning member of society. Sancho Panza was thin and Dulcinea was young and beautiful. All Don Quijote did in this story was buy stuff.
WHAT THE HELL. Don Quijote is a classic story about a man apart from society, who sees the evil in the world and tries to battle it on an epic if delusional quest. He is a tragic character, because the world breaks him and he dies in misery, finally seeing the futility of fighting for justice in this real world. He is a triumphant character, because just as he loses faith, Sancho gains it through him. He is a fantastic literary character, centuries ahead of the time he was written. What he isn't is a pretty boy spending all his money buying illusory gifts for a beautiful girl.
What really gets me is they could have done this story with any characters, just a random man, his friend, and a woman. There was nothing quixotic about it. So why?
The book finally broke me. And yes, this post is somewhat dramatic license... but really. Come on.
Boooo! I suppose though it shows that they are trying to include facts from other cultures...and that's good. Badly implemented...but good idea!
ReplyDeleteThe next story was the Little Mermaid, except she never got her voice back, and just lived on happily as the silent and smiling companion to the prince. I almost broke stuff.
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