Abstract
In Cervantes’ novel Don Quijote de la Mancha, Don Quijote has a distinct idea of what liberty means that contrasts with the contemporary understanding of liberty as individual. This resembles Marx’s theory of communism, in which he envisioned a society that would achieve liberty collectively instead of individually. Similar to Marx, Don Quijote seeks an alternative to exploitative and corrupt society in which he lives; however, Don Quijote is ultimately unable to leave his position of authority as a caballero andante, for the sake of other’s fulfilling the type of individual freedom that they desire. I analyze two distinct episodes of the novel to argue that Don Quijote’s alternative society which he envisions is similar to a Marxist utopia, ultimately failing in practice because of its restriction on individual liberty.
