When a person thinks about the word ‘madness’, he often thinks of a person with a broken mind, a person who sees or hears things that are not present. In a way, this is true. But it is necessary not to confuse madness with imagination because they have similar criteria. But, the difference is very important: control.
In Don Quixote, Don Quixote is often crazy, but at other times, he is aware of his delusions. It seems that other people are quick to form an opinion about him because of his insanity, but what about people who contribute to the madness of Don Quixote, like Sancho, the innkeeper, and more? These beliefs look like jokes or imagination. But these characters are not mistreated like Don Quixote. It is quite possible that his many hallucinations are not products of his madness but due to his imagination. Don Quixote pretends to be a knight who exemplifies justice. Don Quixote wants to free the prisoners because he thinks he is honest, and has similar reasons for countless other illusions. He may see the windmills as giants but he also wants to fulfill this need to protect and do what is right. And he himself confuses shepherds with troops.
Don Quixote is misunderstood. I know it is not normal but I think he wants to feel useful, so he creates new realities where he can feel this exactly. Sancho was not ‘crazy’ in the beginning. He probably contributes to the mischief of Don Quixote not because Sancho was crazy, too, but because he wants his island and by pretending there are giants or an army is the only way. He only consented to the illusions of Don Quixote because he had an alternative motive. As Sancho wants his island, Quixote wants to feel useful and gentlemanly. I think that no one is really crazy, but all people have reason to pretend and behave as if they were crazy.
Perdidos en sus pensamientos 