Dulcinea, the idealized woman of Don Quixote’s affections in Miguel de Cervantes’ novel, doesn’t actually undergo any significant events herself, as she is mostly a figment of Quixote’s imagination. However, the character that she is based on, Aldonza Lorenzo, remains unaware of Quixote’s idealization of her throughout the story.
In Miguel de Cervantes’ classic novel “Don Quixote,” Dulcinea del Toboso is the name Don Quixote gives to the lady of his dreams, the woman for whom he performs his heroic acts. She is an idealized figure, a creation of Quixote’s chivalric imagination, inspired by tales of knights and their ladies. In reality, Dulcinea is based on a peasant woman named Aldonza Lorenzo, whom Quixote has chosen to revere from afar. She is scarcely mentioned and never appears directly in the novel, serving instead as a distant muse and symbol of Quixote’s chivalric love.
The character of Dulcinea is central to the theme of idealism versus realism in the novel. Don Quixote’s insistence on seeing Aldonza as the noble Dulcinea represents his refusal to see the world as it is, preferring the romanticized versions of reality found in the chivalric romances he has read. Throughout the novel, other characters learn of Quixote’s delusion and some play along, pretending Dulcinea has been enchanted, which only deepens Quixote’s convictions.
Aldonza Lorenzo, the real woman, is mostly oblivious to the fact that she has been cast as Dulcinea in Quixote’s fantasies. The disconnect between Quixote’s lofty vision of Dulcinea and the actual person of Aldonza serves as a poignant commentary on the nature of love, perception, and the human tendency to idealize. It also reflects the novel’s exploration of the conflict between illusion and reality, a theme that has made “Don Quixote” one of the most influential works in Western literature.