Date of Graduation

2014

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MA

College

Eberly College of Arts and Sciences

Department

English

Committee Chair

Tania de Miguel Magro

Committee Co-Chair

Edward M Chauca

Committee Member

Pablo Garcia Loaeza

Abstract

Versions of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra's El ingenioso hidalgo don Quijote de la Mancha for United States children have been adapted to fit the North American target market. This research aims to identify what changes have occurred and the impact the United States' cultural touch could have on the comprehension of the original text. In the analysis to follow, the four chosen works, two books and two cartoons, demonstrate American beliefs that appeal to the intended audience. One book, entitled Adventures of Don Quixote written by Argentina Palacios, conveys the concept of the American Dream to her readers. UB IWERKS's Don Quixote also portrays the same social theory, in addition to the vision of the 1930s New Woman. The remaining two works, one book written by Cervantine expert Tom Lathrop and the other Disney's well-known Mr. Magoo series, possess racial stereotypes. The former exclusively depicts Sancho Panza as a stereotypic Mexican while the latter possesses commentary on both Don Quixote and Sancho. Disney's cartoon suggests that Don Quixote is the stereotypic European dreamer while Sancho again takes on the prejudiced Mexican image. The inclusion of the United States' culture in the selected pieces has denaturalized Cervantes's novel to create an inaccurate perception of the text and its characters within.

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