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.
Recommended Citation
South, Danielle Vincenza, "The denaturalization of miguel de cervantes saavedra's El igenioso hidalgo don quijote de la mancha in children's entertainment in the United States" (2014). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 7348.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/7348